This is the part of the process most families skip — and it’s the one that causes the most problems.
Every cemetery has its own rules. Not just general guidelines — actual specific requirements about size, material, style, foundation, and placement. And they vary more than you’d expect, even between cemeteries that are ten miles apart.
Before you order anything, call the cemetery. Give them the section and lot number. Ask what’s permitted. It’s a five minute phone call and it can save you from ordering a stone that can’t be installed where you need it.
Here’s what you’re likely to be asking about.
Marker Style
Some cemetery sections only allow flat markers — usually older sections where uniform ground-level stones make maintenance easier. Others allow uprights. Some allow both depending on which part of the cemetery the plot is in. You won’t know until you ask.
If you have your heart set on an upright monument, confirm it’s allowed before you get attached to a design.
Size Limits
Most cemeteries set maximum dimensions for headstones — height, width, and thickness. These limits exist to keep the cemetery looking consistent and to make sure stones fit properly within the boundaries of each plot. A stone that’s an inch too tall or too wide may be rejected at installation.
We ask for these dimensions before we design anything. That way what we build fits where it needs to go.
Foundation Requirements
Some cemeteries — particularly for upright monuments — require a concrete foundation to be poured before the stone is set. This is either handled by the cemetery itself or by an approved installer. If a foundation is required, that affects both your timeline and your cost. Worth knowing upfront.
Approved Installers
A number of cemeteries in the Wichita area require that monuments be installed by an approved or licensed installer rather than by the family or an outside contractor. We’re familiar with local cemetery requirements and handle installation directly. If a cemetery has a specific approval process, we navigate that as part of our service.
Permit and Approval Process
Most cemeteries want to see your design before installation — dimensions, material, inscription, everything. They review it against their guidelines and either approve it or come back with requested changes. This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on the cemetery.
We handle the submission on your behalf. You don’t have to figure out who to call or what forms to fill out. That’s part of what we do.
What This Means Practically
The short version: don’t order a headstone before you’ve confirmed what the cemetery allows. It sounds obvious but it happens more than you’d think. Families fall in love with a design, order it, and then find out it doesn’t meet cemetery requirements.
Call the cemetery first. Then call us. We’ll take it from there.
Not sure what your cemetery allows? Call Legacy Stonework & Monument at 316-670-6350. We’re familiar with cemeteries across the Wichita area and can help you figure out what you’re working with before anything is ordered.