Chapter 13.16
CEMETERIES*
Sections:
13.16.010 Sale of lots—Charges to be paid in full before interment.
13.16.020 Sale of lots—Perpetual care purchase required.
13.16.030 Deed—Issuance, sales, and ownership.
13.16.080 Purchase of more than four lots.
13.16.100 Burial—Human dead only permitted.
13.16.110 Burial—Permit required.
13.16.120 Burial—Approved liners required.
13.16.140 Trees, plants, and objects—Restrictions.
13.16.150 Trees, plants, and objects—Right of city to exclude or remove.
* For statutory provisions on cemeteries, see Chapter 68.12 RCW. For further provisions applicable to cemeteries, see Chapter 13.12 of this code.
13.16.001 Cemetery hours.
A. Except as otherwise set forth in this section, the cemetery grounds are open to the public during daylight hours, seven days a week.
B. Approximately two weeks prior to Memorial Day weekend, the cemetery may be closed to the public for maintenance at the discretion of the public works superintendent. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023)
13.16.010 Sale of lots—Charges to be paid in full before interment.
Cemetery lots may be purchased at the office of the city clerk-treasurer. Interment in a lot will not be permitted until the charges for opening and closing the grave and the cemetery lot, including perpetual care, have been paid in full. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 4 (part), 1981: Ord. 236 § 1, 1978: Ord. 173 § 1, 1969)
13.16.020 Sale of lots—Perpetual care purchase required.
Cemetery lots will be sold only with perpetual care included. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 4 (part), 1981: Ord. 236 § 3, 1978: Ord. 173 § 3, 1969)
13.16.030 Deed—Issuance, sales, and ownership.
A. Upon the payment in full of charges for the cemetery lot, including perpetual care, the purchaser shall be given a cemetery deed for the cemetery lot in question.
B. Interest in cemetery lots shall be governed by Chapter 68.32 RCW as now and hereafter amended. The city will attempt to determine the legal next of kin of any lot, but the city shall not be held responsible for failure to do so. Persons representing themselves as next of kin may be required to provide a notarized statement or other documentation as requested to prove or confirm next of kin status.
C. When an owner of a cemetery lot wishes to sell or transfer the lot to another individual they must have approval by the city clerk-treasurer and public works superintendent. If the original owner of the lot(s) is deceased, the executor or heir(s) must show proof of their authority to devise ownership of the property, including but not limited to letters testamentary, decree of distribution, or a copy of the will. Without such proof, transfer of ownership of a lot will not be recognized by the city. No transfer of any cemetery lot or interest therein will be valid without the consent of the city and endorsed upon such transfer document and endorsed on the books of the city. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 4 (part), 1981: Ord. 236 § 2, 1978: Ord. 173 § 2, 1969)
13.16.040 Deed—Form.
Repealed by Ord. 718. (Ord. 284 § 2, 1981: Ord. 22 § 2, 1913)
13.16.050 Deed—Consecutive numbering—Recordkeeping procedure.
Repealed by Ord. 718. (Ord. 284 § 3, 1981: Ord. 22 § 3, 1913)
13.16.060 Charges.
The fees charged for services and sales for the cemetery shall be established by city council from time to time by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 635 § 2, 2013: Ord. 549 § 1, 2004: Ord. 490 § 1, 1997: Ord. 489 § 1, 1997: Ord. 353 (part), 1988: Ord. 236 § 4, 1978: Ord. 181 § 1, 1972; Ord. 173 § 4, 1969)
13.16.070 Lot size.
A. Cemetery lots for burial shall be twelve feet long and four feet wide.
B. Cemetery lots or spaces for cremation shall be two feet by two feet only in designated area; see Section 13.16.170. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 5, 1981: Ord. 236 § 5, 1978: Ord. 173 § 5, 1969)
13.16.080 Purchase of more than four lots.
Any purchase of more than four lots must be approved by the city clerk-treasurer, public works superintendent, and the mayor. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 15, 1981: Ord. 236 § 12, 1978: Ord. 173 § 12, 1969)
13.16.090 Cemetery board.
Repealed by Ord. 727. (Ord. 284 § 1, 1981: Ord. 22 § 1, 1913)
13.16.100 Burial—Human dead only permitted.
Cemetery lots are sold for the purpose of burial of human dead only. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 7, 1981: Ord. 236 § 6, 1978: Ord. 173 § 6, 1969)
13.16.110 Burial—Permit required.
No burial will be permitted without a burial permit as required by state law. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 8, 1981: Ord. 236 § 7, 1978: Ord. 173 § 7, 1969)
13.16.120 Burial—Approved liners required.
Approved liners are required for all burials. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 9, 1981: Ord. 236 § 8, 1978: Ord. 173 § 8, 1969)
13.16.122 Interments.
A. Interments will not be permitted until all charges have been paid as determined by the city clerk-treasurer.
B. All interments shall be in concrete liners or vaults designed and manufactured for this purpose.
C. Cremation interment will be placed directly under grave marker.
D. The city must be notified at least forty-eight hours before any interment so the lot may be properly prepared.
E. Normal interment hours shall be limited to Tuesday through Friday between the hours of nine a.m. and two p.m. Saturday interments shall be limited to periods between the hours of nine a.m. and one p.m. No interment will be allowed on Sunday.
F. Funeral/ceremony facilitators shall be required to conclude interments/inurnments and services by the time specified herein and direct those attending to leave the cemetery within thirty minutes after the conclusion of the service. All interments/inurnments and services must be concluded and those attending leave the cemetery not later than three p.m., Tuesday through Friday, or noon on Saturday.
G. Funeral home or family is responsible for placing the casket on the lowering device. The city does not provide staffing for this service.
H. The interment in one full-size burial lot:
1. One casket and three cremations. The casket to be buried prior to the cremation burials.
2. Four cremations, no other burials allowed.
I. The city reserves the right to correct any errors that may be made in issuing a deed for a cemetery lot either by canceling such conveyance and substituting and conveying in lieu thereof another lot of equal value and similar location as may be selected by the city, or, in the sole discretion of the city, by refunding the amount of money paid on account of said purchase. The city shall have the right to correct any errors made by replacing an improper description, including an incorrect name or date, either on the marker or memorial.
J. The city is not responsible for obtaining nor liable for the burial permit or the identity of the person thought to be interred. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023)
13.16.124 Disinterment.
A. No disinterment will be allowed without written permission from the lot owner or their heir, and payment of all costs associated with such disinterment. The written permission must include instructions of where the remains will be moved to and the means to provide for payment of the city’s costs for making the disinterment. All such disinterment shall be under the direction and supervision of the city, except by order of the court when a proper receipt for the remains must be given. The city may require payment in full or a deposit to cover the city’s costs to provide the disinterment. Provisions concerning permission to remove remains shall be governed by state law in Chapter 68.50 RCW as now or hereafter amended.
B. The city shall exercise the utmost care in making a disinterment or removal, but shall not be responsible for and assumes no liability for damage to any casket, vault, or urn incurred in making the disinterment or removal. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023)
13.16.130 Grave markers.
A. Grave markers that project above the contour of the surrounding ground will not be allowed on any lot, and all said markers are to be set by the city.
B. Grave marker sizes are limited to the following sizes or dimensions:
1. For a full-size lot, twenty inches by thirty-two inches.
2. Double size marker allowed when purchase of two full-size lots side by side, twenty inches by forty-four inches.
3. For cremation lots, no larger than eight inches by sixteen inches.
C. No grave marker shall be placed before interment of remains.
D. Following interment/inurnment permanent grave markers are to be placed upon lots, including cremation, within one year of burial. Permanent markers must contain, at a minimum, the individual’s name, year of birth, and year of death.
E. Vertical markers are allowed provided they meet the size as indicated in this section with at least a three-inch ground level border on all sides.
F. More than one marker per lot is allowed; however only one marker may be vertical, and any others must be at ground level. The vertical marker(s) must be at the head of the lot.
G. On-site engraving shall be coordinated with the city at least one working day prior to the proposed work being done. The city reserves the right to remove any marker which was set or engraved without permission and does not conform to the standards set forth in this chapter.
H. The city does not bind itself to maintain, repair, or replace any markers or monumental structures erected upon a lot which are lost or damaged due to weather, age, vandalism, or normal maintenance. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 13, 1981: Ord. 236 § 10, 1978: Ord. 173 § 10, 1969)
13.16.140 Trees, plants, and objects—Restrictions.
A. In order to secure the best general appearance, and provide for the most economical method of upkeep, any and all plantings shall be done by the city.
B. No ironwork or wirework, seats or benches, trees, shrubs or any object or plant other than grave markers will be allowed on lots. Anyone wishing to place a memorial of any kind may only do so with the permission of the city, who will determine the placement of the same.
C. Decorations or memorials can only be placed on grave markers. No glass vases or containers are permitted. Decorations are at the discretion of the city.
D. Maintenance of plot sites and landscaping is done only by city staff or authorized personnel.
E. The city is not responsible for damage to or theft of cut flowers, potted plants, displays, or containers. Anyone leaving such articles in the cemetery does so at his/her own risk. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 12, 1981: Ord. 236 § 9, 1978: Ord. 173 § 9, 1969)
13.16.150 Trees, plants, and objects—Right of city to exclude or remove.
The city reserves the right to exclude or remove any tree, plant, or object from any lot which the city may consider injurious to the general appearance of the grounds, and to lay out, alter or vacate walks, to establish grades of walks and lots and to change these regulations as deemed proper by the city to promote the general objectives and best interests of the cemetery. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 14, 1981: Ord. 236 § 11, 1978: Ord. 173 § 9, 1969)
13.16.160 Potter’s field.
A. There is reserved and set aside as a potter’s field the following lots in block one: lots ten and eleven in range one; lots ten and eleven in range two; lots ten and eleven in range three; lots ten and eleven in range four; lots nine and ten in range five; and lots nine and ten in range six in the cemetery.
B. On these lots the mayor or other duly authorized officer of the city may grant permission for the burial of bodies free of charge, but such permission shall not be construed as passing any title to the ground occupied by any such grave, and the city may at any time move any bodies buried in the potter’s field to some other locations in the cemetery. It is provided further, that until further action by the council all graves in said potter’s field shall be located in the eastern end of the described tract. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 284 § 11, 1981: Ord. 22 § 5, 1913)
13.16.170 Cremation burial.
A. There is reserved and set aside for the burial of cremation remains, lots eight, nine, ten, and eleven; range six of block two.
B. Cremation remains buried in any other part of the cemetery than that designated for cremation remains shall be allowed to be buried in a full lot as set forth in Section 13.16.070. It shall be further provided that a maximum of four cremation remains shall be allowed to be buried in a full lot as set forth in Section 13.16.070. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023; Ord. 701 § 1, 2019: Ord. 635 § 3, 2013: Ord. 549 § 2, 2004: Ord. 490 § 1, 1997: Ord. 489 § 1, 1997: Ord. 353 (part), 1988: Ord. 284 § 10, 1981)
13.16.180 City authority.
A. The city shall have full power and authority to adopt such additional rules and regulations as it may deem advisable for the management, preservation, care and use of the cemetery, including the interment and exhuming of the dead, and shall have full power and authority from time to time to enlarge, restrict, amend, abrogate or change any rules and regulations, and all such rules and regulations shall be binding upon grave owners and upon all persons, firms and corporations concerned, as fully and as effectually as if said rules and regulations were made a part thereof.
B. The city clerk-treasurer and public works superintendent are tasked with implementing the set rules and regulations with standard operating procedures. (Ord. 727 § 1, 2023)