Groton Rural Cemetery
198 Clark Street, Groton, New York

1.    A non-deteriorating receptacle must be used on all interments. All interments and disinterments are to be made by the Cemetery. Authorization is to be made in writing by the owner or legal representative whenever a grave is to be opened. 

2.    Lot owners shall not allow interments to be made in their lot/s for remuneration; nor shall any transfer or assignment of a lot be valid until approved by the Cemetery Association. No transfer or assignment can be made after an interment has been made in the lot. The Cemetery assumes no responsibility for errors in accepting orders over the telephone.    
 
3.    Disinterments may be made on the consent of the Association and the written consent of the owner/owners of the lot and the surviving spouse and children, if of legal age, and the parents of the deceased.  If the consent of any such person/s cannot be obtained, or if the Association refuses its consent, the consent of the Supreme Court of Tompkins County shall suffice. 
 
4.    Plantings of any description shall not be made on any lot or grave except as outlined in Regulations #5,6&7 or where the written approval of the Cemetery has been obtained.  Any planting made without approval may be removed without notice. 
 
5.    Planting of annual flowers on graves is a privilege granted, provided adequate provision is made for the care required to keep such plantings in order.  Flowers, plantings, decorations of any kind may only be placed on the memorial monument/marker, on the monument/marker’s concrete foundation or directly in front of the monument/marker’s foundation, extending no more than twelve (12) inches from the front edge of the foundation and not past the width of the foundation.  

6.    No wire, glass, plastic, or other material deemed harmful to cemetery equipment or personnel by the Cemetery sexton/caretaker will be permitted to be used as edging of this defined area.  Should the plantings or decorations become overgrown, unsightly or encroach on adjacent graves or lots, the Association shall have the right to remove such plantings and put the lot or grave in order at the expense of the lot owner.   
 
7.    No trees, bushes (including rose bushes, lilacs, or ornamental shrubs) shall be planted on any lot and or grave without the express written permission of the Cemetery sexton/caretaker.  If any trees or shrubs shall by means of their roots or branches become detrimental to or encroach upon adjacent lots or paths or become unsightly, the Association shall have the right to enter said lot and remove said trees, shrubs, or such parts thereof as they determine to be detrimental or unsightly. No tree growing in the Cemetery shall be cut down, trimmed, or otherwise altered without the consent of the Association. 
 
8.    A maximum of two metal flag holders shall be allowed on any grave.
 
9.    Ornamental plant/flower hangers or solar lights of any kind must either be installed in the ground in front of the memorial monument/marker as defined in Regulation #6 or securely attached to the memorial monument/marker or concrete foundation.  A maximum of two in any combination are allowed with each memorial monument/marker placed on any lot or grave. This rule also applies to any unmarked grave or lot that contains a burial.  Any more than two items shall be removed by the Cemetery sexton/caretaker.  Nothing is to be hung in trees or placed more than 12” from the front of a monument. 
 
10.    Plant/s in pots or urns may be placed for Memorial Day and are not to be glass or china. They should be reclaimed by October 15th.  After that date, any items of obvious value will be placed by the cemetery garage for reclamation until the end of that year, the remainder will be discarded.

11.    Decorative stone like the type used for mulch is not allowed. Mylar balloons are not allowed along with full beers or empty beer bottles. Do not leave food items. Shepard style hooks for hanging pots are not to exceed 3 feet in height, as they can be a hazard. And, nothing is to be in the ground on the back side of the monument, no stakes, flags, plants, etc.      
 
12.    While the Cemetery Association is concerned with the protection of lot decorations, such as plantings, flowers, etc., it cannot assume responsibility for their protection from unauthorized removal by unknown persons (theft). 
 
13.    No memorial monument/marker shall be placed on any lot until a deed for such lot has been issued to the lot owner/s. 
 
14.    All foundations for memorials/monuments shall be placed by the Cemetery, the charges for which shall be reasonable, uniform, and approved by the State Cemetery Board.  The Cemetery shall accept responsibility for the proper construction of such foundations.  Application for installation of foundations shall be in writing, giving a lot owner/s name, address, section and lot number. 
 
15.    Should any memorial monument/marker become unsightly, dilapidated, or a menace to visitors, the Cemetery shall have the right, at the expense of the owner/s, to correct the condition of the memorial monument/marker. 
 
16.    Dogs are not be permitted in the Cemetery; there are signs at each entrance. 
 
17.    Use of lanes or roads for motorcycles, bicycles, snowmobiles, and other unlicensed vehicles is prohibited. 
 
18.    Any soliciting of memorial business within the Cemetery including unsolicited approaching of the bereaved for any purpose is not permitted.   
 
19.    No lot owner shall erect, or cause to be erected or placed on any lot, any memorial monument/marker in respect of which the Cemetery Association disapproves because it is detrimental to the harmonious appearance of the cemetery grounds in general. 
 
20.    All prices, charges, and fees shall be authorized by the State Cemetery Board and are available upon request and are also posted on the bulletin board next to the chapel.   
 
21.    Foundations on single grave lots shall not exceed a maximum of 36” (36 inches) in width.  Foundations on multiple grave lots shall not exceed 60% of width of said lots. 
 
22.    A single full lot may have a maximum of one regular adult burial and one cremation burial or a maximum of two cremation burials. 
 
23.    Monuments for burial lots will be limited to one (1) upright monument/marker or stone with a flush marker at the opposite end of the lot or two flush markers, one at each end of the lot. 
 
24.    Upright gravestone/markers are not allowed in CR or R Section.  These section markers are to be flush ground. 

 
~ These rules and regulations were amended at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Groton Cemetery Association on July 22, 2025.