Cemetery Rules and Regulations

These Rules and Regulations have been developed by the Cemetery Trustees to maintain the beauty and dignity of All Saints Polish National Catholic Cemetery. Our mission is that your deceased loved ones be buried with dignity and have ongoing care of their graves.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions regarding these Rules and Regulations or encounter any problems concerning your Cemetery lot, please contact the Cemetery Office and we will give your concern our immediate attention.

Phone:   773-380-7131  ext. 4

Office Hours:  By Appointment

Visiting Hours

8 am to 5 pm

Decorating Seasons

Spring and Summer - April 1 - September 30

Fall and Winter - November 1 - February 28

Clean Up Months - March and October

• Remove the previous season decor.
• New season decor cannot be placed until that season begins.
  

General Guidelines

Please remember that decoration regulations are a form of zoning regulations. They are necessary to protect the conscientious lot holder as well as to keep the cemetery operational costs at a reasonable level. While we all cannot agree completely on decoration regulations, these rules are set forth and will be enforced fairly and uniformly for all.

• Please limit decorations to one per grave/lot.
• Decorations are removed and discarded when they fail to confirm to size and/or material limitations stated herein. There will be no notice to the lot holder if a decoration is removed and discarded.
• Decorations are checked daily and those that have become unsightly, withered, or do not conform to the Rules and Regulations are removed and will be discarded, without notice to the lot holder. Decorations are left on as long as their appearance is presentable.
• Watering spigots are available for your use. If watering restrictions are imposed by the City of Chicago, they will also apply to the Cemetery. Any fines imposed for such violations will be responsibility of the lot holder.
• Hundreds of people visit our Cemetery each year. We regret that we cannot guarantee that decorations will be free from damage or loss. We also cannot accept the responsibility of their damage or loss.
• Pets are strictly prohibited on the Cemetery grounds.

Prohibited Items

These items are strictly prohibited:

• Glass: bottles, jars, statuary, containers, ornaments, urns
• Metal: stands, boxes, easels, pots, vases, metal hooks on pots
• Shepherd hooks
• Styrofoam containers, decorative stone around monuments or similar objects

These items found by any grave/monument will be removed and disposed of immediately at any time during the year. If you have any concerns about the items which you can and cannot place on a grave, please contact the Cemetery office.

Family Section Lots

On lots where a raised monument is erected, annual plants may be placed in a bed directly in front of the raised family monument, approximately 18 inches out. Families must provide regular care of the flowers that are planted. If not, they will be trimmed to ground level or removed if they become unsightly.

Flags

Flags may be placed on graves only on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. They may be placed three (3) days prior to the holiday and can remain up to three (3) days post the holiday. All flags will be removed and discarded after the third day. This is per the United States government regulations on the usage of flags in cemeteries.

Trenching

Trenching around graves or cemetery lots is strictly prohibited.

Metal / Plastic Stripping

Metal / plastic stripping or fencing of any kind around a grave/lot is strictly prohibited.

Perennials

Planting of perennials, including but not limited to peonies, myrtle, ground cover, etc. is not permitted. Perennials or shrubs of any kind must be approved, prior to planting, by the Cemetery Trustees.

Food Substances

No type of food substance is permitted on or near the monuments. We ask that you do not bring any type of food into the Cemetery as it will encourage the deer, geese and other wild animals.

Candles

Candles of any kind are strictly prohibited in the Cemetery and will be removed and disposed of immediately, at any time during the year.

The entire month of March is reserved for cleaning the Cemetery grounds and preparing the Cemetery prior to the Spring and Summer seasons. If you wish to save your Fall and Winter decorations, please remove them before March 1st. Otherwise, they will be removed and disposed of during this time.

Placement of Spring and Summer decorations may begin on April 1st. Please do not place any decorations during the cleanup period. If decorations are placed during the cleanup month, they will be removed and discarded.

Natural Cut Flowers - Natural cut flowers are permitted in 6" or 8" pots, plastic or wood containers. Glass or other breakable material is prohibited as well as any oversized containers. These prohibited items will be removed and discarded.

Hanging Pots/Poles - Hanging pots/poles are not permitted due to their interference and danger while maintaining the grounds. They will be removed and discarded.

Artificial Decorations - Artificial decorations are not permitted during the Spring and Summer seasons. This restriction is necessary for safety reasons, due to the metals and plastics which can be picked up and flung by the mowing equipment.

The entire month of October is reserved to clean up the Cemetery grounds and prepare them for the Fall and Winter seasons. If you wish to save your Spring and Summer decorations, please remove them before October 1st. Otherwise, they will be removed and discarded.

Fall and Winter decorations may be displayed beginning November 1st. Please do not place any decorations during the cleanup period, as they will be removed and discarded.

Evergreen Blankets or Grave Coverings - These items are strictly prohibited, at any time.

Artificial Wreaths and Flowers - Artificial wreaths of less than 30 inches in diameter set on stands or easels are permitted. Most wreaths for cemetery decorations are between 17" and 24" in diameter.

Artificial flowers in approved temporary vases, pots and boxes are subject to the same material and size limitations governing the growing season rules.

Plastic covers over artificial wreaths and/or flowers are not permitted. All plastic covers will be removed and discarded.

Artificial decorations with Styrofoam inserts are prohibited.

Mausoleum and Columbarium Regulations

• No taping (such as with duct tape or masking tape) is permitted on the walls of either the Mausoleum or the Columbarium to hold any type of artificial or real flowers, or any other item. This mars the beauty of the walls.
• Potted plants (real or artificial) in any type of container are prohibited around the Mausoleum or Columbarium or in the arched area of the Mausoleum, during any season.
• No planting of any kind, by any individual, around the Mausoleum or Columbarium is permitted, other than what is designated and pre-approved by the Cemtery Trustees.
• Placements of flags in and/or around the Mausoleum or Columbarium apply as per the Flag Rules listed above.

Thank you for adhering to these rules and Regulations of the Cemetery for its beautification and your safety.

If you have questions or wish to schedule an office appointment, contact the Cemetery Office by phone at 773-380-7131  ext. 4, or click below to send an email.