Rules and Regulations  

Bagdad Historical Cemetery is an integral component of the community.  It reflects the social history of the community, functions as an outdoor museum and sculpture garden, and is a primary source for genealogical research.  The cemetery is still active as a burial ground.  Please treat this historical cemetery, its residents, and its visitors with respect.

Rules and Regulations for the Bagdad Cemetery as adopted by the Bagdad Cemetery Association Board of Directors:

• These Rules and Regulations are subject to change as circumstance may require the Cemetery Board to act upon.

• Bagdad Cemetery is open from dawn to dusk.

• Speed limit is 15 mph in the entire cemetery.

• When parking please be cognizant of grave locations and refrain from parking too close to graves or fences.

• Bicycles must stay on roadways. Go carts, skateboards, scooters, and other such recreational devices are not allowed.

• Pets must be leashed.

• Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

• Firearms are not permitted in cemetery, except for military funerals or in connection with patriotic services.

• The display and /or sale of goods, wares, merchandise and signs are not allowed without Cemetery Board consent.

• The cemetery terrain is uneven.  Please stay on paths and walk with care.

• Gravestone rubbing can damage grave markers.  Preserve the epitaphs and artwork by taking photographs instead of rubbings.

• Grave markers are privately owned.  Please refrain from touching them, adding anything or taking anything from them.

• Well-behaved children with adult supervision are welcome.

• Invasive bushes, shrubs or trees to be planted or replaced must have authorization from the Cemetery Board.  These plants are not cemetery friendly.

• Existing bushes, shrubs, and trees that become detrimental to graves/lots or have become unsightly or dead may be trimmed or removed.

• The care of all plantings is the sole responsibility of the lot owner or person doing the planting.

• Artificial flowers/decorations are welcome, but when they become faded or unsightly and distract from the appearance of the cemetery they should be removed.  The Cemetery Board reserves the right to remove them if not removed by owner.

• All funeral flowers placed on a grave immediately after an internment should be removed no more than 30 days after the service.  This is encouraged to prevent the flowers and plastic containers from becoming an eyesore.

• Each owner is encouraged to keep his or her lot/plot clean.  Please remove any rubbish from lot and cemetery.

• Maintenance activities will be scheduled to provide a reasonable amount of care and provide a respectable appearance to the cemetery grounds.  The cemetery board will make every effort to maintain the cemetery grounds but cannot guarantee permanent maintenance of each grave site.

• The Cemetery Board is not responsible for theft or damage to items placed on graves or lots.

• Concrete, brick, granite, or marble coping is allowed for family plot borders.  Cinder block, railroad ties, PVC pipe or landscape timbers are not allowed.

• Fencing can be wood pickets, vinyl pickets, or wrought iron but cannot be over 36” high.   Repair of fencing must match the historic character of the existing fence.   Chain link, PVC pipe, and metal plumbing pipe fencing is not allowed and existing chain link fences are grandfathered in but cannot be replaced or repaired.

• Please report vandalism or damage of gravesites and monuments to the Cemetery Board or the local police ASAP.

 Fragile Sections

• Sections 1 -6 are considered the Fragile Section of the historical cemetery

• Special concern and protection must be exercised to protect the older more fragile headstones and grave markers of the Fragile Section.

• Please take extra care when walking among the gravesites and observe the paragraphs above pertaining to touching or disturbing the headstones and gravesites.

• New burials in the Fragile Section must be done with extreme care, thereby, leaving adjacent sites unharmed and undisturbed.

• All monuments, borders, and fences must be approved by the Cemetery Board before any installation can occur.  Call the Cemetery Board for instructions on filing for approval of monuments, borders and fences.

Plot Purchase Contract

State of Florida                                                               

COUNTY OF SANTA ROSA

Contract

This CONTRACT is granted to

________________________________________________

Herein after called BUYER, from

Bagdad Cemetery Association, Inc.

hereinafter called BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

PRINCIPAL SUM of $_______________  

______________________________________________________________(written out amount) and also to secure the performance of all the terms, covenants, agreements, and conditions of this contract.

In consideration of payment, the BOARD OF DIRECTORS conveys the following cemetery plot/plots described as:

The following documents are inclusive of the contract:

1.       This agreement

2.      Cemetery plot plan

3.      Rules and Regulations

Buyer further covenants and agrees that:

BUYER understands the Rules and Regulations may change from time to time but all changes must be approved by the BOARD OF DIRECTORS and the Cemetery Plot Plan is not a certified survey.  The pin locations are installed and the measurements are manually taken.  BUYERS should verify the measurements and reassure themselves they are correct to within a reasonable variance.

The cemetery is listed on the National Historic Registry of the United States.   It is strictly prohibited to destroy or deface any existing land, monuments or roadways.

Family plots have no minimum size but a single plot for internment in a family plot must be a minimum of 5’ X 10’.

The entire cemetery is listed on the National Historic Registry but Section One through Section Six is designated a Fragile Historic Area by the BOARD OF DIRECTORS.  Monuments other than simple flat mounted memorials must be preapproved by the BOARD OF DIRECTORS before installation.  BUYER must submit a drawing or picture of the proposed monument for approval by the BOARD OF DIRECTORS and the board shall have 30 days to approve or disapprove. 

BUYER understands Bagdad Cemetery is a very old cemetery.  Therefore, the BOARD OF DIRECTORS cannot be responsible, when excavation occurs, should grave sites be discovered in BUYER’S plot.   BUYER further understands unknown graves cannot be disturbed by state law without an order from the courts.

The BOARD OF DIRECTORS agrees to replace plots which are found to be unusable due to the discovery of unknown gravesites, as plots are available.   BUYER understands these replacement plots may not be in the same area or adjacent to BUYER’S existing plots, however, it is the BUYERS choice as to which lot is desired of the available lots for replacement.

BUYER understands this is not a contract for deed.  Florida Real Estate law does not apply to cemeteries.  It is a contract granting rights for burial in a certain area which includes Rules and Regulations existing at the time of purchase.  This contract cannot be sublet or sold.  At the BUYERS option, it can be transferred to the Bagdad Cemetery Association, Inc. for its original purchase price.   Otherwise, this contract will automatically transfer to the heirs of the family of the BUYER only.

This contract is not binding on either party until all charges are paid in full and no one can be interned in any plot until all charges are paid in full. 

Both parties are bound by this agreement and cannot be changed without the consent of both parties.  BUYER has the option to appeal to the BOARD OF DIRECTORES for variances or adjustments.  The majority vote of the board is final.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS may require proof of purchase at any time, therefore, BUYER must make necessary precautions to safe guard this paperwork.  The BOARD OF DIRECTORS will not be responsible should disputes arise from encroachments or ownership of plots.  BUYER assumes responsibility to present this document and other necessary documents to prove ownership of plots.

The BOARD OF DIRECTORS agrees to have for BUYER’S inspection corporate papers and any related material insuring the BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S good standing with the State of Florida.

FURTHERMORE, because of the nature of an historic cemetery dating back to 1845, the BOARD OF DIRECTORS will make every effort possible to have true and correct historical records but cannot be responsible for error or omission due to past mistakes, lost of records or nonexistent records.   Therefore, being a non profit organization licensed and registered by the State of Florida, the Bagdad Cemetery Associations, Inc.  has limited liability as it relates to Florida law and the National Historical Registry guidelines.

Executed under seal this _____ day of _________________, 20_____.

 

BUYER:

__________________________________  ____________________________________
buyer                                                                          co-buyer

__________________________________  ____________________________________
Print Name                                                                Print Name

BAGDAD CEMETERY ASSOCIATION, INC:

__________________________________  ____________________________________
per Bagdad Cemetery Association, Inc.                      official title     

 

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__________________________________  ____________________________________
per Bagdad Cemetery Association, Inc.                      treasurer        

__________________________________ 
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