Coachella Valley Public Cemetery

A place of remembrance in the agricultural heart of the valley. The Coachella Valley Public Cemetery serves families across a much larger area than the city of Coachella. Its tree-lined grounds on Avenue 52 hold generations of local history, with the surrounding fields and mountains giving the cemetery a distinct eastern-valley setting.

Whether you are visiting a loved one, attending a service, researching family history or planning ahead, the information below brings together the practical details. Photography by Mark Miller / Desert Oasis Insider, November 5, 2026. Open any photograph above to view the full gallery.

Hours, address and getting there

82925 Avenue 52, Coachella, CA 92236
Phone: 760-398-3221 · Email: info@cvpcd.org

The District describes general grounds hours as “7 a.m. to sunset,” but publishes specific seasonal closing times. Use that schedule and the entrance signs rather than a weather app's sunset time. Check current hours and the annual calendar.

Get driving directions to the cemetery. The office and entrances face Avenue 52. The gallery's closer aerial view shows the office, gates and internal roads, useful for recognizing the arrival area. Follow the posted entrance and staff directions on the day, especially during services or large events.

For a quiet visit, allow time to locate the section before walking out onto the grounds. Summer visits are more comfortable early in the morning; take drinking water, sun protection and stable footwear. Trees provide shade in parts of the cemetery, but a particular gravesite may be exposed.

Finding a grave or researching family history

The District's online burial search lets you search names and view location information. Begin with a last name; if a search fails, try alternate spellings, fewer fields or a different family name. Record the returned location before leaving home. The official section map helps you orient yourself within the grounds.

For a missing, unclear or recently added record, call the office. Bring the person's full name, approximate birth and death dates, and any existing burial paperwork. The District maintains interment records in its administration office. An unsuccessful online search alone does not establish that someone is not buried here.

For family-history work, compare cemetery records with family documents and official vital records. A marker, burial date and death date can describe different events. Photograph an inscription carefully rather than relying on a distant aerial image to identify an individual grave. Do not disturb a marker or leave a rubbing, adhesive or cleaning residue behind.

Visiting respectfully: parking and accessibility

Drive at or below the posted 10 mph limit, keep through routes open and stay out of work zones. Park only where allowed; never drive onto burial lawns. Give a procession priority and avoid interrupting services or photographing mourners without permission.

The grounds include grass, curbs and uneven surfaces. A paved internal road does not guarantee a step-free route to every grave. If a visitor uses a wheelchair or walker, or needs a shorter walking route, call the office ahead to discuss the specific section and assistance available. Ask about restroom access and arrangements for your visit rather than assuming every facility is accessible at all hours.

Pets are not permitted; the service policy distinguishes service dogs. Alcohol, open flames, recreational activities and personal canopies are prohibited. For a religious custom, special gathering or photography project, discuss your plans with staff first. Read the District's full regulations.

Flowers, decorations and mowing days

Regular mowing is Tuesday. Pick up memorial items by Monday before sundown; return them Wednesday. Columbarium cleaning is also Tuesday. Check the District calendar for holiday and event exceptions before making a trip. Its current hours and decoration pages supersede an older FAQ that still describes a split Tuesday/Thursday mowing schedule.

• Keep items within the marker or flower cup. Without a marker, the permitted area is no larger than 18 × 30 inches.
• Decorations must be no more than 36 inches tall and no more than 10 pounds in total weight.
• Do not use glass, breakable items, fences, glue or tape, or push objects into the ground.
• Items cannot have a solid base that blocks irrigation. Do not dig or modify the lawn.
• Items left during cleanup or in violation of the rules may be discarded and cannot be recovered. Avoid leaving irreplaceable possessions.

Flowers placed for a new interment have a limited special retention period; confirm the removal day with staff. Read the complete decoration policy.

Attending a graveside service

Confirm the name, date, start time and location with the family or funeral provider. The District recommends arriving with the procession; if arriving independently, do not arrive more than 15 minutes early. Follow staff parking directions, avoid office-only spaces and red curbs, and keep clear of other services.

Published service provisions include a portable shade structure, ten folding chairs and bottled water. Shade does not cover every guest in a large group. Ask in advance about extra seating, mobility needs, pallbearer assistance and gatherings exceeding 100 people. Umbrellas and suitable portable chairs may be useful; personal canopies are not allowed.

Services have a one-hour allocation from the scheduled start. Afterwards, guests must clear the work zone so staff can complete the interment, but may observe from a safe area as directed. Arrange officiants, music, military honors or other customs with staff in advance. Read what to expect at a service.

Burial and cremation options

The District offers single- and double-depth full-size burial spaces, smaller spaces for babies and children, in-ground placement of cremated remains, and above-ground columbarium niches. A columbarium is a structure containing individual compartments for urns.

Availability and suitability depend on the actual space and the dimensions of the casket, vault or urn. Discuss family preferences and future interments before purchasing. A double-depth arrangement is not a promise that every existing grave can accept another burial. Staff must confirm the configuration and the required authorizations.

Purchasing burial rights gives the right to use a designated space under cemetery rules; it should not be confused with ordinary residential land ownership. Ask the District to explain the certificate, authorized users, succession and any transfer restrictions before signing. Explore official services.

Current cemetery costs and what they include

The following examples come from the District's 2026–2027 price sheet, effective September 12, 2026. These are cemetery charges, not a complete funeral or cremation-provider quote. Confirm the current itemized total for your circumstances; vault costs and tax can change.

The schedule also lists a 15% eligible non-resident surcharge on all fees and a 3% credit-card convenience fee. Ask whether a quoted total includes the marker itself, engraving, cemetery setting, urn or casket, transportation, funeral-provider charges and any additional service support. Do not add a surcharge without first confirming eligibility.

Open the complete official price sheet (PDF).

The office lists personal checks, cashier's checks and credit cards, not cash. Within five business days of a scheduled burial, it accepts cashier's checks or credit cards rather than personal checks. Payment plans can extend up to 24 months, subject to the District's terms; confirm deposits, fees and when the balance must be paid.

Making arrangements or planning ahead

For an immediate need, the funeral or cremation provider prepares the remains and coordinates transportation; cemetery staff arrange the interment space and cemetery service. The legally authorized person must approve the arrangements. Existing family ownership does not remove the need for the appropriate signatures.

Before an appointment, gather any burial-right certificate, existing contract and the details of the person being interred. Ask staff which identification, authorization and residency documents they need for your case. For an urn, confirm its exact dimensions before purchase. For a headstone, obtain written size, material and placement requirements before commissioning it.

Planning ahead gives the family time to compare spaces and document preferences. Ask what is being purchased now, what remains payable later, who can use the space and how the District handles an unused purchase. Keep the completed paperwork where the people responsible for future arrangements can find it.

Request an appointment or call 760-398-3221. The online appointment page currently offers weekday windows of 11 a.m.–1 p.m. and 3–5 p.m.; confirm availability. Read the official arrangements FAQ.

History, public service and community remembrance

The District was formed on August 8, 1927. Its published history describes a service area of about 3,450 square miles, more than 24,000 interments, and a 60-acre property with 29 acres developed for burial use. Those figures describe the District's published account, rather than a live capacity count.

It is an independent public special district, supported partly by property taxes, with five trustees appointed by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. This explains why “public cemetery” refers to both its community role and its governance, and why service-area eligibility affects fees. A Coachella mailing address alone is not the full eligibility test; ask staff to check the applicable boundary and status.

These original aerial photographs show the cemetery as part of a working valley: orderly rows of markers under mature trees, internal roads, open farmland and mountains beyond. The contrast gives geographic context to a place whose meaning is personal to each family. Read the District's history and service-area information.

The cemetery also hosts community remembrance events. Its annual Día de los Muertos celebration is held November 2, with music and folkloric dance; its Memorial Day ceremony is presented with American Legion Post 739 of Indio. Event-day hours, parking and permitted items can differ from ordinary visits. Use the official event information for the next observance.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and update notes

Information checked November 5, 2026 against the District's official hours, 2026 closing schedule, burial search, section map, services, September 2026 fee sheet, regulations, arrangements FAQ, history and event pages linked above. Policies, fees, availability and event arrangements can change. The cemetery's confirmation and current posted notices govern an actual visit or service.

Editorial and original photography: Mark Miller / Desert Oasis Insider. This independent resource does not sell cemetery spaces or accept service bookings. For records or arrangements, contact the District directly.