Do You Need to Contact the Cemetery Office First

Recently, someone from our community emailed me with this question: “Should you reach out to cemeteries you will be working in? Do they have policies for contractors who will be coming and going?”

My answer: It depends. 😊 

Today, most cemeteries have rules for workers who come in to install headstones, level foot markers, etc. Basically, jobs that require power tools and make noise/disrupt the cemetery, or work that could injure someone. But the rules I’ve seen do not cover the types of services we do as grave tending professionals. 

Because we don’t use power tools or heavy equipment, and we’re not altering the headstone (just removing the dirt and lichen), the rules for contractors/monument companies don’t make sense. Since grave tending is so new to most cemeteries, I don’t want the cemetery to simply start expecting grave care professionals to follow the same rules (i.e. calling the cemetery two weeks prior to work, applying for work permits, sending insurance forms, etc.).

Changing Tides

However, in the past twelve months, when I called to ask for the location of a headstone, I've had two separate cemetery offices ask me for paperwork.

The first cemetery required a form, signed by the client, that listed the work I was doing, and confirming it was okay for me to be working on their gravesite. After eight years of not needing a form, I was a bit spooked by this requirement, but my client was completely cool with it.

Although the woman at the cemetery office was firm, she was very nice about it. And once she had the paperwork, she even drew a map to where the headstones were located (it’s a very hilly, confusing cemetery in the woods). Now I know to contact her whenever I have a client in that cemetery, and that she’ll be supportive of our work.

The worker at the other cemetery office really didn’t “get it”—he had me send my Workers Compensation (insurance) certificate and didn’t understand why I didn’t have a formal contract drawn up with my client. (I may send my client a Quote that outlines the work and cost, but it’s never very formal…I’ll talk about that in a future post!)

I see this as a growing trend, but for now, I read the Cemetery Regulations on each cemetery’s website and make sure I’m following the rules as written.

Making Connections

If you have a few cemeteries that you do a lot of work in, it’s a good idea to connect with their office, for a few reasons. First and foremost, sometimes people call the cemetery and ask for grave tending services. It’s good to be on their list for referral…and usually, you’ll be the only one on it! It’s also nice to have that relationship when you call to ask for the location of a headstone. 

As this industry evolves, you may see new requirements popping up. Just keep a note of each cemetery’s process so you know to follow it with each new client. But remember that grave tending is gentle, whether you’re cleaning or planting; you’re not doing more than any plot owner would be allowed to do. And if a cemetery asks for papers while you’re on site, you can show them your folder with your client contact form, cemetery map, and other documents, as proof that you have your client’s permission to be there.