Terms of Sale

1. Any person who owns a cemetery lot, a member of the owner’s family, or an owner’s descendent must either use the cemetery lot, or at least one burial place within the lot, within thirty (30) years of the date purchased (hereinafter the “Termination Date”), or renew their interests in the cemetery at no charge prior to the Termination Date.
2. The Board shall have a right of reentry of any cemetery lot sold after the enactment of these rules and regulations if an owner of a cemetery lot, a member of the owner’s family, or an owner’s descendent does not use the cemetery lot, or at least one burial place within the lot, by the Termination Date or renew their interests in the cemetery prior to the Termination Date. At least ninety days prior to the Termination Date for use of the cemetery lot, the Board shall send a notice to the owner to inform him or her that their interest in the lot will cease on the Termination Date unless he or she contracts for renewal by that date. The Board shall send the notice by certified mail to the owner if the owner is a resident of the township or a nonresident whose address is known. If the owner’s address is unknown and cannot reasonably be obtained, it is sufficient to publish the notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Franklin County. In order to establish reentry, the Board shall pass a resolution stating that the conditions of the sale or the deed have not been fulfilled, and that the Board reclaims its interest in the lot.
3. The Board shall compensate the owner of unused lots who do not renew the terms of sale or the deed by paying the owner eighty per cent of the original purchase price of the lot.
4. Deeds for all cemetery lots sold after the effective date of these rules and regulations shall contain a notice of the Board’s right of reentry if an owner of a cemetery lot, a member of the owner’s family, or an owner’s descendent does not use the cemetery lot, or at least one burial place within the lot, by the Termination Date or renew their interests in the cemetery lot prior to the Termination Date.
5. The ownership of a deed to a lot does not confirm any right to do planting nor erect a monument, mausoleum, marker, etc. upon said lot without written approval of the Board.
6. An owner of a lot shall advise the Board in writing of any change of address.
7. The owner of a lot agrees not to sell cemetery lots to any third party.
8. Lots may be sold back to the Board at the original purchase price per grave.
9. The use of an outside burial vault is required for all full burials. Internment of cremated remains must be in a sealed non-biodegradable container.
10. Burial of non-human remains is not permitted.
11. Lots purchased for any person other than immediate family of a Plain Township resident (as defined below) shall be purchased at the nonresident price. The Board will require proof that the blood relative resides in the buyer’s home at the time of death. In order to avoid disagreement about grave assignment, at the time of purchase, the individuals for whom graves are purchased must be identified and assigned to the individual lots.
12. Cemetery lots will be sold in even numbers, e.g. two lots or four lots, etc. Odd numbered lots will only be sold in designated areas.
13. A maximum of four (4) burial lots may be purchased at the resident price by a resident. A resident may purchase a maximum of four (4) additional lots at the non-resident price. After moving out of Plain Township, a resident shall have up to six months to purchase graves at the resident rate. A maximum of eight (8) lots total may be purchased by the members of a single household. A non-resident may purchase a maximum of eight (8) lots at the non-resident price. This ensures the prospective purchaser is not buying for more than his or her immediate family.  The Board may approve the purchase of additional lots by resolution upon the written request of the purchaser.
14. By majority vote, the Board of Trustees may open or close sections of the cemetery for sales of cemetery lots.

Care of Cemetery

1. No obstruction that protrudes from any grave to hinder cemetery maintenance or public safety is allowed. Any such item will be removed by the Cemetery Caretaker.
2. Artificial flowers, grave blankets and wreaths are allowed on grounds from December 1 to March 1. Beginning March 1 through November 30, no artificial flowers, grave blankets or wreaths will be allowed on the grounds. Any such items left on the grounds after March 15 will be removed by the cemetery caretaker.

Planting

1. Planting in back of monuments is not permitted. Planting will be permitted only toward the East Side (New Albany Reynoldsburg Road). No planting is allowed on foot markers. All plantings must be within 12″ of a headstone or monument and no wider than grave width.
2. No shrubbery may be planted on any lot. The cemetery caretaker reserves the right to remove any shrubbery, flowers or trees that are deemed to be overgrown, diseased, improperly cared for, or infringes on another lot. The cemetery caretaker also reserves the right to remove plantings (shrubbery or trees) that have been planted without prior written approval.
3. No plants with thorns, rose bushes or peony bushes are permitted at any time.
4. Statues or figurines must be attached to the monument. They cannot be placed on the ground.
5. The following decorations are not permitted:

• Bird baths
• Loose stone
• Glass vases
• Any border or fence of any material
• Shepherds hooks

6. Cemetery personnel are not responsible for damage to monuments, vases, eternal candles, flag holders, flowerbeds, etc. as a result of vandalism, theft or items left by lot owners.

Monument Restrictions

Monument Companies must make arrangements with the cemetery caretaker before installing a monument, as cemetery personnel should be present.

1. Number of monuments per grave space – no more than two (2) monuments will be allowed on one grave space, restrictions are as follows:
   Two flush markers at the head of the grave with a size limit of 14″x24″ for each marker, one flush marker at the head and one at the foot of the grave. No markers will be placed in the middle of aisles.
2. Single grave monuments for one space shall not exceed 36″ long by 14″ wide, 42″ high.
3. Persons owning more than one grave space but using individual markers at the head of each space will be restricted to the size listed under 1, 2 & 4 in this section.
4. Companion monuments will be centered over two grave spaces. The size limit is 54″ Length, 14″ width and 36″ height.
5. Monument foundation – all monument foundations will be installed by cemetery personnel.
6. No monument foundation will be poured without a written foundation order from a monument company – no verbal foundation orders.
7. The cemetery caretaker recommends waiting one year after the internment before a monument is placed.
8. Monument foundations will be poured in the spring, summer and fall. Monument foundation requests must be received by May 1, July 1, and October 1 for completion each Spring, Summer and Fall, respectively. Orders received after October 1 will not be fulfilled until the following spring season.

Parking

1. Visitors are required to park in the parking lot for extended visits to Maplewood Cemetery. Due to the narrow roads, parking on the driveways is limited to 20 minutes. Vehicles are not to leave the paved surface as this damages the turf.

Hours

1. Plain Township Cemeteries are open to the public beginning at 7:00 am. Plain Township Cemeteries close at 8:00 pm from April 1 through September 30 and 6:00 pm from October 1 through March 31. Visitors are not permitted in the cemetery when the cemetery is closed.

Please click Cemetery Rules and Regulations for a printable copy of the rules and regulations.