Burrillville council moves to prohibit new private cemeteries, allows limited grandfathering window

Councilors reviewed three options from the ordinance subcommittee regarding private cemeteries: (1) revise the current ordinance, (2) keep the existing permitting approach with added conditions, or (3) prohibit private cemeteries on private property in Burrillville. Committee members argued against allowing new private cemeteries because of the long-term difficulty of enforcing perpetual-care obligations and the shrinking pool of volunteers who maintain many historical sites.

One councilor summarized the committee—s consensus: with concerns about long-term maintenance and enforcement they favored elimination. The council discussed a compromise to allow a short window for pending applicants to receive permits under current rules and then make the prohibition effective on a set future date. "We can specify some things... Give them a limited period of time," a councilor said, proposing a sunset clause and a July 1 effective date.

The council voted to amend Chapter 10 to prohibit establishing a cemetery or place of burial on private property in Burrillville, with the change to be active July 1, 2026, and directed staff to reach out to the family that had inquired to explain permit requirements and the limited window. Councilors cited stewardship challenges for volunteer cemetery caretakers and the desire to avoid increasing the town's long-term maintenance obligations.

The ordinance change will require standard advertising and public-notice steps before taking effect; staff will provide the family with the list of stipulations required for any permit applications under the current ordinance during the limited window.