Basic Operating Rules and Regulations

Section 1) Burial Permits: A burial permit and temporary or permanent marker is required for each interment and all burial permits must be filed with the cemetery Sexton. Cremains do not require a burial permit. Appropriate documentation of name and dates must be provided for cremains inurnments./p>

There will be no service that extends beyond 3:30 in the afternoon for interments.

Section 1-A) Markers: For long-term maintenance vertical monuments/headstones should be at the head end lined up with the rest of the row. Any additional monuments, not in that line, will be flush with the ground. The Cemetery District does not allow bench monuments. All inscriptions and proofs will be approved by the Cemetery Sexton or designated employee. The Cemetery reserves the right to reject markers that are not approved.

Section 2) Cremains: The spreading of cremains above ground in the cemetery is strictly prohibited. All cremains shall be below ground level or in the columbarium. More than one cremation is allowed in a burial site but there must be adequate space for grave markers. Cremations may be buried without a vault or liner. The Sexton must be notified, and the grave excavation must be done by the Sexton or designated employee.

Section 3) Vaults: All interments except cremations and green burials must be made in concrete liners, concrete vaults, or steel vaults. The concrete liners shall be made according to the specifications designed by the Sexton and no other liners shall be used. No more than one full grave site with a full burial will accommodate one liner and only one full size liner or vault shall be used in a single gravesite.

Section 4) Green Burials: Green burials, sometimes called natural burials, are allowed at the discretion of the Sexton in all sections of the cemetery, except cremation plots (spaces). The remains may be in a biodegradable cloth shroud or a biodegradable tray such as a willow tray. The remains will not be embalmed. The grave for green burials must be at least four feet deep.

Section 5) Tombs: No individual tombs shall be erected above ground.

Section 6) Foundations: Monuments that are flush with the ground are allowed (this ensures easier care for the monuments). All foundations for monument must extend four inches beyond installed flush with ground level. The charge for installing the foundation shall be at the expense of the owner. Building up with spalls, etc., will not be permitted.

Section 7) Trees and Shrubs: The indiscriminate planting of trees and shrubs in the Cemetery shall not be allowed. It shall be the duty of the Sexton to have all objectionable features in the landscape removed.

Section 8) Structures: No fences, posts, chains, rocks, stones and all wooden structures on lots, blocks, or graves are prohibited. If any inscription, monument, effigy, or structure which the Sexton deems improper or offensive is placed on any lot or grave, the same shall be removed.

Section 9) Receptacles: Receptacles for cut flowers must be sunk flush with the ground, thus ensuring the safety of such articles while facilitating the cutting of grass from the grave by cemetery personnel. Glass receptables are prohibited.

Section 10). Rubbish: All paper and other rubbish must be deposited by the people responsible for creating the rubbish, in a receptable provided for that purpose. This shall also include animal waste.

Section 11) Historic Section of Cemetery: It is hereby resolved that the historic section of Sunnyside Cemetery as well as Valley View and 1st addition to Valley View and the Davis Blockhouse shall be preserved and protected as pioneer burying ground. The historic section includes the following areas: The unplatted area originally known as the Ebey Graveyard (1865), the plats of Sunnyside Cemetery (1874), Valley View (1887), and First Addition the Valley View (1893), the structure known as the Davis Blockhouse (c. 1853) and Pratt addition (2000) These areas encompass all the area south of the Davis Blockhouse and the southernmost east-west road. (For clarification of these historic areas, consult the overview map of Island County Cemetery District No. 2)

Section 12) Vandalism: Any act(s) of vandalism performed to any portion of Island County Cemetery District #2’s Sunnyside Cemetery shall result in the Cemetery Board prosecuting said vandal(s) to the full extent of the law pursuant to RCW 68.56.010: Unlawful damage to graves, markers, shrubs, etc. The Cemetery Board shall also seek full restitution for any unlawful acts pursuant to RCW 68.56.010: Civil liability for damage.

Section 13) Animals:There are no animal burials allowed in Island County Cemetery #2.

Section 14) Columbarium: Purchase of Island County Cemetery #2, Sunnyside Cemetery Columbarium niche gives the purchaser the right to placement of cremains in the niche. Actual ownership of niche structure, including granite shutter, remains in the control of Island County Cemetery District #2.

Section 14-A) Columbarium: Inscriptions with names and dates are permitted on the niche shutters. Inscriptions will be in white (no other colors) in the size and font as required by the Cemetery. Pre-engraving proofs must be approved by the Cemetery Sexton or designated employee. A maximum of two people’s names may be engraved on the shutter. Vases and other external attachments are not permitted (except Veteran’s medallions). The Cemetery reserves the right to reject shutters that are not approved.

Section 14-B) Columbarium:The placing in a niche of any object except urns and human cremains therein is prohibited and the Sunnyside Island County Cemetery District #2 reserves the right to refuse placement of urns in niches that, in its judgement, are not proper or fitting. No perishable materials may be used for urns other than wood. The placing of small mementos or notes for the deceased is allowed.

Section 14-C) Columbarium: Up to two cremations may be placed in one niche. Niches shall be opened only under the direction of the Cemetery Sexton or a designated employee.

Section 14-D) Columbarium: Niches may be purchased either pre-need or at-need. Niche purchase does not include the cost of cremation, urns or engraving of the niche cover.

Section 15) Transfers: A person wanting to transfer a Certificate of Ownership (deed) to another individual or family member, must have written permission from the siblings or family members that own the certificate of ownership (previously known as a deed). For every sale and/or transfer of Certificate of Ownership , be it a gift or part of an estate, it must be accompanied by a transfer form and original deed. The sale must be completed at least seven (7) business days prior to any planned service, to allow for processing the required forms. The sale of the plot is subject to verification by Island County Cemetery District #2 administration, to ensure that the plot is suitable for use and resale. Payment is required three (3) business days before burial services will be permitted. An administrative fee will be charged for Certificate of Ownership/Deed transfer.

Section 16) Buy-Back of Certificate of Ownerships: Island County Cemetery District #2 will buy back cemetery plots at ½ the rate of the present cost of a grave site. This includes full burials, cremains spaces and niche spaces.

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