Serenity Ridge Rules & Regulations

Serenity Ridge Natural Burial Cemetery & Nature Preserve & Arboretum Rules & Regulations

Serenity Ridge is a natural burial cemetery. Our property is maintained and managed to increase the biodiversity of native species of both plant and animal life. Our practices and policies follow the guidelines set forth by the Green Burial Council (GBC), the non-profit organization that regulates Green Burial Standards for natural cemeteries in the United States.

General Operations

• The cemetery is open to visitors daily from 9:00AM-5:00PM November through March, and 9:00AM-7:00PM April through October. In inclement weather, the cemetery may close for the safety of staff and visitors. Please call or check the website before visiting during inclement weather.
• No overnight parking.
• Add gate closes promptly at closing time. If you are staying after hours, park outside the gate. We are not responsible if you get locked in
• Gates are open on holidays. There are no office hours on holidays.
• Fresh cut flowers are permitted year-round. Vases, artificial decorations or flowers placed on the graves will be removed.
• Planting flowers, decorative plants, shrubs and trees on the grave site or within the cemetery is not permitted.
• Dogs must always remain on a leash and under your control. Pet owners are responsible for the clean-up and off-site removal of waste and for ensuring that dogs do not create disturbance to other visitors or to the grounds.
• Parking on the grass is not permitted. All vehicles must stay on the gravel road.
• Serenity Ridge will not be responsible for any injury, death, or damage to personal property that may occur due to either proper use or intentional misuse of its property. Serenity Ridge will not be held responsible for stolen property, vandalism, or damage resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control. As the grounds are a nature preserve, visitors assume all risks associated with potential hazards that may be found there including ticks and bees.
• Alcohol and drug use on Serenity Ridge property is strictly prohibited.
• Firearms and weapons are strictly prohibited.
• For those that need mobility assistance getting to and from the grave, please inform Serenity Ridge management for accommodations in advance of your visit.
• Please watch your driving speed as there is a lot of wildlife activity all hours of the day.
• We welcome you to enjoy the picnic tables but please take your trash with you.
• No off-road vehicles allowed on site.

Scheduling Interments

• Interments are usually scheduled between 10:00AM and 2:30PM Mondays through Fridays, unless severe weather conditions prevent safe access to the cemetery. Additional fees are applied to interments scheduled after 3 PM, weekends and holidays.
• Serenity Ridge shall be provided 48 hours’ notice (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) for the opening and closing of burial sites.
• Burials on holidays will require advanced notice of at least three full business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). Serenity Ridge will confirm within 24 hours whether we will be able to accommodate your service.
• All cemetery charges and fees must be paid in full before an interment can occur.

Caskets & Coverings

• Caskets, urns and shrouds must be made from naturally biodegradable materials approved by Serenity Ridge in accordance with GBC guidelines.
• Caskets must be made of pine, bamboo, wicker, soft wood, or of other renewable sources with no metal accessories.
• A fabric burial shroud must be made of naturally biodegradable materials, such as wool, cotton, linen, silk and have a rigid board built in the bottom, or an external shroud board underneath.
• Cremated remains must be placed in a biodegradable urn, in a biodegradable bag, no larger than 10”x10”x10”.

Embalming

• Toxic chemicals found in traditional embalming fluid are not permitted. Only GBC approved plant-based embalming fluids are allowed.

Memorials

• As of February 1, 2026, memorials are available for purchase from Serenity Ridge. The memorial is a locally quarried natural fieldstone. The memorial fee includes the inscription of name and dates of life, and installation of the stone flush with the ground. Requests for additional text or symbols are permitted for an additional fee. Please see the General Price List for those fees.
• All interment rights purchased prior to January 31, 2026, will receive their memorial and inscription of their loved one’s name and dates (only at the time of interment) included in the interment fee paid at the time of interment. Any additional text or symbol is available for an additional fee. Please see the General Price List.
• You may purchase a memorial from an outside memorial dealer if you choose to do so. The memorial must meet the Cemetery’s requirements for memorialization. All memorials must be locally quarried/sourced fieldstone; memorials for cremation sites must not exceed 150 square inches in any direction; memorials for full sized sites must not exceed 350 square inches in any direction. Outside memorial dealers must submit an application for installation with a $150.00 layout fee due to the Cemetery. The Cemetery must receive and approve the rendering of the inscription, the make of the stone, and the application and fee prior to the outside memorial dealer ordering the memorial. The outside memorial dealer is responsible for any adjustments, errors, or replacements of the memorial.
• Memorials are the property of the purchaser. Maintenance and replacement of the memorial are the responsibility of the purchaser.