Ownership of Interment Rights

Section 4.01  Disclaimer of Responsibility 

The City of Savannah shall take reasonable precautions to protect the cemeteries, interment rights, and structures within the City cemeteries from loss or damage, but it distinctly disclaims all responsibility for loss or damage from causes beyond its reasonable control, including, but not limited to, damage caused by the elements, an act of God, common enemy, thieves, vandals, strikers, malicious mischief makers, explosions, unavoidable accidents, invasions, insurrections, riots, or order of any military or civil authority, whether the damage be direct or collateral, other than as therein provided.

Section 4.02  Purchase of Interment Rights 

Interment rights will be sold at prices established by the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah.

Interment rights will be sold to a lot in its entirety. Lots will not be subdivided.

The burial rights to a cemetery lot may be held for a ten percent (10%) payment of the current lot price.

No monuments, markers, or other structures shall be placed on a lot, and no interments shall be allowed until the burial rights have been paid for in its entirety.

Payment in full must be received within thirty-six (36) months.

Lots that have not been paid in full within thirty-six (36) months shall be considered in default and may be made available to the public after the party is notified of the default status and of any monies available for refund, if applicable.

In the event the interment rights to a lot are forfeited, the City of Savannah will not refund ten percent (10%) or less of the current lot price.

Section 4.03  Sales, Transfers, and Subdivisions of Interment Rights 

No sale, transfer, or subdivision of any cemetery lot, niche, or crypt by owners shall be valid without the consent of the Mayor and Alderman of the City of Savannah.

The transfer of interment rights shall only include those interment spaces available at the time of transfer. Interment rights of occupied spaces may not be transferred.

Interment rights to lots will be sold Monday through Friday except in cases of unforeseen immediate need such as weekend or Monday interments.

Section 4.04  Maintenance of Non-Care Lots 

Persons owning lots or single grave spaces not in Perpetual Care in any of the municipal cemeteries are required to keep said lots or single grave spaces properly cut and trimmed comparable to the standards provided by the Department of Cemeteries through the Perpetual Care Program.

Vegetative waste may be placed on road shoulders by the lot owners for pickup by maintenance personnel.

Section 4.05  Maintenance of Columbaria and Mausoleums 

Persons owning private mausoleums or columbaria in any of the municipal cemeteries are required to keep said structures maintained comparable to the standards provided by the Department of Cemeteries.

The Department of Cemeteries will maintain any City-owned columbaria or mausoleums. 

Section 4.06  Maintenance Rights of the City

The Department of Cemeteries exercises the right by law to enter upon any said lot, columbarium, mausoleum, or any single grave space, niche, or crypt to correct any hazardous conditions, and to remove any dilapidated structure or undesirable vegetation that impairs the overall beauty and dignity of the cemetery.

The Department of Cemeteries will attempt to notify owners of such situations and provide them with the opportunity to make the necessary corrections. If the lot owners fail to correct those conditions in the time specified by the notification, the Department of Cemeteries reserves the right to address any issues. Any expenses relating to the corrective maintenance will be billed against the lot, columbarium, or mausoleum. Any lien held against the lot must be satisfied prior to any additional activities on the lot to include, but not limited to, interments, disinterments, and the issuance of any work permits.