Rules & Regulations

These rules and regulations are designed for the protection of owners of interment rights as a group. They are not intended to be restraining, but rather to prevent the inconsiderate from taking unfair advantage of others. Their enforcement will help protect your cemetery and create and preserve its beauty. All owners of interment rights, visitors, and contractors shall be subject to said rules and regulations, amendments or alterations as shall be adopted by the City of Norfolk. Any changes, which may, from time to time, be made in these regulations, will be the result of an endeavor to better carry out the City’s purpose of service to you.

General Regulations

Flowers, Ornaments, and Decorations
In order that the entire cemetery may always present as neat and orderly an appearance as is possible the following regulations on flowers, ornaments, and decorations are enforced.

• Cut or artificial flowers may be used to decorate graves provided they are placed in permanently installed, approved type containers or placed upon the monument or marker in such a manner that they are off of the ground, and do not interfere with mowing.
• Flowers, ornaments and decorations not in permanently installed, approved type containers are permitted from November 1st through February 28th and 7 days prior to and 7 days after both Easter and Memorial Day.
• A new Virginia law went into effect July 1st, 2021, that prohibits the release of balloons outdoors. The law applies to anyone aged 16 or older, who intentionally releases or discards any non-biodegradable balloons outdoors.
• All Christmas and seasonal decorations will be removed and discarded on March 1st to include, but not be limited to: figurines, lawn flags, objects on easels, stands or poles, memorial stones/rocks, and containers that may deter normal mowing and trimming operations. Only those floral tributes appropriate to the specific season and in a cemetery-approved container will remain.
• Grave decorations of any description, other than as provided herein, will not be permitted and if placed will be removed and discarded.
• The planting of live trees, shrubs and flowers is prohibited in City of Norfolk-owned 8 cemeteries. Unauthorized plantings will be removed.
  

Other regulations

• Out of respect for all those interred in our cemeteries and their families, play of the Pokémon Go game is prohibited in City of Norfolk cemeteries. Players will be asked to leave the grounds. 
• All persons are strictly forbidden to break or injure any tree or shrub, or mar any landmark, marker or memorial or in any way deface the grounds of the cemetery. No person shall go unnecessarily upon the lawns of the cemeteries or push or ride any bicycle or take any tractor, truck or car upon the lawns of the cemeteries.
• The cemetery management and their agents have the authority to enter upon any interment space or spaces and to remove any objectionable thing or any structure that may have been placed there contrary to the regulations of this cemetery.
• The cemetery is not responsible for theft or damage to anything placed on interment spaces.
• Burial of the body of any animal is prohibited in any cemetery owned or under the supervision of the city.
• Animals or fowl, including dogs and cats, of any kind are not permitted in the cemeteries unless there are kept on a leash. Please pick up pet waste in a bag, and dispose in garbage cans.
• Visiting hours for the cemeteries are sunrise to sunset. Any unauthorized person found on the grounds after dark will be considered a trespasser and may be prosecuted by the law.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call 757-441-1752.