Headstone Size Requirements at Lakeview Cemetery, Penticton: The Complete 2026 Guide
If you're arranging a headstone or grave marker for Lakeview Cemetery in Penticton, BC, everything you're allowed to install is governed by the City of Penticton's Cemetery Management Bylaw No. 2018-15 (as amended by Bylaw 2021-19). The same bylaw also covers Fairview Anglican Cemetery, the city's second municipal cemetery.
The single most important thing to know up front: at Lakeview, you can purchase your memorial from any monument supplier you choose — but only City of Penticton crews are permitted to install it. Your supplier designs and delivers the marker; the City builds the foundation and sets the stone. This is different from most Metro Vancouver cemeteries, and it actually makes ordering from an out-of-town supplier simpler, not harder.
We've supplied granite markers for Lakeview Cemetery from our Surrey workshop for Okanagan families ordering remotely, so the specifications below come from orders that are now installed there — not just from reading the bylaw. Here's everything the bylaw allows, in plain language.
Quick facts: Lakeview Cemetery, Penticton
- Operator: City of Penticton (municipal cemetery; Mayor and Council act as trustees)
- Governing rules: Cemetery Management Bylaw No. 2018-15, amended October 2021, under BC's Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act (CIFSA)
- Cemetery office: Finance Department, Penticton City Hall, 171 Main Street — weekdays 1:00–4:00 p.m., by appointment
- Visiting hours: 7:00 a.m. to one hour after sunset, every day
- Who installs memorials: The City only (Section 10.17) — outside suppliers deliver, City crews install
- Approved materials: Granite, or bronze mounted on a granite base (Section 10.6)
- Winter note: Memorial installations do not normally take place November 1 – March 31 (Section 10.18)
Approved materials: granite and bronze only
Every memorial at Lakeview must be constructed of granite, or bronze mounted on a granite base, unless the City specifically approves another permanent, durable material (Section 10.6). In practice, this covers the vast majority of what families order: polished granite flat markers, granite upright monuments, and cast bronze markers on granite.
One rule that catches families off guard: no glued-on photo plaques. Section 10.15 prohibits any photograph or emblem attached by adhesive. If you want a portrait or emblem on the marker, it must be an integral part of the memorial — cast in bronze, sandblasted, or laser-etched directly into the granite. Laser-etched portraits on black granite are the standard way to meet this requirement, and they hold up better in Okanagan freeze-thaw cycles than ceramic appliqués anyway.
Flat marker sizes at Lakeview Cemetery
Flat markers must be installed flush with the ground and be at least 3" thick (Schedule A, s. 2.1). The sizes permitted depend on the type of lot. For a standard adult flat marker lot, the bylaw allows (Schedule A, s. 3.2(b)):
| Option | Size (depth × width × thickness) | Memorializes |
|---|---|---|
| One main marker | Minimum 12" × 20" up to maximum 18" × 36" × 3" | Up to 2 people |
| Individual markers | 8" × 12" × 3" (up to four) | 1 person each |
| Companion markers | 8" × 24" × 3" (up to two) | 2 people each |
Combinations of the smaller markers are allowed as long as you don't exceed the marker count or the plot's coverage area. On side-by-side (double) flat marker lots, one 18" × 36" marker may be centred over the two graves and memorialize up to four people (s. 3.2(d)).
For veterans' lots, the same 12"×20" to 18"×36" range applies, or up to two 8"×12" individual markers (s. 3.2(e)).
Granite flat markers must be smooth sawn on the bottom and sides with the sides square to the face. Bronze markers on a granite base must show exactly 2 inches of granite border on all four sides, with the base at least 3" thick (s. 2.5). Dimensions other than thickness are allowed a tolerance of ±1".
See our flat grave marker options and pricing — all standard Lakeview sizes are available, and we confirm bylaw compliance before production begins.
Upright monument rules and sizes
Upright monuments are permitted only on designated upright monument lots. The bylaw sets firm dimensions (Schedule A, s. 3.2(f)–(h)):
| Lot type | Base (D × W × H) | Tablet (W × max H × thickness) | Memorializes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard upright lot | 12" × 36" × 6" | 30" × 30" × 6" | Up to 2 people |
| Side-by-side lot (one large monument, centred) | 12" × 48" × 6" | 36" × 36" × 6" | Up to 4 people |
| Family estate lot | One large upright (as above) or two standard uprights | Plus up to 12 additional flat markers | Up to 4 casket + 16 cremation interments |
| Family estate cremation lot | 12" × 28" × 6" | 24" × 24" × 6" | Up to 4 people |
Construction requirements worth knowing before you order (Schedule A, s. 2.6–2.11):
- The tablet must be granite, at least 6" thick, attached to the base with non-corrosive dowel pins (minimum 6" long, set dry) and/or a City-approved epoxy.
- The base must be granite with a smooth-sawn, unpolished bottom, and must extend 2" to 4" beyond the tablet on all sides.
- Inscriptions and designs go on the face of the tablet only — nothing on the back or sides.
- No freestanding monument designs and no uncovered vertical joints.
- Upright monuments sit on a reinforced concrete foundation poured by the City at the applicant's expense — at least 6" thick for standard monuments, 8" for large ones.
Upright monument lots also permit up to four 8"×12" individual flat markers (or two 8"×24" companion markers) in addition to the monument, which is how most families accommodate the cremation interments the lot allows.
Browse our granite headstones and upright monuments — we build to Lakeview's exact base and tablet dimensions.
Cremation lots, niches and crypts
Standard cremation lots (2' × 2', holding up to four urns) allow up to two 8" × 24" × 3" flat markers, or up to four 8" × 12" × 3" individual markers (s. 3.2(j)). Veterans' cremation lots allow one 12" × 24" marker or two 12" × 12" markers.
Columbarium niches are the most restrictive memorial at Lakeview: the engraved niche plate may carry only the given name(s) or initials, surname, and years of birth and death — no symbols, emblems, or decorations of any kind — in the font and layout established for the columbarium (s. 2.14). Each niche holds the cremated remains of up to two people.
Mausoleum crypt plates allow slightly more: name and years, plus up to three lines of epitaph and a symbol or decoration, subject to City approval (s. 2.13).
Green burial lots permit no individual memorial at all. Memorialization happens only on a communal memorial installed by the City, as a single engraved line — name and years — added as interments occur (s. 9.26–9.32).
What's not allowed at Lakeview Cemetery
- Photo plaques attached with adhesive — portraits must be laser-etched, sandblasted, or cast in bronze (s. 10.15)
- Decorative rock, gravel, or borders around any memorial (Schedule A, s. 2.4)
- Fences, railings, copings, curbs, or hedges delineating a grave (s. 5.15)
- Attached vases, candleholders, or lanterns on or beside a memorial (s. 2.12) — the only exception is the City's own lantern tablet program (below)
- Planting of any tree, shrub, or flower without the City's express consent (s. 5.10)
- Personal decorations on graves — photos, frames, toys, shells, arbours, trellises, and similar items may be removed by the City without notice (s. 5.5)
- Installing a memorial before an interment has taken place in the lot (s. 10.4)
The one sanctioned decoration: the City may permit a single 11" × 11" concrete lantern tablet flush at the head of a standard or infant grave, holding up to two solar lanterns on rods no taller than 18". Lantern tablets are purchased exclusively from and installed by the City (s. 2.15).
How memorial approval works: step by step
Every memorial needs a permit before installation. Here's the process under Sections 10.9–10.18, whether you order locally or from a supplier like us:
- The interment happens first. No marker can be placed on a lot before someone is interred there.
- Submit the memorial application. Full specifications go to the City: size, design, material, inscription, and location. For companion markers, the supplier is responsible for confirming which side each name goes on — the City bears no liability if the orientation is wrong (s. 10.11).
- The City reviews for compliance against Schedule A. If something doesn't comply, they'll identify the deficiency and what needs to change.
- Pay the Care Fund contribution and clear any outstanding balances on the lot. Fees are set in the City's current Fees and Charges Bylaw.
- The permit is issued and the finished memorial is delivered to the cemetery. The City can reject a delivered memorial that doesn't match the approved permit (s. 10.13), which is why the compliance check before production matters.
- City crews build the foundation and install the memorial, at the applicant's expense, as soon as practicable after delivery.
Timing: the winter installation pause
Installations don't normally occur between November 1 and March 31 (s. 10.18). If a death occurs in fall or winter, plan on a spring installation — the City permits a temporary marker for up to six months from the date of interment to bridge the gap (s. 10.26). If you want a permanent marker set before winter, orders generally need to be finalized by early fall to allow for production and delivery.
Flowers and grave decorations
Lakeview runs on a seasonal schedule (s. 5.4): any floral tribute is fine on the day of an interment and for seven days after. From April 1 to October 31, only fresh cut flowers are permitted — one approved container per grave — and potted plants or artificial flowers will be removed. From November 1 to March 31, potted plants, wreaths, and artificial tributes are allowed, but everything is cleared without notice during the first spring grounds cleanup. At niches and crypts, artificial flowers go only in the City-supplied bud vase.
Lot capacity and non-resident fees
Knowing a lot's capacity helps you choose a marker with room for future inscriptions. Standard flat marker and upright monument lots each hold two casket burials plus up to four cremation interments. Standard cremation lots hold four urns; niches hold two; family estate lots hold up to four casket and sixteen cremation interments.
One planning note for double-depth graves: cremated remains interred before (or above) a casket burial must be in a permanent, non-decomposing urn, or the City won't move them to accommodate a later casket interment — and relocating them incurs an exhumation-level fee (s. 8.24).
Penticton also prices interment rights differently for residents and non-residents — a resident is someone who has lived in or owned property in Penticton for the six months before purchase, and the residency of the first person interred determines the fee tier (s. 6.1). Marker rules are identical either way; only the lot pricing differs.
Ordering a Lakeview-compliant headstone from Casket Depot
Because the City performs every installation itself, buying your marker from an out-of-town supplier is straightforward — there's no installer to coordinate. We've supplied markers now installed at Lakeview Cemetery for families ordering entirely remotely, and the process looks like this:
- Design consultation by phone, email, or at our Surrey showroom — engraving available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Farsi, and more, with every character confirmed with your family before cutting.
- Compliance check before production. We verify your design against Schedule A of Bylaw 2018-15 — size, thickness, base dimensions, and inscription rules — so the City's review is a formality, not a risk.
- Scaled proof for your approval, then production (typically 4–6 weeks for granite).
- We coordinate the permit paperwork and delivery to Penticton. City crews handle the foundation and installation from there.
Our flat granite markers, bronze markers on granite, and upright monuments are all available in Lakeview's approved dimensions at direct wholesale pricing. Call us at 604-833-9193 for a quote — mention Lakeview or Fairview Anglican and we'll pull the correct specs for your lot type.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to buy my headstone from the City of Penticton?
No. You may purchase from any monument supplier. The City installs all memorials itself, but supply is open — the marker just needs a memorial permit and must meet Schedule A specifications.
Can my family install the marker ourselves?
No. Section 10.17 requires that every memorial be placed, installed, relocated, or removed by the City. Your supplier delivers the finished marker; City crews set it on a foundation built at your expense.
What's the largest flat marker allowed at Lakeview Cemetery?
18" × 36" × 3" on a standard flat marker lot, memorializing up to two people. The same size centred over a side-by-side double lot may memorialize up to four.
Are upright headstones allowed?
Yes, on designated upright monument lots. A standard monument is a 36"-wide granite base with a tablet up to 30" wide, 30" tall, and 6" thick. Larger monuments are permitted on side-by-side and family estate lots.
Can I put a ceramic photo on the headstone?
Not if it's attached with adhesive — the bylaw prohibits glued-on appliqués. Portraits must be an integral part of the stone: laser-etched, sandblasted, or cast in bronze.
When will the marker be installed if I order in winter?
Installations are normally paused from November 1 to March 31, so winter orders are typically installed in spring. A temporary marker is permitted for up to six months after the interment.
Does this bylaw also cover Fairview Anglican Cemetery?
Yes. Bylaw 2018-15 governs both of Penticton's municipal cemeteries — Lakeview and Fairview Anglican — with the same memorial specifications.
This guide summarizes the City of Penticton Cemetery Management Bylaw No. 2018-15 (consolidated, as amended by Bylaw 2021-19) for general information. The City publishes its bylaw as a convenience consolidation and requirements can change — always confirm current specifications and fees with the City of Penticton cemetery office (Finance Department, 171 Main Street, weekdays 1:00–4:00 p.m., by appointment) or at penticton.ca before finalizing a memorial. When you order through Casket Depot, we verify current requirements with the City as part of every Lakeview order.