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1. I need to buy rights to a cemetery plot/grave, where do I go first?

Come by the Town's Operations Center located at 653 NC Highway 42 West, at the intersection of NC 42 Highway West and Guy Road, where you will be referred to a member of our Public Works staff. Our staff member will first need to determine which cemetery you are interested in and then identify plots or graves that may interest you. Upon request, an appointment can be made to visit the cemetery with our staff to view the site or sites that you have chosen. After selection of the plot(s) or grave(s), you would then go back to the
Operations Center and complete the appropriate forms with the Public Works Administrative Support Specialist.

2. What is the cost for a grave?

The cost for a grave is currently $1,000 per grave.

3. What is the cost to open and close a grave (interment)?

• Standard interment Monday through Saturday: $900
• Standard interment Sunday and Holidays: $1,200
• Cremains interment Monday through Saturday: $450
• Cremains interment Sunday and Holidays: $900

No interments will take place on Good Friday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year's Day. Interment costs can be prepaid, but must be paid in full before an interment is authorized.

4. When I have selected the plot/grave(s) that I wish to purchase a license for, how can I pay for it?

The Town offers two options:

• Pay in full using cash, check, or credit card.
• Payment plan which requires a minimum payment of one lot with the balance for any additional lots due on or before June 30th following the purchase.

No burial can take place and no license can be executed until the grave is paid in full. Any grave not paid for in full according to these terms will revert to the Town with no refunds being granted. Hardship cases will be determined by the Town Manager or his designee. Cemetery Ordinance 92.01.C

5. Will I get a license for my plot/grave?

Yes. After each grave is paid in full, a license will be completed and sent to the licensee, per Cemetery Ordinance 92.01.A. Please remember to retain this document for future reference.

6. Will each grave be marked with a permanent marker?

As part of the purchase price for the rights to the graves, effective October 1, 2012, the Town will provide a footstone for each grave that includes the name of the deceased, their year of birth, and year of death. In addition to the footstone, graves are still permitted to have a headstone. 

Flush Monuments are required in sections A, B, C, D, E, I, J and K of Maplewood Cemetery and all of Forest Hills Cemetery. If you are not sure where these sections are located, please check with the Public Works Administrative Support Specialist. Cemetery Ordinance 92.07

7. Can I transfer this property to another person or persons?

Yes. First, contact the Operations Center (919-553-1530) and request a Transfer of Cemetery Lot form. After completing this form, submit along with your deed or license to the Public Works Administrative Support Specialist. This form will legally document the transfer of said rights from the original owner(s) or licensee(s) to the person or persons that will become the new licensee of the property. The Town will prepare a new license for the site and mail to the new licensee. This will not take place until all applicable fees are paid by the licensee. Cemetery Ordinance 92.01

8. Are there any other things I should keep in mind regarding cemeteries?

Some Things to Remember:

1. Flush Monuments are required in sections A, B, C, D, E, I, J and K of Maplewood Cemetery and all of Forest Hills Cemetery. If you are not sure where these sections are located, please check with the Public Works Administrative Support Specialist.
2. The Town provides perpetual care for all Town-owned cemeteries. Removal, destruction, or defacement of any headstone, monument, or other materials in any Town-owned cemetery is prohibited unless one or more of the following apply (Cemetery Ordinance 92.07):
   a) the site is your property
   b) you have obtained written consent from the rightful property owner
   c) you have received written permission from the Town Manager
3. No animals are allowed within any Town-owned cemetery (Cemetery Ordinance 92.11).
4. Please keep all vehicular traffic on the roadways while adhering to the designated 15 mph speed limit (Cemetery Ordinance 92.09).
5. The Town does provide police protection for all Town-owned and maintained cemeteries. No person or persons shall be inside any Town-owned cemetery after sunset or 7:00 p.m., whichever comes first, until sunrise on the following morning (Cemetery Ordinance 92.10).
6. The Town is not responsible for any loss or damage to any grave marker, vase or other property within the Cemetery as a result of the elements, storms, theft, trespassers, or operation of automobiles by visitors to the Cemetery (Cemetery Ordinance 92.1).
7. No borders, coping, fencing, hedging or enclosure of any kind around any grave are allowed in the Cemetery. No benches, night lights, or sundials are permitted (Cemetery Ordinance 92.07).