What rights do municipal and county owned cemeteries have regarding the removal of unauthorized items on cemetery spaces?
It depends on the contract the cemetery signs with the purchaser and what regulations are in place. If the cemetery transferred ownership rights (as in fee simple title) to the family of the deceased, the cemetery has little right to remove items from the gravesite. However, if only interment rights have been given to the family, the cemetery can regulate the use of the grave plot. The cemetery can develop regulations or bylaws to regulate items placed on the grave spaces.
