Cemetery Rules & Regulations

Our rules and regulations are designed to ensure a respectful, safe, and beautiful environment for all families and visitors at Larkin Memorial Cemeteries.

General Information

These Rules and Regulations, established by Larkin Memorial Corporation (the “Grantor”), govern the use of Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery and Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery (hereinafter referred to as “the Cemetery” or “the Cemeteries”). These Rules and Regulations are subject to any provisions of applicable laws of the State of Utah.

Liability

Neither the Grantor nor the Cemetery will be held liable for any act of property owners, visitors, licensees, or trespassers within the Cemetery or for any damage to person or property within the Cemetery.

Neither the Grantor nor the Cemetery shall be liable for any damage caused by the elements, an act of God, common enemy, thieves, vandals, strikers, malicious mischief makers, explosions, unavoidable accidents, invasion, insurrections, riots, or order of any military or civil authority, whether the damage be direct or collateral, other than as herein provided.

Amendments

The right to make amendments or revisions to these Rules and Regulations, with or without notice to owners of property, from time to time, is hereby expressly reserved by the Executive Committee of Larkin Memorial Corporation. Such amendments or revisions shall be effective immediately for all lots and graves within the Cemetery.

Cemetery Care

The Cemetery is a private endowment care cemetery. “Endowment care” means the general maintenance of the cemetery and mausoleum areas. This care is funded by the endowment care trust, and the extent of maintenance may be limited by the available funds. The Cemetery shall have the authority to remove all floral designs, flowers, weeds, trees, shrubs, plants, or herbage of any kind from the Cemetery as soon as, in the judgment of the Cemetery Management, they become unsightly, dangerous, diseased, detrimental to adjacent graves, or when they do not comply with the standards maintained in the Cemetery or if for any other reason their removal is deemed necessary. The Cemetery also reserves the right to prevent the removal of any said item above unless it gives its consent. All maintenance of the Cemetery grounds shall be performed by the Cemeteries' grounds crew or by those whom the Cemetery Management has contracted with. Planting or digging, by other than Cemetery personnel, is prohibited. Personal landscaping is not allowed. The Cemetery is not responsible for damage caused by wildlife. The right to enlarge, reduce, replat, or change the boundaries or grading of the Cemetery or of a section or sections, from time to time, including the right to modify or change the locations of any part thereof or remove or regrade roads, drives, and walks, is hereby expressly reserved. The right to lay, maintain and operate, or alter or change pipelines or gutters for sprinkling systems, drainage, etc., is also expressly reserved, as well as is the right to use Cemetery property, not sold to individual owners, for Cemetery purposes. The Cemetery reserves to itself and to those lawfully entitled thereto, a perpetual right of ingress and egress over graves for purposes of passage to and from graves.

Hours of Operation

  • Cemetery: Open daily from dawn to dusk.
  • Mausoleums:
    • Larkin Sunset Gardens: 9 am - 6 pm Monday-Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm Sunday
    • Larkin Sunset Lawn: 8:30 am - 5 pm Monday-Saturday, 2 pm - 4 pm Sunday/Holidays
    • No smoking or vaping allowed inside the mausoleums.
  • Mortuary: 8:30 am - 5 pm Monday-Saturday

Decorations

  • Graves:
    • Artificial flowers are allowed only in Cemetery-purchased vases with secure cement/granite collars. Decorations must not extend below the vase's midpoint.
    • Other decorations, such as seasonal items or mementos, are allowed on graves only from November to February.
    • The Cemetery may remove decorations at its discretion if they become unsightly, damaged, or pose a safety hazard. Removed items may be retrieved from a designated bin near the Cemetery shops for a limited time.
    • Holiday decorations are removed one week after the respective holiday, except for Christmas decorations, which are removed on January 15th. Recognized holidays include Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, Fourth of July, Pioneer Day (July 24th), Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
    • Certain items are always prohibited, including glass jars, tin cans, pottery, wire, temporary metal grave markers, fencing, rock décor, and similar objects.
    • For special occasion decorations to remain for up to one week, obtain an orange tag from the mortuary receptionist and attach it to the decoration.
  • Mausoleums/Niches:
    • Walkway surfaces cannot be decorated. Only attached vases are permitted for floral tributes. The Cemetery may remove any decorations that become unsightly or obstruct access.
    • Glass-front niche decorations must be tasteful, inoffensive, and reflect positive community-oriented remembrances of the deceased. The Cemetery may remove any objectionable items.
    • A fee and authorization are required to change glass-front niche decorations. Only preapproved urns are allowed.
    • No vinyl, stickers, photos, or other objects may be affixed to crypt or niche fronts.

Property Transactions

  • Purchasing: The purchase of Cemetery property can be done by contacting a Larkin Cemetery specialist or by purchasing property from a current property owner who is selling said property. When the full purchase price of any property is paid, the Grantor will issue a Cemetery Deed to the purchaser.
  • Selling: The Cemetery does not buy back property that has already been purchased. To sell Cemetery property that you own, you may do so by advertising the sale to the public through what means possible. To finalize a sale of property, the seller will need to come to the Cemetery office and sign the Quit Claim Deed paperwork and pay the associated documentation fee.
  • Transferring: Cemetery property may be transferred to another location within the Cemetery or traded for funeral plans, subject to the Larkin Cemeteries Property Trade-in Policies.

Burials and Entombments

  • General:
    • Spaces are for human remains only.
    • 24-hour notice and full payment are required before any opening.
    • All services must be performed by authorized Cemetery personnel.
  • Interments/Inurnments:
    • Cemetery-approved outer burial containers (grave liners, vaults, etc.) are required.
    • Additional graves may be required for oversized containers, purchased at the current listed price.
    • Double Depth interment
      • Allowed in all graves at Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery
      • Allowed in certain graves at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery
    • Specific rules apply to the number of remains allowed in each type of grave (see supporting documents for details):
      • Single depth full-size grave: up to 3 remains, as space permits
      • Double depth full-size grave: up to 6 remains, as space permits
      • Full-size cremation grave: up to 2 remains, as space permits
      • Babyland grave: up to 2 remains, as space permits
  • Entombments/Innichements:
    • Embalming and protective casket enclosures are required for crypt entombment.
    • Caskets/urns must fit within the designated space.
    • No animal remains are allowed.
    • Specific rules apply to the number of remains allowed in each type of crypt/niche (see supporting documents for details):
      • Single crypt: up to 3 remains, as space permits
      • Tandem/companion crypt: up to 3 remains, as space permits
      • Single niche: up to 3 remains, as space permits
      • Companion niche: up to 3 remains, as space permits
      • Single niche boulder/granite coping block: 1 remain
      • Companion niche boulder: 2 remains

Memorials

  • Memorials (markers, crypt/niche fronts, ossuary cenotaph) must be inspected and approved by the Cemetery for quality, style, material, size, design, language, and content before installation.
  • All fees must be paid before placement.
  • Size and material restrictions:
    • Flat markers:
      • Allowed materials: Granite or bronze
      • Granite markers:
        • Single grave: Maximum size 18" x 32"
        • Double grave: Maximum size 20" x 48"
        • Must be at least 4" thick with a 1" frosted border (no engraving in the border)
      • Bronze markers:
        • Single grave: Maximum size 16" x 28"
        • Double grave: Maximum size 14" x 44"
        • Must have an appropriate granite or concrete border (determined by Cemetery Management)
        • No bell/crescent shaped markers allowed
    • Upright monuments and benches: Allowed only in designated areas and must be purchased from the Cemetery.
  • No more than two markers may be placed on a grave.
  • A setting and one-time maintenance fee is charged for all markers. This covers trimming, leveling, and potential replacement due to maintenance damage, but not bronze refinishing, photograph replacement, or personal items.
  • Standard engraving (name, dates, and a standard design) is included in the purchase of granite crypt/niche fronts. Additional/special engravings or pictures will be charged in accordance with the current listed price.
  • Each granite crypt/niche/marker can have up to three names engraved, space permitting
  • The ossuary cenotaph is engraved periodically with names and years of birth/death of those whose cremated remains are placed within.
  • The Grantor and the Cemetery reserve the right to correct any errors made by placing an improper inscription, description, incorrect name, or date on any memorial. They shall also have the right to relocate any memorial that may be placed on an improper grave space to be marked.
  • Only invertible vases with collars or attached to monuments are allowed on graves.

Disinterment/Reinterment

Disinterment (the removal of human remains) is a serious matter and must be requested by the burial right owner. All disinterment requests must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. The Cemetery prioritizes the health, welfare, and safety of its employees and the public. Therefore, the Cemetery Sexton has the authority to refuse or stop a disinterment at any time if it's determined to pose a danger or risk to anyone involved. Additionally, disinterment may be refused if it would disturb or damage an adjacent burial lot. Disinterment of remains of a person who died from a contagious disease within two years of burial is generally prohibited, unless the body was buried in a hermetically sealed casket or vault and remains so encased at the time of disinterment. All disinterment's and reinterments within the Cemetery must be performed exclusively by authorized Cemetery personnel, under the supervision of the Cemetery. Applicable fees, including those due to the Cemetery, Rocky Mountain Vault, Larkin Memorial Corporation, other cemeteries, and the State, must be paid in full before any disinterment or reinterment can be performed. Disinterment/reinterment scheduling is subject to the availability of the Cemetery crew and may be affected by the Cemetery's daily burial schedule. The proper paperwork from the Grantor and the State, in accordance with State Statute 26-2-17, must be completed in their entirety before any disinterment/reinterment takes place. The Cemetery reserves the right to correct any errors in burial locations, including the removal and transfer of remains to a grave of equal value and similar location if an error in interment has occurred.

Contact

Contact the Cemetery office for assistance, suggestions, or complaints. For additional information pertaining to these rules and regulations not contained herein, please inquire at the Cemetery office.