Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Ohio Cemetery Laws and the Ohio Revised Code

Below are some facts to remember which are detailed in the Ohio Revised Code. 
Those featured below are courtesy of the Medina Ohio Cemetery Preservation Society's website under the heading: "Ohio Cemetery Laws".

(Their main link is shown above.)

"Ohio Cemetery Laws"
"Preserving cemeteries, in Ohio, is indeed the law!

See the following Ohio Revised Code sections:

#517.21 Abandonment - When a public or private cemetery has been "abandoned," a cemetery board or the Township Trustees may decide to remove the remains buried in that cemetery, but they must provide for the removal of all remains buried in that cemetery, for the removal of all stones and monuments marking the graves, for the re-interment of the remains, and for the re-erection of those stones or monuments in suitable public ground in the near vicinity, all of which shall be paid for from the township treasury.

#2909.05 Vandalism - No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly cause serious physical harm to any tomb, monument, gravestone, or other similar structure that is used as a memorial for the dead; to any fence, railing, curb, or other property that is used to protect, enclose or ornament any cemetery; or to a cemetery. Whoever violates this section is guilty of vandalism. "Cemetery" means any place of burial."

#2927.11 Desecration - No person, without privilege to do so, shall purposely deface, damage, pollute, or otherwise physically mistreat any of the following: Any historical or commemorative marker or any structure, Indian mound or earthwork, cemetery or site of great or historical or archaeological interest. "Cemetery" means any place of burial.