CEMETERY VISITATION AND FLOWER REGULATIONS
Catholic cemeteries are sacred places of prayer, remembrance, and reverence. These holy grounds have been blessed by the Church and dedicated to the dignified burial and commemoration of our faithful departed. The Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Homes is entrusted with the responsibility of preserving the beauty, safety, and sanctity of its cemeteries for all who come to pray, reflect, and honor their loved ones.
The following regulations are intended to help maintain a peaceful and respectful environment for all visitors.
A. Cemetery Visitation Regulations
1. We kindly ask that all guests conduct themselves with quiet reverence and consideration for others visiting the resting places of their loved ones.
2. Children must remain under adult supervision at all times. Running, playing, and other recreational activities are prohibited on cemetery and funeral home grounds.
3. Pets are permitted on cemetery grounds provided they remain leashed at all times. Pet owners are responsible for the immediate removal and proper disposal of all pet waste.
4. Firearms are strictly prohibited on cemetery property.
5. Parties, picnics, and loud music are not permitted.
6. The possession or use of alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, or other controlled substances is strictly prohibited on cemetery grounds.
7. Gas or charcoal grills are not permitted on cemetery grounds.
8. Pop-up tents, canopies, and non-handheld umbrellas secured by stakes are prohibited, as they may interfere with adjacent gravesites and visitor access.
B. Flower and Decoration Regulations
Ground Burial Space
1. Flowers and decorations are permitted only in cemetery-approved regulation vases. Floral arrangements or decorations placed in non-approved containers will be removed and discarded.
2. Any item determined to be in violation of these regulations, or which may pose a safety risk to visitors or maintenance personnel, may be removed and discarded immediately by cemetery management.
3. DOPCCFH is not responsible for floral arrangements, containers, or frames once they have been accepted for use during funeral services. Floral arrangements remaining after services will generally be removed within three (3) days following the committal service date.
Holiday Decoration Rules for Ground Spaces
1. Holiday flowers and decorations for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and All Souls Day may be placed seven (7) days before the holiday and will be removed seven (7) days following the holiday.
2. Christmas decorations are given a unique exception whereby; they may be placed immediately following Thanksgiving. Christmas decorations must be placed in cemetery regulation vases only. Christmas trees must fit within an approved cemetery vase, may not exceed 24 inches in height, and must not encroach upon adjacent gravesites or memorialization. Christmas wreaths are permitted if they do not exceed 24 inches in diameter and are displayed on an easel. Garlands and grave blankets are not permitted.
3. Christmas decorations will be removed by the second week of January.
The Following Items Are Prohibited at All Times:
1. Digging, etching, or creating designs, borders, or other alterations to the ground or turf for any purpose is strictly prohibited.
2. Placing artificial borders or ground coverings around gravesites, including granite chips, marble chips, gravel, stone, cement, or trenching is strictly prohibited.
3. Planting flowers, shrubs, bushes, or trees is strictly prohibited.
4. Installation of any memorialization, ornamentation, or structure without the prior written approval of DOPCCFH is strictly prohibited.
5. The placement of glass items, balloons, pinwheels, candles, metal cans, chimes, wooden or metal crosses, toys, statues, photographs, cards, personal items, beverage containers, fences, loose objects, incense sticks, solar or vigil lights, boxes, shells, lawn ornaments, signs, food items, concrete urns, potted plants, are strictly prohibited.
6. Non approved cemetery vases or containers to hold flowers or other decorations are strictly prohibited.
7. Decorations may not be attached to trees or shrubs.
Mausoleum Space
1. Fresh flowers are not permitted within enclosed mausoleum areas. Flowers placed at crypts or niches must be displayed in approved Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Homes vase units.
2. Floral arrangements may not extend onto adjoining crypts or niches. Decorations, photographs, cards, mementos, flags, wreaths, stickers, tape, or any other materials may not be affixed to crypt or niche fronts. Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Homes reserves the right to remove and dispose of any unauthorized items without prior notice.
3. Artificial flowers and special arrangements in indoor mausoleum crypt and niche vases are permitted only during the following holidays: Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and All Souls Day. Decorations may be placed beginning seven (7) days prior to each holiday and will be removed within seven (7) days following the holiday.
Holiday Decoration Rules for Mausoleum Spaces
1. Artificial flowers and special arrangements are permitted in indoor mausoleum crypt and niche vases only during the following holidays: Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and All Souls Day. Decorations may be placed beginning seven (7) days prior to the holiday and will be removed within seven (7) days afterward.
2. Christmas flowers and decorations may be placed immediately following Thanksgiving and will be removed by the second week of January.
Quarterly Flower Removal and Cemetery Clean-Up Policies
1. To preserve the beauty, safety, and proper maintenance of the cemetery grounds, all floral arrangements, decorations, plants, and shrubs, including those placed in approved vase units, will be removed during scheduled seasonal flower and decoration removal/cleanups. Cleanup dates are posted at cemetery locations and are available on the DOPCCFH Events page.
2. DOPCCFH assumes no responsibility or liability for any items removed following designated cleanup dates. All decorations must permit adequate access for mowing, trimming, maintenance operations, and nearby interments.
3. Flowers and decorations that do not comply with these regulations may be removed by cemetery management at any time.
4. DOPCCFH reserves the right, without prior notice, to remove and dispose of any item deemed inappropriate or unsuitable by cemetery management.
5. DOPCCFH is not responsible for the loss, theft, or disappearance of any item placed at a grave, crypt, niche, or cremation garden space.
6. DOPCCFH reserves the right to remove trees, shrubs, or plants that become unsightly, diseased, damaged, or that interfere with burial spaces or cemetery operations.
7. Memorials, vases, trees, shrubs, and other plantings may not be installed or planted by anyone other than DOPCCFH.
Cemetery-Specific Flower Removal Schedule
Flower removal at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery, Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, All Souls Catholic Cemetery, and Calvary Catholic Cemetery takes place quarterly. Scheduled flower removal/cleanup periods occur during the second week of January, seven (7) days after Easter, the second week of July, and the first week of October. Cleanup dates may be adjusted due to holidays or operational needs. Please refer to the DOPCCFH Events page or cemetery postings for current schedules.
