Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 23-18 - Cemeteries
Section 23-18-1. - Definitions.

§ 23-18-1. Definitions.
The following terms used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, have the following meanings:
(1) “Agencies” mean town cemeteries, religious or ecclesiastical society cemeteries, cemetery associations, or any person, firm, corporation, or unincorporated association previously or hereafter engaged in the business of conducting a cemetery or operating a community mausoleum or columbarium.
(2) “Columbarium” means a structure or room, or other space in a building or structure of durable or lasting fireproof construction, containing niches, used, or intended to be used, to contain cremated human remains.
(3) “Community mausoleum” means a structure or building of durable or lasting construction, used or intended to be used, for the permanent disposition in crypts or spaces therein of the remains of deceased persons, provided the crypts or spaces and their use are available to or may be obtained by individuals for a price in money or other form of security.
(4) “Crypt” means the chamber in a mausoleum of sufficient size to contain the remains of a deceased person.
(5) “Historic cemetery” means any tract of land which has been for more than one hundred (100) years used as a burial place, whether or not marked with an historic marker, including but not limited to, ancient burial places known or suspected to contain the remains of one or more American Indians.
(6) “Niche” means a recess in a columbarium or other structure, used, or intended to be used, for the permanent disposition of the cremated remains of one or more deceased persons.
History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 721, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-18-1; P.L. 1992, ch. 478, § 1.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 23 - Health and Safety

Chapter 23-18 - Cemeteries

Section 23-18-1. - Definitions.

Section 23-18-2. - Location of mausoleums and columbaria.

Section 23-18-2.1. - Cremated human remains.

Section 23-18-3. - Approval of construction plans — Supervisory control.

Section 23-18-4. - Completion of structure and maintenance provisions required before interments.

Section 23-18-5. - Sales before completion of structure — Bond.

Section 23-18-6. - Proceeds of sales.

Section 23-18-7. - Re-interment of bodies in structure becoming health menace.

Section 23-18-8. - Speculative sales prohibited.

Section 23-18-8.1. - Perpetual care funds.

Section 23-18-8.2. - Additional deposits.

Section 23-18-8.3. - Maintenance of perpetual care funds.

Section 23-18-9. - Penalty for violations.

Section 23-18-10. - City and town regulation of burial grounds.

Section 23-18-10.1. - Registering historical cemeteries.

Section 23-18-10.2. - Exemption from liability.

Section 23-18-11. - Regulation of excavation around cemeteries.

Section 23-18-11.1. - Permit required to alter or remove historic cemetery — Powers of city or town council — Appeal.

Section 23-18-11.2. - Regulation of excavation — Removal and transfer of graves and cemeteries — Penalties.

Section 23-18-12. - Vandalism in cemetery — Civil penalties.

Section 23-18-13. - Notification of historical preservation and heritage commission.

Section 23-18-14. - Records of disposition.

Section 23-18-15. - Installation of veteran’s plaque.