Central Valley Cemetery District

Central Valley Cemetery District was formed in 1937 and consists of Evergreen, Terrace Park and Imperial Cemeteries. The District is governed by a Board of Trustees and he Health and Safety Code of the State of California. This is your Cemetery District and the following Rules and Regulations are meant to provide uniform care and improvement to the maintenance of the District. We respectfully request that they be followed. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the District office at 201 E. Gillett Road, El Centro, CA 92243 (760) 352-1468.

Thank you.

Rules & Regulations

1. Burial rights in cemetery lots may be purchased from an authorized representative of the Board of Trustees of Central Valley Cemetery District at the business office located at Evergreen Cemetery. Upon payment in full, and payment of the Endowment Care Fund deposit, a Certificate of Ownership of Burial Rights, executed by an authorized representative of the Board of Trustees, shall be issued to the purchaser.
2. No burial rights to a lot, or any part thereof, shall be transferred without the consent of the Cemetery District. A transfer fee will be charged for all lot transfers. The Cemetery District will not repurchase a lot for more than it was originally purchased for and the Endowment Care Fee is not refundable.
3. No interment may be made, or other services rendered, until all charges for plots, services, and Endowment Care Fund deposit have been paid. Charges for interments must be paid at least one full business day preceding the burial.
4. Interment orders to open graves must be signed by a member of the family of the deceased or by an Authorized Agent at least one full business day preceding the burial.
5. An approved vault shall be used in every interment.
6. The remains or cremains of the deceased shall be brought to the cemetery in a closed casket, urn, or other approved container. Cemetery personnel are explicitly prohibited from opening a closed casket, urn, or approved burial container on the cemetery premises at any time.
7. The opening and closing of an interment site or the placement of any flat headstone, tree or any other ornament or device shall be made by employees of Central Valley Cemetery District only.
8. No person(s) shall remove sod, place or pour any sand, gravel, rocks, cement, wax or any metal of any type on the site, around the headstones, or in vases, jars, cans or flower containers because of hazards to equipment and the safety of cemetery employees.
9. No alcoholic beverages are allowed on cemetery grounds.
10. The District reserves the right, when necessity or the best interest of the District demands, to remove and re-inter bodies that may have been interred, keeping accurate record of such a relocation, and whenever possible notifying the purchaser before the relocation is made.
11. Final committal services must be scheduled through the district office during designated hours. Interments on Saturday mornings and after designated hours may be made upon payment of the surcharge set by the Board of Trustees.
12. No interments will be made on Sundays or legal holidays.
13. Adult graves may hold a combination of two (2) interments.
14. Reservation deposits for grave spaces are non-refundable, and must be applied to the outstanding balance of the grave within one (1) year from the date of deposit.
15. The Superintendent of the District is the designated representative of the Board of Trustees and is authorized to take action or make decisions, on behalf of the Board and District, when there is no clear directive or policy.
16. No BBQ Grills- gas or electric type, open flame fryers or fires of any type allowed on Cemetery Grounds.
17. No balloons of any type attached to markers or released from the Cemetery Grounds at any time.
18. No decorative or religious items are to be hung from the trees or fences on the Cemetery Grounds.
19. Anyone who violates these rules may be asked to leave.

Visitation

1. Cemetery grounds are open for visiting from 7:00 a.m. till 6:00 pm effective 2nd Sunday of March and 4:00 pm effective 1st Sunday of November. It is forbidden and illegal to be on cemetery premises after visiting hours. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on weekends and holidays.
2. The Cemetery District, Board of Trustees, Management, and all other personnel of the District shall not be responsible for injury or damages suffered by any persons, including children, in their use of the cemetery grounds. Any person visiting the cemetery shall do so at their own risk.
3. All Benches must be made of granite.
4. All work done on cemetery grounds by commercial enterprises must receive prior authorization from the cemetery office.
5. Memorial markers must be made of industry standard granite or U.S. bronze.
6. No pets allowed on cemetery grounds.
7. Families, friends and visitors are encouraged to park within the cemetery grounds and not on the Gillett Road.
8. No BBQ grills, open flame fryers or fires of any type allowed on Cemetery Grounds.
9. No Balloons of any type attached to markers or released from Cemetery Grounds at any time.

Care of Graves and Cemetery Grounds

• No person shall plant any tree, shrub, or flowers on cemetery grounds.
• No personal shall place on any grave: statues, toys, boxes, globes, cans, bottles, balloons, pin wheels, fences, etc. or bric-a-brac of any description or any unauthorized objects.
• The district will not be liable for loss of plants, or vases due to uncontrollable causes.
• No self gardening or landscaping of graves, ie.- watering, mowing, trimming of graves sites.

Markers

1. No marker will be allowed on a grave until the Endowment Care Fee and the Marker Placement Fee have been paid.
2. To avoid unnecessary expenses, please check with the office about marker restrictions prior to ordering.
3. Markers shall not be removed, replaced or altered without the express written consent from the owner of the plot, or by court order.
4. The District will in no way assume liability for damage after setting, removal, or placement of a marker. The District will do the customary care of mowing, trimming, sweeping, and will do so in a uniform manner.
5. A 3"x4" reinforcement concrete border is required for all markers. This concrete base and border must be strong enough to protect stone while cemetery equipment is driven over marker.
6. The District will in no way assume liability for damage or vandalism done to marker pictures.
7. There may be two (2) memorial markers per grave.

Flowers

Flowers are permitted at all times, except for the first week in June and the last week in October. This will allow for general maintenance and cleanup which is necessary for maintaining a beautiful cemetery.

All flowers must be placed in regulation containers. All flowers not in cemetery containers will be removed. All flowers discolored or aged will be removed. Any additional containers or item will be removed and discarded daily or when time permits.

No receptacles for flowers shall be installed by District personnel other than the uniform receptacle adopted by the Trustees and sold at the office. The receptacle will be set in concrete only.

Holiday Schedule for Flowers

1. New Years
2. Valentine’s Day
3. Easter
4. Mexican Mother’s Day
5. Mother’s Day
6. Memorial Day
7. Father’s Day
8. 4th of July
9. Labor Day
10. Day of the Angels
11. Day of the Dead
12. Veteran’s Day
13. Thanksgiving Day
14. Christmas Day

Flowers will be left on grave sites 5 days after the above holidays.

Flower Policy (R #051607-2)

Whereas, the vision of the Board of Trustees of the Central Valley Cemetery District is to develop and maintain a cemetery which is well kept. A cemetery where friends and family can visit and enjoy, one that provides an environment which is calm, clean of clutter, and pleasing to the senses. We take into consideration the feelings and wishes of those who have entrusted the care, custody and control of their loved ones. The placement of flowers on the graves of our loved ones is a time-honored tradition. It is an expression of love and remembrance to those who have passed from this life and is a beautiful and effective memorialization. The following regulations are established to maintain the beauty of the cemetery and we respectfully insist they are observed;

Whereas, artificial and fresh flowers are permitted at all times, except for the first week in June and the last week in October. This will allow for general maintenance and clean up which is necessary for maintaining a beautiful cemetery. When flowers start to discolor, fade, or deteriorate, cemetery employees will remove and dispose of them;

Whereas, all flowers must be placed in regulation containers. Flowers which are not in cemetery containers will be removed. Any containers or items will be removed and discarded daily or when time permits. The District will not be liable for loss of plants, vases, or other unauthorized items placed on or around gravesites. Any container of breakable material will be removed immediately and disposed of by cemetery personnel. The planting of flowers or shrubs, or placing of fences or other obstacles at gravesites is strictly prohibited and said object will be removed immediately;

Whereas, flower containers may be purchased at the Cemetery Office and will be installed by District personnel only.

On behalf of the staff and those visiting our cemetery, we thank everyone for following our rules.