Rules & Regulations
General
1. The objective of these Rules and Regulations is the development and maintenance of the Cemeteries on a sound, self-sustaining basis that will serve the interests of the Lot Owners, the Wilton community, Hillside Cemetery and the Wilton Congregational Church, Inc.
2. The provisions herein are subject to the appropriate Laws of the State of Connecticut as already enacted or hereafter to be enacted.
3. The Cemetery Affairs Committee and Administrator (herein referred to as Cemetery Authorities) may change these Rules and Regulations adopted by The Wilton Congregational Church as of June 1, 1949, and amended by the Cemetery Authorities of The Wilton Congregational Church, Inc. on July 10, 2024, at any time without notice to the Lot Owners. Rules & Regulations Booklets are available at the Church Office. Every buyer will receive a booklet prior to purchase of a plot. Rules and Regulations are also posted on our website www.hillsidecemeterywilton.org.
4. These rules and regulations shall apply to any Grave, Memorial Garden, or Plot now in existence or which may hereafter be erected in the Cemeteries. In the event of any dispute in the interpretation of these Rules and Regulations, the determination of the Cemetery Authorities shall be binding upon the Lot Owners.
5. In all matters not specifically covered by these rules and regulations the Cemetery Authorities reserve the right without notice to make temporary exceptions, suspensions or modification in any of these rules and regulations when in their judgment the same appear to be advisable; and such temporary exception, suspension, or modification shall in no way be considered as affecting the general application of such rule.
6. Pertinent questions not covered by the Rules and Regulations may be referred to the Cemetery Authorities.
7. Hillside Cemetery has earned the Hybrid Level of certification by the Green Burial Council (CBG).
Cemetery Authorities
1. The Cemetery Affairs Committee and the Cemetery Administrator have charge of the Cemetery activities. Herein referred to as Cemetery Authorities.
2. An adequate system of records, accounts and reports shall be set up and maintained by the Cemetery Authorities.
3. The Cemetery Authorities shall keep a record of all meetings of the Cemetery Affairs Committee.
4. Meetings of the Cemetery Authorities shall be held at the call of the Chair or Administrator and/or at the request of two or more members.
5. A schedule of prices, prepared by the Cemetery Authorities, covering Burial Lots, Interments, and other Cemetery Services, shall be updated periodically and available as required.
6. The Cemetery Authorities shall keep all records pertaining to interments and shall be available for consultation regarding Burial Sites, Interments, and other Cemetery Services.
Cemetery Conduct
1. Visitors are permitted within the cemetery during the daylight hours and shall use only avenues, roads and walkways designated, unless it necessary to walk on the grass to gain access to one’s own plot. Vehicles will not be allowed upon any plot, lawn or walk and must keep on the roads or parking areas. The Cemetery Authorities expressly disclaim liability for any injuries sustained by anyone violating this rule.
2. All persons while on cemetery property will be expected to conduct themselves in an orderly and considerate manner, and failing to do so may be excluded from the cemetery grounds and will be considered trespassers.
3. No pets, other than service animals, are permitted in the cemetery.
4. All persons are prohibited from moving, writing upon, scratching, defacing, mutilating or injuring any tree, plant, shrub, monument, fence or other structure in or belonging to the Cemetery.
Decoration Regulations
1. The Cemetery shall not be liable for vases, floral pieces, baskets or flowers in which or to which such floral pieces are attached.
2. Lawns shall not be disturbed for any purpose except under the supervision of the Cemetery Authorities. Planting of trees, shrubs, vines and bushes are forbidden.
3. No brick, stone, curbing, plastic fencing, or any other type of material may be used to outline grave or planting area in front of headstone.
4. The right is reserved to regulate the method of decorations of plots so that uniform beauty may be maintained. Permitted objects include flags, small toys, planted flowers, cut flowers, potted plants if secured and holiday arrangements placed no further than 24 inches in front of the headstone. All glass objects, containers, vases including candle votives are prohibited due to potential breakage and injury to visitors and maintenance workers. No objects or plantings are allowed behind the headstone. The Cemetery reserves the right to remove objects that do not comply with said rules or when they are no longer appropriate.
5. Fall Cleanup is designated from November 1st through Monday before Thanksgiving. During this period, all decorations are removed, and the Cemetery grounds are prepared for the winter season.
6. Spring Cleanup is designated from March 1st through May 15th. During this period all fall and winter decorations are removed, and the grounds are prepared for the spring season.
7. Fresh floral displays placed on graves following interment will be removed after ten days.
8. All persons are prohibited from picking flowers, wild or cultivated, or from improperly displacing any floral decorations.
9. The Cemetery Authorities reserve the right to remove any floral displays or plantings that become withered and/or unsightly.
10. The decoration of trees is strictly prohibited.
11. The Cemetery Authorities reserve the right to remove or prune any trees or shrubbery previously planted in the cemetery which in the Cemetery Authorities sole opinion, may mar the beauty of the cemetery or may encroach upon or interfere with other plots or graves, or which has been previously placed without written permission.
12. With the express permission of the Cemetery Authorities footstones, benches, concrete urns, pedestals, images, or statuary may be permitted on a particular plot but in no case may the lawn be disturbed, and such decorations may be removed within the reasonable discretion of the Cemetery Authorities.
13. The Cemetery Authorities disclaim all responsibility for loss or damage from cause beyond their reasonable control, especially from damage by an act of nature, the elements, earthquakes, war, common enemy, air raids, invasions, insurrections, riots order of any military or civil authorities, thieves, vandals, strikers, malicious mischief makers, explosions, unavoidable accidents, or any cause similar or dissimilar beyond the control of the Cemetery Authorities whether the damage be direct or collateral.
14. In the event it becomes necessary to reconstruct or repair any section or plot including graves, or any portions of the cemetery, which have been damaged by such causes, the Cemetery Authorities shall give a 14-day written notice of the necessity for such repairs to the plot holder of record. The notice shall be given by depositing the same in the United States mail with postage thereon duly prepaid, addressed to the plot holder of record at his or her address stated on the books of Hillside Cemetery. In the event that the plot holder fails to repair the damage within a reasonable time the Cemetery Authorities may direct that the repairs be made and charge the expense against the plot and to the plot holder of record.
15. It shall be the duty of the plot holder to notify the Cemetery Authorities of any change in his/her address. Notice sent to a plot holder at the last address in the Cemetery records shall be considered sufficient and proper legal notice.
16. The Hillside Cemetery Purchase Agreement is reproduced in its entirety in the back of this booklet.
16. Click here for a copy of the Hillside Cemetery Purchase Agreement.
Contracts and Procedures
1. An updated map of all Cemetery Plots shall be available to properly authorized persons.
2. An initial deposit is required for each gravesite purchased. All gravesites must be paid in full within 12 months from bill of sale and before a monument or headstone may be placed. Under no circumstances will a burial be permitted until all outstanding balances are paid in full.
3. Perpetual Care of Cemetery Lots is to be understood as care and maintenance necessitated by natural growth and ordinary wear. This includes cutting of lawns, the pruning and/or removal of shrubs and trees that are the property of the cemetery, the removal of leaves, the cleaning and maintenance of roadways, walks and buildings, provided there are sufficient funds for these purposes. The term “care” shall in no case mean the doing of any special or unusual work in the Cemetery nor does it mean the reconstruction of any granite, bronze or concrete work on any section of the grave or lot or any portions thereof in the Cemetery, injured or damaged by any cause, direct or indirect, beyond the Cemetery’s reasonable control.
4. The responsibility for the maintenance and repair, including cleaning and refurbishing, of monuments or markers placed by the Lot Owner lies with the Lot Owner. Lot Owners are required to accept responsibility for any damage that may occur to monuments, markers, headstones, footstones, benches, or any other decoration placed at a Lot Owners gravesite. Similarly, the Lot Owner is responsible for the care of any grandfathered tree, shrub, vine, hedge, flowers, vase, urn, or receptacle placed on a grave or lot with the approval of the Cemetery Authorities.
5. A Rights to Burial document shall be executed by the Cemetery Authorities for each grave sold, upon completion of payment of same, and recorded by the Cemetery Authorities.
6. All graves shall be used for no other purpose than as a place of burial. One grave is suitable for one full burial and one cremation, or two cremations only. One grave in the Natural Burial Section is suitable for one full burial only. No disinterment may occur in the Natural Burial Section. One spot in the Cremation Memorial Garden is suitable for one cremation only.
7. The plot owner is responsible for the purchase, maintenance and installation of any monument, slab, headstone, footstone or marker, benches, and any foundations for the same. The aforementioned must be placed within the inside dimensions of the grave and/or plot and shall be subject to the approval of the Cemetery Authorities as to its size, form, material, and location on the grave. The decision of the Cemetery Authorities is final. Without such approval and supervision, the grave owner may be held liable for the removal of any such installation.
8. No monuments may be placed in the Natural Burial Section.
9. No monument may be placed until the gravesite is paid in full and the Rights to Burial document has been issued. All monuments, headstones, footstones, or other markers must be approved by the cemetery office prior to installation.
10. No mausoleums, corner markers, posts or curbstones are permitted. Any secondary stones on a plot must be level with the ground.
Interments
1. Traditional Sections: One grave is suitable for one full burial and one cremation, or two cremations only.
2. Natural Burial Section: One grave is suitable for one full burial only.
Decedents that have not been embalmed or those embalmed only with GBC-approved, nontoxic chemicals are accepted for burial.
Cemetery does not require the use of a vault (partial, inverted, or otherwise), a vault lid, concrete box, slab or partitioned liner in the Natural Burial Section.
All burial containers, shrouds, and other associated products are made only of natural, biodegradable materials.
Families have the opportunity to participate in the burial.
3. A proposed plan for interments, with each grave identified, is available upon application to the Administrator.
4. A proper burial permit issued by the Registrar of Vital Statistics of the town wherein death occurred and a written order of the grave owner, or his heirs or representatives, designating the location of the grave, must be presented to the Administrator in connection with any interment and filed with the Cemetery Authorities.
5. Notice of interments must be given to the Administrator, and all interments arranged with the Administrator in advance of the interment and shall specify:
NAME OF DECEASED
GRAVE OWNER (Name and address)
GRAVE NUMBER
GRAVE LOCATION
NAME OF FUNERAL HOME
EXACT EXTERIOR SIZE OF LINER OR VAULT if required
DATE REQUESTED FOR INTERMENT
TIME OF ARRIVAL OF FUNERAL AT CEMETERY
6. Graves may be opened only by persons authorized by the Cemetery Authorities, and all expenses of such opening and closing shall be paid in advance.
7. All interments shall be under the supervision of the Cemetery Authorities.
8. Disinterments will be permitted only (a) upon the written consent of the Cemetery Authorities and of the owner or owners of the grave, or (b) pursuant to an order of a court having competent jurisdiction.
9. All disinterments shall be made in conformity with the laws of the State of Connecticut and under the supervision of the Cemetery Authorities.
10. No disinterments will be permitted in the Natural Burial section.
Cremation Memorial Garden
A separate area of the cemetery is designated as a Cremation Memorial Garden, with the following Rules and Regulations
1. One spot in the Cremation Memorial Garden is suitable for one cremation only.
2. No cement liners are allowed.
3. Only Hillside Cemetery flat markers may be installed.
4. No plantings are allowed.
5. Cremated remains may be scattered in a designated area in the Cremation Memorial Garden with approval from the Cemetery Authorities. Contact office for fee.
6. Notice of use of the Cremation Memorial Garden must be arranged with the Administrator at least three days in advance.
Bequests
Arrangements may be made with the Cemetery Authorities, by anyone so desiring, for Bequests or Donations to the Hillside Cemetery for the perpetuity and development of its Cemetery Program.
General Provisions
Hundreds of people visit the cemetery each year, many visit in a single day. Because the cemetery is open to the public, it is very difficult to control the activity of every visitor. We regret we cannot protect decorations from damage or theft. The cemetery has established the fairest set of rules for all families and tries to enforce them reasonably and uniformly, although some grandfathering does exist.
No glass containers, vases, decorations, including votive candles are permitted at Hillside Cemetery and the Cremation Memorial Garden. This is for the safety of our visitors and maintenance workers.
Please do not outline graves by stripping a border of sod in or around the grave.
No brick, stone, curbing, plastic fencing, or any other type of material may be used to outline grave or planting area in front of headstone.
Lot Owners are required to accept responsibility for any damage that may occur to monuments, markers, headstones, footstones, benches, or any other decoration placed at a Lot Owners gravesite.
All monuments, headstones, footstones, or other markers must be approved by the cemetery office prior to installation.
No monuments, headstones, footstones, or other markers are allowed in the natural burial section.
No bushes, trees or perennial shrubs may be planted at the gravesite.
To avoid damage to lawns, please park on the roads, not on the grass.
Please use the dumpster located at the top of the hill near the garage.
No pets, other than service animals, are permitted in the cemetery.
All decorations and plantings become the property of Hillside Cemetery and based upon their judgment, the staff will remove any and all decorations and plantings that become withered and/or unsightly. Decorations not permitted include glass of any kind, marble chips, gravel, Belgian block, coping, edging and styrofoam.
For safety and insurance reasons, artificial decorations are not allowed except as follows:
During the winter season (Thanksgiving through March 1st)
Within 24-inch planting area in front of the monument (headstone must be in place)
YEAR ROUND GUIDELINES
For safety reasons, no crushed stones will be allowed on any graves in front of monuments or around flush markers. Placing stones, pavers, or bricks in front of monuments or flush markers is not permitted and will be removed.
Grave blankets or sprays will not be permitted and will be removed.
If you wish to save your decorations, please remove them within the periods indicated.
Fresh flower arrangements will be removed from interments after ten days.
Decoration of trees is strictly prohibited.
No plantings are allowed in the Cremation Memorial Garden
DECORATIONS FOR THE GROWING SEASON
(April 15th through Thanksgiving)
Plantings of flowers are permitted in front of monuments, not to exceed the width of the monument, and not to exceed more than 24 inches in front of the monument. No plastic, brick, stone, or wooden edging is permitted. Planting behind monuments is not allowed.
No planting of trees or shrubbery is permitted.
Potted plants and artificial flowers are permitted in front of monuments, not to exceed the same limitations stated above.
Flower boxes must be level with the grade in front of monuments, not to exceed the same limitations stated above.
Fall Cleanup: November 1st through Monday before Thanksgiving. During this period, all decorations are removed, and the cemetery grounds are prepared for the winter season. Please remove all decorations before November 1st or they will be discarded.
DECORATIONS FOR THE NON-GROWING SEASON
(Monday before Thanksgiving through March 1st)
All winter decorations must be removed after the growing season.
Christmas wreaths may be a maximum of 24 inches and may either be placed in the 24-inch area in front of the monument or secured to the monument.
Artificial flowers and/or evergreen boughs in boxes or pots may be placed in the 24-inch area in front of the monument.
Spring Cleanup: March 1st through March 15th. During this period all fall and winter decorations are removed, and the grounds are prepared for the spring season. Please refrain from placing any new decorations during this time frame as all decorations will be discarded.
Security
Hillside Cemetery shall retain a security interest in and title to the gravesite herein until all payments contracted for hereunder have been made and Purchaser has fully performed all other conditions hereunder.
Use
Purchaser agrees that the burial/inurnment space purchased hereunder is for burial purposes only and not for speculation or investment. One grave is suitable for one full burial and one cremation, or two cremations only. One spot in the Cremation Memorial Garden is suitable for one cremation only. One grave in the Natural Burial Section is suitable for one full burial only. No disinterment may occur in the Natural Burial Section. For more information regarding Natural Burial, refer to the Rules and Regulations.
Purchaser
An initial deposit of $500.00 is required for each gravesite purchased. All gravesites must be paid in full within 12 months from bill of sale and before a monument or headstone may be placed. Under no circumstances will a burial be permitted until all outstanding balances are paid in full. No deeds will be issued or filed until balances are paid in full.
Cancellation – Refund
This Agreement may be cancelled by Purchaser within thirty (30) days of execution, and all monies paid will be returned within thirty (30) days.
Substitution
For a period of thirty (30) days from the date of this Agreement, Purchaser shall have the right to select for purchase, in lieu of the burial space described herein, any other non-contracted burial space in our Cemetery of equal or greater value. In the event such selection is timely made, we shall apply to the new purchase price all monies paid by Purchase under this Agreement.
Charges Not Included
The Purchase Price agrees to hereunder cover the cost of perpetual care and maintenance. Said Purchase Price does not include the burial fee or cost of any charges customarily billed by a monument company or a funeral director in connection with a burial.
Restrictions
Hillside Cemetery retains the right to restrict the size, type, and style of all monuments with its Rules and Regulations. All monuments, headstones, footstones, or other markers must be approved by the cemetery office prior to installation.
Assignability
No assignment or transfer by Purchaser of this Agreement or of the burial rights hereby purchased shall be valid without the Cemetery Authorities prior written approval.