N.Y. General Municipal Law Section 165
Maintenance and cleanup of abandoned cemeteries

1.

Any municipal corporation is hereby authorized and empowered to establish volunteer cemetery maintenance and cleanup programs to maintain and cleanup abandoned cemeteries wholly contained within such municipal corporation for which such municipal corporation has the primary responsibility to provide care.

2.

The cemetery division of the department of state is hereby authorized and directed to assist any municipal corporation in the organization, implementation and administration of a volunteer cemetery maintenance and cleanup program at the request of such municipal corporation. The department of state is hereby authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations setting forth the manner and form of such assistance and request.

3.

No municipal corporation which establishes a volunteer cemetery maintenance and cleanup program shall be liable for any damages sustained by any person participating and no cause of action for such damages shall be adjudicated by any court in this state which would otherwise have jurisdiction to adjudicate such claim.

4.

Any municipal corporation which establishes a volunteer cemetery maintenance and cleanup program shall provide written notice of the provisions of subdivision three of this section to each person participating in such program.

Source: Section 165 — Maintenance and cleanup of abandoned cemeteries, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/GMU/165 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Dec. 13, 2025).

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Verified:
Dec. 13, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 165. Maint. & cleanup of abandoned cemeteries's source at nysenate​.gov

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