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Alabama Historical Commission - Cemetery Permits

How Cemetery Permits Work

Before taking action to clean, restore, or remove any aspect of an historic cemetery or burial please refer to Section 13A-7-23.1 of the Code of Alabama 1975, Act. No - 905 and the synopsis of the Code of Alabama at the end of this document.

The AHC issues three types of permits for work in cemeteries:

•	General Cleanup and Upkeep
•	Restoration and/or Preservation
•	Relocation

Other types of permits are issued on a case-by-case basis. Once the party requesting the permit has provided the AHC with all required information, the request is reviewed. Once approved, a permit is granted in the form of a letter from the AHC. It is important to understand that a permit does not imply permission from the landowner, nor does it imply that all laws have been followed by the permittee. Though we include a synopsis of the Code of Alabama pertaining to cemeteries and burials with this document, it is the responsibility of the party requesting the permit to make sure that they are compliant with the Code of Alabama.

Permit for General Cleaning and Upkeep

General cleaning and upkeep refers to any altering of the cemetery beyond cutting the grass and general maintenance.

Examples:

•	Cutting of trees, shrubs, flowers, or other plants (including weeds and vines).
•	Movement of gravestones, monuments, markers, funerary objects, fencing or retaining walls.

Permit for Restoration and /or Preservation

Restoration and/or preservation refers to cleaning, repair, stabilizing, re-setting, planting, or re-planting.

Examples:

•	Cleaning, repair, stabilizing, or re-setting of gravestones, markers, monuments, fencing, walls, or walkways
•	Planting or re-planting of any vegetation

Permit for Relocation**

Relocation refers to the removal of human remains, their container or tomb, as well as any gravestone, marker, monument, funerary, or burial objects associated with the human remains.

Example:

•	Situations where a single burial or whole cemetery must be moved due to construction, erosion or other factors

Required Information for Permits

•	Name of Cemetery (provide all known names)
•	Location of Cemetery (City, County and all information you can provide)
•	Historical Cemetery Atlas Number (Optional) This information should be available in your local library in the Historic Atlas of Alabama, Volume 2: Cemetery Locations by County
•	Map (USGS Topo, ALDOT County Road Map, or map from the Historic Atlas of Alabama, Volume 2 showing cemetery and access routes
•	Type of Permit Requested (General Cleaning and Upkeep; Restoration/Preservation; Relocation)
•	Name, Address, Telephone Number and e-mail (if available) of Permittee
•	Site Description
•	Land Owners Consent? Yes or No
•	Current photographs of Cemetery (overall, specific conditions being addressed, and representative markers, i.e. artwork or monuments).
•	Work Plan (repair and cleaning techniques, materials, equipment as well as starting and finishing dates).
•	Name and Address of professional group(s) or person(s) performing work.

**Please refer to page 5 of this section ìAdditional Requirements - For Relocations Onlyî (Index Link above)

Completion Reports

A Completion Report is required once all work is finished. This would consist of a detailed type-written report describing the work performed, the beginning and ending dates of the project, all persons involved in the project, and would include photographs of all stages of the project.

Address:	Alabama Historical Commission 468 S. Perry St. Montgomery, AL 36130-0900
General Info & Permits:	Lee Anne Hewett (334) 230-2659
	lahewett@preserveala.org
Source: Alabama Historical Commission Handout, Aug 2003
Alabama Historical Commission Web Site

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