Cemetery

The City of Hays maintains two cemeteries:

• Mount Allen Cemetery (27th & Vine)
• Fort Hays Memorial Gardens (West Cemetery)

Cemetery Rules

• The cemetery is used solely for the burial of human bodies.
   
• Do not enter the cemetery property between one hour after sunset and the hour of sunrise of any day.
   
• Do not enter the cemetery property when gates or entrances are closed, locked or blocked.
   
• All entries must be made through established and open entrances or gateways.
   
• Possession or discharge of firearms or fireworks while in the cemetery is prohibited. (Excluding military personnel or members of veterans organizations.)
   
• Speed limit not to exceed 15 mph.
   
• Vehicles may be operated on designated roads and parking areas only with the exception of deliveries in connection with cemetery work.
   
•  Animals prohibited.
   
• Do not dispose of any rubbish, trash or waste materials in the cemetery.
   
• Do not remove, deface or destroy any headstone, monument marker, tomb, vault, mausoleum or decoration on any cemetery lot.
   
• Do not open or disturb any grave or place of burial.
   
• Do not cut down, damage or destroy any trees, shrubs or other plants growing within the cemetery.
   
• Do not pick, pluck or cut any flowers or decorative plants.
   
• Do not cultivate or plant any shrubbery, flowers, or trees at any location within the City cemeteries.
   
• No loitering or trespassing.
   
• All children must be accompanied by an adult.
   

Sale of Lots

All lots are sold in quantities of not less then one-fourth of a lot.

Costs:

• ¼ lot - $500.00
• ½ lot - $1,000.00
• 1 full lot - $2,000.00
• Infant space - $50.00

Single spaces may be sold by the city in areas of the cemetery designated as single spaces at a cost of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per space

Cremation burials shall be on single spaces with two cremation burials allowed on a single space.

One full burial and one cremation burial permitted on a single space provided the full burial is interred first.
 

Opening a Grave

A permit is required before opening a grave. The permit can be obtained from the City Clerk's Office. 

Requirements for permit:

• Requests should be made ten (10) working hours before the time of burial.
• Evidence of full payment of a lot or grave space.
• Permit fee paid in full

Fees for opening grave:

Standard:

• $250.00
• $300.00 on weekends and designated City holidays

Crematory grave:

• $50.00
• $75.00 on weekends & designated City holidays
   

Reopen a Grave (Disinter or Remove a Body)

• Obtain a disinterment permit from the City Clerk's Office.
   
• Payment of the service charge required by ordinance.
   
• City permit information required:
• The number of the lot and block.
• The name of the person buried in such grave.
• The time of such burial.
• The place where such body is to be reburied, if it is to be reburied.
• The reason.
• Must be signed by a member of the family or when there is no family, by the next of kin desiring to reopen the grave.
   
• Upon completion of the work, the cemetery caretaker will submit a statement of the charges incurred in accordance with the rules of the cemetery division.
   
• An order of the district court or the judge of such court, for the exhumation of the body of the deceased person shall be sufficient application for a permit required under this section. The cost of such exhumation including the payment of the required service charges shall be a claim against the county commissioners as provided by law.
   
• The cost of such exhumation including the payment of the required service charges shall be a claim against the county commissioners as provided by law.
   

Monuments and Markers

• It is the lot owner's duty to place permanent markers at the corners of their respective lots of such materials as may be approved by the City Commission.
   
• All such markers shall be located within the lot lines of each lot or space and shall not be placed in parkings, roadways or walks.
   
• All markers shall be set flush with the grade as established by the City.
   
• No monument, headstone or marker of any kind shall be placed on any lot or grave space without a permit from the City.
   
• No monument, headstone or marker shall be removed, relocated or have an inscription made upon without a permit from the City.
   
• All monuments must be put up under the supervision of the cemetery sexton

Permit Requirements:

• Must be submitted in writing by the lot owner, his or her agent or representative.
   
• Description of the work to be done.
   
• Payment of a fee fixed by the City Commission.
   
• No permit will be granted until the lots are paid in full.
   

Monument Foundations:

• Concrete made with not more than six parts of coarse sand or gravel and not less than one part of portland quality cement thoroughly mixed.
   
• The concrete shall be poured in a pit up to grade and made perfectly level on top.
   
• The pit for the foundation shall extend not less than the full width and length of the monument or stone.
   
• The pit shall be in general not less than three-fifths of the volume of the monument or in proportion to the size and weight thereof.
   
• Concrete foundations for markers and headstones shall be provided in all cases and shall be constructed in proportion to the size and weight of such markers or headstones.
   
• Person wishing foundations made must leave their order with the City Clerk's Office at least thirty (30) days before the erection of the monument in order to give the concrete time to set.
   
• Erection of monuments shall not damage or disturb other lots, avenues or roadways.
   
• All unused materials and rubbish shall be removed promptly after completion of work.
   
• No headstones shall be more than one foot in height, unless such stone is at least six inches in thickness.
   
• Only one marker shall be placed at any one grave.
   
• Only granite and marble will be permitted for markers.
   
• All headstones and markers must be set by the employees of the monument company under supervision of the sexton or officer in charge of the cemetery.
   
• Mausoleums, vaults or other burial structures, built or constructed entirely aboveground, or partly by excavation therein, may be permitted in the cemetery upon application to the City and the issuance of a permit.  No permit will be issued for any such structure until the materials, plans and specifications have been approved by the Kansas State Board of Health as provided by law.
   
• The permanent mounding of a grave is prohibited.
   
• Enclosures around lots or portions of lots are prohibited.
   
• When lots are neglected and uncared for, for any reason, the City may care for the lots as other grounds in the cemetery.
   
• If any trees, shrubs or structures of any kind situated on any lot become dangerous or detrimental to the good appearance of the adjacent lots, parkings or roadways, the City may cause such condition to be corrected or the offending plant or structure removed.
   

Monuments Setting Fee

• Single space - $10.00
• Double space - $25.00