2007 Minnesota Statutes

CHAPTER 307. PRIVATE CEMETERIES

307.01 PLAT AND RECORD.
Any private person and any religious corporation may establish a cemetery on the person's or
corporation's own land in the following manner: The land shall be surveyed and a plat thereof
made. A stone or other monument shall be established to mark one corner of such cemetery, and
its location shall be designated on the plat. The plat and the correctness thereof shall be certified
by the surveyor, whose certificate shall be endorsed thereon, and with such endorsement shall be
filed for record with the county recorder in the county where the cemetery is located, showing
the area and location of the cemetery. Any person or association owning such private cemetery
may subdivide or rearrange the same, from time to time, as may be necessary in the conduct of
the business, but no plat of such subdivision or rearrangement shall interfere with the rights
and privileges of the several lot owners of such cemetery without their consent, nor need same
be filed in the office of the county recorder; provided, that a plat of the same shall be kept for
public inspection at such cemetery; and, provided, further, that there shall be placed at the corner
of each lot of such subdivision or rearrangement cement or other nondestructible markers three
inches or more in diameter and eight inches or more in length, one of such markers showing
the number of the lot.
History: (7625) RL s 2960; 1923 c 360 s 1; 1976 c 181 s 2; 1986 c 444

307.02 EFFECT OF RECORDED PLAT.
When such plat has been recorded, every donation or grant of lands therein to the public,
to any religious corporation, or to any individual, shall be deemed a conveyance of such lands,
subject to the conditions and restrictions, if any, contained therein. Every conveyance of such
lots shall be expressly for burial purposes, and the lands designated on the plat as streets, alleys,
ways, commons, or other public uses shall be held by the owner of the cemetery in trust for the
uses and purposes thereon indicated.
History: (7626) RL s 2961

307.03 RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS MAY ACQUIRE EXISTING CEMETERIES.
Any religious corporation, or two or more together, may acquire, by gift or purchase, the
cemetery lands and property of any cemetery association or private cemetery, and every such
association, and the owner of any private cemetery, are hereby empowered to convey to religious
corporations any cemetery land or property.
History: (7627) RL s 2962

307.04 CONVEYANCE OF LOTS.
Every religious corporation owning such cemetery may sell and convey lots therein for burial
purposes only. Deeds thereof may be executed by the treasurers of such corporations, or by one or
more of the trustees thereunto authorized by resolution duly adopted by its board of trustees.
History: (7628) RL s 2963

307.05 GIFTS FOR PROPRIETARY CARE OF LOTS.
Gifts, grants and bequests of personal property to any trust company, or to one or more
individuals and their successors, in trust for the purpose of perpetual care, maintenance, and
adornments of lots in private cemeteries and the walks, monuments, and structures thereon are
permitted. They shall not be deemed invalid as violating any existing law against perpetuities or
suspension of the power of alienation; and, in furtherance thereof, any trust company or individual
trustee and the trustee's successors may take and hold in trust the title to any one or more of such
lots in such private cemetery in perpetuity.
History: (7629) 1919 c 22 s 1; 1986 c 444

307.06 TRANSFER TO ASSOCIATION; HOW EFFECTED.
Any private cemetery established, platted, and recorded under the laws of this state may
consolidate with and transfer its property, for cemetery purposes only, to any cemetery association
or corporation organized under the laws of this state which is contiguous to, or adjacent to,
such cemetery corporation.
To so consolidate and transfer its property it shall be necessary:
(1) that a resolution be passed by a two-thirds vote of the lot owners and members of such
private cemetery, represented, present, and voting at a special meeting called for that purpose,
which resolution shall recite what cemetery corporation or association it is proposed to consolidate
with and transfer its property to, and the terms and conditions thereof; and 30 days' notice of such
meeting shall be previously given by mail to each lot owner of such private cemetery whose
address can be determined using reasonable diligence of the time and place when such meeting is
to be held, reciting the purpose thereof, which notice shall be signed by at least five lot owners; and
(2) that the resolution shall be signed and acknowledged by the presiding officer and
secretary of such meeting and shall be recorded with the county recorder of the county in which
the private cemetery is situated.
History: (7630) 1905 c 38 s 1; 1976 c 181 s 2; 1984 c 543 s 17; 1985 c 248 s 51; 2005 c 4 s 43

307.07 EFFECT OF TRANSFER.
When such resolution shall have been passed and certified to by the presiding officer and
secretary of such meeting and recorded in the office of the county recorder, as aforesaid, and
the terms and conditions of consolidation shall have been accepted by the board of directors
or trustees of such cemetery corporation, such private cemetery shall become a part of such
cemetery corporation or association, and subject thereafter to all the rules and regulations and
laws governing such cemetery corporation or association. It shall be lawful for the owners of such
private cemetery to transfer and convey to such cemetery corporation or association all unsold
lots in such private cemetery to such cemetery corporation or association to be used for burial
purposes only, and any such conveyance heretofore made is hereby legalized and such cemetery
corporation or association shall hold in trust, to and for the uses and purposes aforesaid, all
streets, alleys, ways, and commons, and the other public uses, in such private cemetery in lieu
of the owner thereof.
History: (7631) 1905 c 38 s 2; 1976 c 181 s 2; 2005 c 4 s 44

307.08 DAMAGES; ILLEGAL MOLESTATION OF HUMAN REMAINS; BURIALS;
CEMETERIES; PENALTY; AUTHENTICATION.
    Subdivision 1. Legislative intent; scope. It is a declaration and statement of legislative
intent that all human burials, human remains, and human burial grounds shall be accorded
equal treatment and respect for human dignity without reference to their ethnic origins, cultural
backgrounds, or religious affiliations. The provisions of this section shall apply to all human
burials, human remains, or human burial grounds found on or in all public or private lands or
waters in Minnesota.
    Subd. 2. Felony; gross misdemeanor. (a) A person who intentionally, willfully, and
knowingly does any of the following is guilty of a felony:
(1) destroys, mutilates, or injures human burials or human burial grounds; or
(2) without the consent of the appropriate authority, disturbs human burial grounds or
removes human remains.
(b) A person who, without the consent of the appropriate authority and the landowner,
intentionally, willfully, and knowingly does any of the following is guilty of a gross misdemeanor:
(1) removes any tombstone, monument, or structure placed in any public or private cemetery
or authenticated human burial ground; or
(2) removes any fence, railing, or other work erected for protection or ornament, or any tree,
shrub, or plant or grave goods and artifacts within the limits of a public or private cemetery or
authenticated human burial ground; or
(3) discharges any firearms upon or over the grounds of any public or private cemetery or
authenticated burial ground.
    Subd. 3. Protective posting. Upon the agreement of the appropriate authority and the
landowner, an authenticated or recorded human burial ground may be posted for protective
purposes every 75 feet around its perimeter with signs listing the activities prohibited by
subdivision 2 and the penalty for violation of it. Posting is at the discretion of the Indian affairs
council in the case of Indian burials or at the discretion of the state archaeologist in the case
of non-Indian burials. This subdivision does not require posting of a burial ground. The size,
description, location, and information on the signs used for protective posting must be approved
by the appropriate authority and the landowner.
    Subd. 3a. Authentication. The state archaeologist shall authenticate all burial grounds
for purposes of this section. The state archaeologist may retain the services of a qualified
professional archaeologist, a qualified physical anthropologist, or other appropriate experts
for the purpose of gathering information that the state archaeologist can use to authenticate
or identify burial grounds. If probable Indian burial grounds are to be disturbed or probable
Indian remains analyzed, the Indian Affairs Council must approve the professional archaeologist,
qualified anthropologist, or other appropriate expert. Authentication is at the discretion of the
state archaeologist based on the needs identified in this section or upon request by an agency,
a landowner, or other appropriate authority.
    Subd. 4.[Repealed by amendment, 2007 c 115 s 1]
    Subd. 5. Cost; use of data. The cost of authentication, recording, surveying, and marking
burial grounds and the cost of identification, analysis, rescue, and reburial of human remains on
public lands or waters shall be the responsibility of the state or political subdivision controlling
the lands or waters. On private lands or waters these costs shall be borne by the state, but may be
borne by the landowner upon mutual agreement with the state. The data collected by this activity
that has common value for resource planning must be provided and integrated into the Minnesota
land management information system's geographic and summary databases according to published
data compatibility guidelines. Costs associated with this data delivery must be borne by the state.
    Subd. 6.[Repealed by amendment, 2007 c 115 s 1]
    Subd. 7. Remains found outside of recorded cemeteries. All unidentified human remains
or burials found outside of recorded cemeteries or unplatted graves or burials found within
recorded cemeteries and in contexts which indicate antiquity greater than 50 years shall be dealt
with according to the provisions of this section. If such burials are not Indian or their ethnic
identity cannot be ascertained, as determined by the state archaeologist, they shall be dealt with in
accordance with provisions established by the state archaeologist and other appropriate authority.
If such burials are Indian, as determined by the state archaeologist, efforts shall be made by the
state archaeologist and the Indian Affairs Council to ascertain their tribal identity. If their probable
tribal identity can be determined and the remains have been removed from their original context,
such remains shall be turned over to contemporary tribal leaders for disposition. If tribal identity
cannot be determined, the Indian remains must be dealt with in accordance with provisions
established by the state archaeologist and the Indian Affairs Council if they are from public
land. If removed Indian remains are from private land they shall be dealt with in accordance
with provisions established by the Indian Affairs Council. If it is deemed desirable by the state
archaeologist or the Indian Affairs Council, removed remains shall be studied in a timely and
respectful manner by a qualified professional archaeologist or a qualified physical anthropologist
before being delivered to tribal leaders or before being reburied. Application by a landowner for
permission to develop or disturb nonburial areas within authenticated or recorded burial grounds
shall be made to the state archaeologist and other appropriate authority in the case of non-Indian
burials and to the Indian Affairs Council and other appropriate authority in the case of Indian
burials. Landowners with authenticated or suspected human burial grounds on their property are
obligated to inform prospective buyers of the burial ground.
    Subd. 8. Burial ground relocation. No non-Indian burial ground may be relocated without
the consent of the appropriate authority. No Indian burial ground may be relocated unless the
request to relocate is approved by the Indian Affairs Council. When a burial ground is located on
public lands or waters, any burial relocations must be duly licensed under section 138.36 and
the cost of removal is the responsibility of and shall be paid by the state or political subdivision
controlling the lands or waters. If burial grounds are authenticated on private lands, efforts may be
made by the state to purchase and protect them instead of removing them to another location.
    Subd. 9. Interagency cooperation. The Department of Natural Resources, the Department
of Transportation, and all other state agencies and local governmental units whose activities may
be affected, shall cooperate with the state archaeologist and the Indian Affairs Council to carry
out the provisions of this section.
    Subd. 10. Construction and development plan review. When human burials are known
or suspected to exist, on public lands or waters, the state or political subdivision controlling
the lands or waters or, in the case of private lands, the landowner or developer, shall submit
construction and development plans to the state archaeologist for review prior to the time bids are
advertised and prior to any disturbance within the burial area. If the known or suspected burials
are thought to be Indian, plans shall also be submitted to the Indian Affairs Council. The state
archaeologist and the Indian Affairs Council shall review the plans within 30 days of receipt and
make recommendations for the preservation in place or removal of the human burials or remains,
which may be endangered by construction or development activities.
    Subd. 11. Burial sites data. Burial sites locational and related data maintained by the
Office of the State Archaeologist and accessible through the office's "Unplatted Burial Sites and
Earthworks in Minnesota" Web site are security information for purposes of section 13.37. Persons
who gain access to the data maintained on the site are subject to liability under section 13.08 and
the penalty established by section 13.09 if they improperly use or further disseminate the data.
    Subd. 12. Right of entry. The state archaeologist may enter on property for the purpose of
authenticating burial sites. Only after obtaining permission from the property owner or lessee,
descendants of persons buried in burial grounds covered by this section may enter the burial
grounds for the purpose of conducting religious or commemorative ceremonies. This right of entry
must not unreasonably burden property owners or unnecessarily restrict their use of the property.
    Subd. 13. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the meanings given.
(a) "Abandoned cemetery" means a cemetery where the cemetery association has disbanded
or the cemetery is neglected and contains marked graves older than 50 years.
(b) "Appropriate authority" means:
(1) the trustees when the trustees have been legally defined to administer burial grounds;
(2) the Indian Affairs Council in the case of Indian burial grounds lacking trustees;
(3) the county board in the case of abandoned cemeteries under section 306.243; and
(4) the state archaeologist in the case of non-Indian burial grounds lacking trustees or not
officially defined as abandoned.
(c) "Artifacts" means natural or artificial articles, objects, implements, or other items of
archaeological interest.
(d) "Authenticate" means to establish the presence of or high potential of human burials
or human skeletal remains being located in a discrete area, delimit the boundaries of human
burial grounds or graves, and attempt to determine the ethnic, cultural, or religious affiliation of
individuals interred.
(e) "Burial" means the organic remnants of the human body that were intentionally interred
as part of a mortuary process.
(f) "Burial ground" means a discrete location that is known to contain or has high potential
to contain human remains based on physical evidence, historical records, or reliable informant
accounts.
(g) "Cemetery" means a discrete location that is known to contain or intended to be used for
the internment of human remains.
(h) "Disturb" means any activity that significantly harms the physical integrity or setting
of a human burial or human burial ground.
(i) "Grave goods" means objects or artifacts directly associated with human burials or human
burial grounds that were placed as part of a mortuary ritual at the time of internment.
(j) "Human remains" means the calcified portion of the human body, not including isolated
teeth, or cremated remains deposited in a container or discrete feature.
(k) "Identification" means to analyze organic materials to attempt to determine if they
represent human remains and to attempt to establish the ethnic, cultural, or religious affiliations
of such remains.
(l) "Marked" means a burial that has a recognizable tombstone or obvious grave marker in
place or a legible sign identifying an area as a burial ground or cemetery.
(m) "Qualified physical anthropologist" means a specialist in identifying human remains
who holds an advanced degree in anthropology or a closely related field.
(n) "Qualified professional archaeologist" means an archaeologist who meets the United
States Secretary of the Interior's professional qualification standards in Code of Federal
Regulations, title 36, part 61, appendix A, or subsequent revisions.
(o) "Recorded cemetery" means a cemetery that has a surveyed plat filed in a county
recorder's office.
(p) "State" or "the state" means the state of Minnesota or an agency or official of the state
acting in an official capacity.
(q) "Trustees" means the recognized representatives of the original incorporators, board of
directors, or cemetery association.
History: (7632) RL s 2964; 1976 c 48 s 1; 1980 c 457 s 1; 1983 c 282 s 1-4; 1986 c 463
s 1; 1989 c 335 art 1 s 199; 1993 c 326 art 4 s 9; 1999 c 86 art 1 s 64-67; 1Sp2003 c 8 art 2
s 17; 2007 c 115 s 1

307.082 CIVIL ACTIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Who may bring. An action under this section may be maintained by the
attorney general; a state agency or political subdivision; an individual residing within this state; or
a partnership, corporation, association, company, or other entity with shareholders, members,
partners, or employees residing within this state.
    Subd. 2. Action. A person or entity listed in subdivision 1 may maintain a civil action
seeking a temporary or permanent injunction, damages, or other appropriate relief against a
person who is alleged to have committed a violation of section 307.08, subdivision 2. The action
must be brought within two years after the alleged violation is discovered and reported to the state
archaeologist or the Indian affairs council. The action must be filed in either the district court of
the county in which the subject burial ground is located or in which the defendant resides.
History: 1993 c 288 s 1; 1994 c 469 s 1

307.09 EXEMPTIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Extent of exemptions. All lands, not exceeding 100 acres in extent, and in
the case of cemeteries owned and managed by religious corporations, or corporations solely
owned and controlled by and in the interest of any religious denomination, 300 acres in extent, so
laid out and dedicated as a private cemetery, shall be exempt from public taxes and assessments,
and shall not be liable to levy and sale on execution, or to be applied in payment of the debts of
any owner thereof, so long as the same remains appropriated to the use of a cemetery; and no road
or street shall be laid through the same without the consent of the owners.
    Subd. 2. Special assessments. Nothing contained in subdivision 1 shall be construed
to exempt cemetery property owned or leased by any corporation, association, partnership,
proprietorship or any other organization from any special assessment unless such corporation,
association, partnership, proprietorship or other organization
(a) was formed for a purpose not involving pecuniary gain to its shareholders or members;
and
(b) pays no dividends or other pecuniary remuneration directly or indirectly to its
shareholders or members as such.
History: (7633) RL s 2965; 1913 c 137 s 1; 1927 c 295 s 3; 1969 c 980 s 2

307.10 VACATION; CHANGE OF NAME.
Upon application of the owners of such cemetery, the district court of the county in which it
is situate may alter or vacate the same, or any part thereof, as in the case of town plats. Upon
like application, and upon such notice as the court may direct, it may change the name of such
cemetery.
History: (7634) RL s 2966

307.11 ABANDONED LOTS; RECOVERY.
Sections 306.21; 306.22; 306.23; 306.24 and 306.241 apply to private cemeteries subject to
the provisions of this chapter.
History: 1976 c 203 s 1

307.115 CORRECTION OF INTERMENT ERRORS.
Section 306.155 applies to private cemeteries subject to this chapter. Nothing in section
306.155 shall exempt cemeteries from complying with chapter 149A.
History: 2003 c 48 s 2; 1Sp2003 c 23 s 2

307.12 RELOCATION.
A cemetery may not be relocated without the consent of the owners.
History: 1993 c 100 s 3