Cemetery

Unfortunately, there are no burial plots available for purchase in the Draper Cemetery. Draper City is willing to re-purchase unused burial plots from individuals who do not plan to use their plots. Draper City will then sell these plots to people who are on the waiting list. If you are interested in getting on the waiting list, contact (801) 576-6506.

The Draper City Code for the Cemetery can be found in Chapter 14. 

For any questions or requests relating to the cemetery grounds maintenance, contact the Parks Department at (801) 576-6571 or email Cemetery Grounds Maintenance.

The earliest burial date recorded at the cemetery dates back to November 21, 1870, but there are headstones with earlier dates than that. The cemetery was started by Mormon pioneers who settled in Draper City. The first settlers in Draper are buried in this cemetery: Ebenezer Brown, Phoebe Brown, and William Draper.

Cemetery Rules and Regulations 1 Adopted November 21, 2006
DRAPER CITY CEMETERY
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Cemetery Rules and Regulations 2 Amended 1.30.2025
(See also Title 7, Chapter 14 of City Code.)

BURIALS
Burials scheduled for Monday – Wednesday, the city must be notified by Thursday. Burials scheduled for Thursday – Saturday, the city must be notified by Monday.

CONDITION OF SALE OF BURIAL RIGHTS (After July 1985)
1. Sale of burial rights (general burial sites) in the City Cemetery shall be limited to no more than 8 per immediate family. However, an application for a special exception may be filed for consideration by the City Council. The term “immediate family”, for purposes of these policies, shall be defined as those persons domiciled in the place of residence and who include: husband, wife, child, stepchild, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, parent, stepparent, grandchild, grandparent, mother-in-law, father-in-law.

2. Issuance of right to burial certificate does not convey any other privilege than the right to bury a person’s body, (hereinafter called “the right to burial”), and is not a deed to convey title in fee simple to said ground or any part thereof.

3. Purchaser(s) of burial rights must designate one other person who may exercise the right of burial on each individual gravesite purchased. The right of burial may be transferred within the immediate family at any time if authorized by the lot purchaser(s) in writing (the form is provided by City). If the lot purchaser(s) is (are) deceased or incapable of transferring burial rights to others, then the designated alternative person holding the right to burial has the authority to transfer those rights on that particular gravesite. To prevent speculation in the sale of burial rights, such rights may not be transferred outside of the immediate family. All sale of burial rights shall be undertaken with the City at prices determined by the City.

4. A fee for transferring or amending burial rights shall be assessed by the City as established by the City Council and as amended by the City Council from time to time.

5. All burial rights shall be deemed vacated to the City upon the death of
both the purchaser(s) and the designated alternative person who has the right of
burial if not used for and on behalf of said purchaser(s) or their designee. Any heir or
descendant of the purchaser has a preference over non-heirs or non- descendants
to purchase the right to burial on said gravesite once vacated to the City. At the
discretion of the City, relatives or others may be given preference for the repurchase
of burial rights, provided they supply necessary proof that prior rights have expired.
The cost of buying a new burial right is the amount in full of the existing current
prices. The right of preference shall expire one year after the City obtains the right.

6. Any purchaser or designated heir having the right to burial may at any
time sell said “right” back to the City at the original purchase price.

CONDITION OF SALE OF BURIAL RIGHTS (Prior to July 1, 1985)
1. All purchasers of the right to burial on gravesites purchased before July
1, l985, shall provide the City information involving the following at the time a request
for burial is made:

Designation of Heir Certification. When the “right to burial” in the
Cemetery was sold prior to July 1, 1985, the purchaser or his heirs had a
perpetual right of burial subject to Cemetery Rules and Regulations. As the
term “heir” has no set meaning and varies in its usage to mean a person
named in the will or any degree of consanguinity to the deceased at the time
of death, it is probable there will be more heirs than rights to burial available.
As such, an “heir certification” shall be completed for each gravesite in the
Cemetery or a certified order from the probate court showing which heir is
entitled to the gravesite shall be furnished. An order from the probate court is
preferred.

Transfer of Burial Rights. A transfer of the burial rights of the
designated heir to another heir of the purchaser may be accomplished by
submitting authorization for such transfer and the payment of the transfer
fee. (Form provided by City.)

2. Utah Code Annotated, Section 8-5-1, et seq., authorizes the City to
reclaim any unused burial site “which has been unused for burial purposes for more
than 60 years”. The City Council, by virtue of its adoption of these rules and
regulations, authorizes and mandates the City staff to reclaim any such site. Before
reclaiming any lot, proper notification procedures as provided in the abovereferenced
statutes will be followed to provide the opportunity for certifying the right
of burial.

3. Descendants or other heirs shall have a preference over non-heirs or
non-descendants in purchasing a new right to burial on the lots or lot being
reclaimed. The preference expires one (1) year following the reclamation of the “right
to burial” by the City. The cost of the new right to burial will be at current prices.

4. Any purchaser or designated heir having a right to burial may at any
time sell back said “right to burial” to the City at the original purchase price.

BURIAL SITES: Definitions/Rules

General burial site is construed to mean a space eight feet by four feet.

Baby grave site is construed to mean a space four feet by four feet. Two baby
graves may be buried on a single general burial site provided authorization is granted
by the purchaser(s) (if still living) or designated person having the original right of
burial if the purchaser(s) is (are) deceased.

Urn grave site is a general burial site with requirements that the “right of
burial” charges be the same as a general grave site. However, two urns may be buried
on one general grave site.

Combined Grave Sites. Generally, no more than one burial per grave site will
be allowed in a general burial site except for:
a) Two urns
b) Two babies
c) One urn/baby
d) One regular burial/one urn

Resident. As used herein, the term “Resident” shall mean and be defined as:

(1) Any person who was domiciled within the corporate limits of
Draper, Utah, at the time of death, regardless of actual place of death; or

(2) Any person owning real property within the corporate limits of
Draper, Utah, at the time of death, regardless of the residence or domicile of
such person; or

(3) Any person who was a legal resident of Draper, Utah, at the time
of death, regardless of domicile; or

(4) Any person who was formally domiciled within the corporate
limits of Draper, Utah immediately before moving from the City to become
domiciled in any facility to receive medical or residential care; or

(5) Any person having owned real property within the corporate
limits of Draper City, Utah, for 20 years or more regardless of the residence or
domicile of such person at the time of death

Non-resident. As used herein, the term “Non-resident” shall mean and be
defined as any person who does not meet the definition of “Resident” as set forth
herein.

DISINTERMENTS
The City shall provide disinterment services only for those persons buried in
vaults or in urns that are non-biodegradable.

PLACEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF MARKERS, MONUMENTS, AND
APPURTENANT PARTS
1. Permits. An installation permit shall be required and shall be obtained
from the City Office for all markers and monuments before installation
thereof is authorized. Monument companies only will be permitted to
install or remove monuments in the Cemetery. Monument companies
doing work of any kind in the Cemetery are subject to the control or
direction of the City. A 24-hour advance notice to the City is required
before placement.

2. Fees. Fees for the installation of all markers and monuments shall be
paid to the City before installation.

When burials are pending and when a marker is located where the grave is to
be dug, it is the responsibility of the family to ensure the marker is removed 24 hours
before the funeral.

24 hours notice to the City is needed to move, remove, or replace a monument
for a burial.

3. Cement Base. Upright markers and monuments installed in the
Cemetery shall have a finished, grass-level stone or cement base extending outward
from the outer perimeter of the base or marker for a minimum distance of six inches
(6”) on the front and back and six inches (6”) inches on each side. On flat markers, the
minimum base extensions from the marker perimeters are six inches (6”) front and
back and six inches (6”) on each side.

4. Specifications for Raised Markers. Maximum width is 24 inches not
including the concrete base. The maximum width for single markers is 36 inches
including the concrete base. The maximum width of companion markers is 72 inches
without a concrete base and 84 inches with a concrete base. The cement base
requirements described above also apply. In no instance shall raised markers exceed
36 inches above the ground level. An exception to the maximum width and height
specifications for raised markers may be granted by the City Manager for a family
marker. However, only one marker shall be allowed for every 16 burial sites or two
plots.

5. Specifications for Flat Markers. The maximum width for a single marker
is 24 inches, not including the concrete base. The maximum width for a single marker
is 36 inches including the concrete base. The maximum width of the companion’s
marker is 72 inches without a concrete base and 84 inches with a concrete base. The
cement base requirements described above also apply.

6. Marker Maintenance. The City is not responsible for marker or base
maintenance unless damaged by the City.

7. Vases. All permanent vases placed in the cement or stone base of the
marker or monument shall be recessed to ground level when not in use. Receptacles
in the monument itself are allowed provided they do not project horizontally beyond
the monument. Because of the potential for theft and/or vandalism, the installation
of removable bases is discouraged.

8. One Marker Per Grave. No more than one marker per burial is
permitted except government-provided veterans markers.

9. Payment of Fees. Charges for the sale of burial rights must be paid
before burial. Burial fees are due in full before the burial. No markers may be placed
until all fees are paid.

FLOWER REGULATIONS
1. Flowers Placed at Burials. Artificial and/or natural (live) flowers placed
during burials will removed after seven (7) days following the burial.

2. Artificial Flowers. Artificial flowers may be placed on grave sites from
November 1st through March 1st of the following year without being subject to
removal by City crews except for those instances when they must be removed to
accommodate nearby burials. Artificial flowers may also be placed three (3) days
prior to the “observed” Memorial Day of each year and must be removed within
seven (7) days following the “observed” Memorial Day. Artificial flowers placed during
other periods (except burials) are subject to removal at the next scheduled mowing
or for other maintenance purposes (when flowers are faded or weathered). Artificial
flowers will be removed from the gravesite and/or from any vases (including
recessed bases) except for those receptacles that are an integral part of upright
markers that are located above the marker base.

3. Natural or Live Flowers. Natural or live flowers may be placed at any
time but are subject to removal at the next scheduled mowing (except burials).
Flowers that are severely wilted will be removed at that time. During the “observed”
Memorial Day holiday, flowers may be placed three (3) days prior to the observed
holiday. Flowers will be removed by City crews after seven (7) days following the
“observed holiday”. Natural or live flowers shall be placed in non-glass containers on
the marker or adjacent cement collar.

4. Theft of Flowers. The City is not responsible for the theft or loss of
flowers in the Cemetery.

FENCES AND OTHER REGULATIONS
1. Fences. Fencing, railing, coping, or other enclosures around lots or
graves are prohibited.

2. Plantings. Planting of shrubs or flowers on or near any grave or lot is
prohibited.

3. City’s Right to Remove Non-conforming Objects. If any tree or shrub, by
means of its roots, branches, or otherwise, becomes detrimental to adjacent lots or
walks, or interferes with the general appearance of the Cemetery, the City has the
right to remove such trees and shrubs. The City reserves the right, without notice, to
remove from burial sites all flowers and decorations of any kind and any
unauthorized plantings that do not conform with the rules and regulations of the
Cemetery.

4. Disturbing or Defacing Property. It is unlawful for any person, other
than those authorized by the City, to take away any headboard, tombstone,
monument, tree, shrub, flower or cut flower, or any other property or ornament in
the City Cemetery. It is unlawful for any person to maliciously damage any
monument, marker, tree, shrub, or other property in the City Cemetery.

5. Vehicle Operation. The motor vehicle speed limit within the Cemetery is
10 mph. Motor vehicles are permitted only within Cemetery asphalt roads and
parking lots and only during daylight hours.

6. Animals Prohibited. Animals, whether leashed or unleashed, are
prohibited from the Cemetery.

7. Theft or Loss of Personal Belongings. The City is not responsible for the
theft or loss of personal belongings in the Cemetery.