Designing the layout for a cemetery is a long process that should not be attempted without consulting an experienced landscaper with specific experience in cemeteries. Schematics should be created and looked over to ensure optimal use of all space provided and to ensure safety and security for all cemetery patrons. There are four ways in which a cemetery is subdivided: lot, section, tier and grave.

Separate the entire plot of land for the cemetery into sections. Sections, as defined by the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) are “separate tracts divided by driveways.” Each section should be 200 to 300 feet wide if it is surrounded by driveways on all sides and 100 to 150 feet wide if it is bordered by only one driveway. Sections are to be at least three times longer than they are wide.

Divide each section into a lot. Lots are 18 to 20 feet long and nine to 11 feet wide. This, by ICCFA standards, provides four to eight graves within a lot. There is to be a two-foot border around all lots, to be filled with trees and shrubbery. There needs to be four-foot-wide walkways at the end of each lot.

Segment each lot into grave sights. Graves, according to ICCFA, are to be eight feet by 2.5 feet. Each lot is sectioned into tiers, which are the rows of graves. Tiers are numbered from South to North with the following format: Tier 1 North, Tier 2 North, etc.

Each grave will have a marker as follows: Lot, Section, TierNorth, Grave_.