Borough of Green Tree, PA Chapter 137 Cemeteries

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Green Tree 3-7-1916 by Ord. No. 68 (Ch. 1062 of the 1982 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 137-1 Use of existing cemeteries required.

[Added 12-6-1937 by Ord. No. 204]

A. No person shall bury or inter a deceased person in any land in the Borough that is not a part of an existing cemetery or burial ground and a place for interment on September 1, 1937.

B. No owner or operator of a cemetery or burial ground in the Borough, employee of an owner or operator of such cemetery or burial ground, undertaker or employee of any undertaker or any other person, shall participate in or aid in the interment of a human body in any ground in the Borough that is not an existing cemetery or burial ground and a place for interment on September 1, 1937.

§ 137-2 Depth of graves.

Any grave in the Borough which is excavated and made of such a depth that the top of the outside or rough box enclosing the coffin or casket which contains the remains of the person buried is less than 4 1/2 feet below the natural surface of the ground is hereby declared to be a nuisance and is prohibited. The proper officer of the Borough, when such nuisance exists, shall serve upon the person who has caused or created such nuisance or who permits such nuisance to exist, or upon the officer in charge of any cemetery or burial ground, or the principal officer of any firm or corporation which is or hereafter shall be the owner or in charge thereof, a written notice to abate such nuisance within 10 days from the receipt thereof. Upon the refusal or neglect of any such person served with such notice to abate or cause the abatement of such nuisance within such ten-day period, such nuisance may be abated by the Borough, and the expense thereof may be collected from the person responsible for compliance with such notice, according to law, in addition to the penalty provided in § 137-4.

§ 137-3 Inspection of graves.

No person shall dig or excavate a grave in the Borough unless at least 24 hours' notice of the same is first given to the Borough Secretary, giving the location of the grave and the time of interment therein. Upon receipt of such notice, the proper Borough officer shall inspect such grave while open and report as to the depth thereof at the next regular meeting of Council.

§ 137-4 Violations and penalties.

See Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-2, for the general penalty provisions of this Code.