Burial Laws by State 2025

Yes (w/ permit)
33
Depends (check local zoning)
11
Depends (family plot possible in rural areas)
4
No
2
State
Private Property Burial Allowed
Depth Requirement
Burial-Transit Permit
Alabama Flag
AlabamaDepends (check local zoning)-Not required
Alaska Flag
AlaskaDepends (check local zoning)-Not required
Arizona Flag
ArizonaDepends (check local zoning)-Not required
Arkansas Flag
ArkansasDepends (family plot possible in rural areas)-Not required
California Flag
CaliforniaDepends (family plot possible in rural areas)18” from top of body or coffin/vault to surfaceNot required
Colorado Flag
ColoradoDepends (check local zoning)-Not required
Connecticut Flag
ConnecticutDepends (check local zoning)30” from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceNot required
Delaware Flag
DelawareDepends (check local zoning)18” from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceNot required
Florida Flag
FloridaDepends (check local zoning)12” from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceNot required
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaDepends (check local zoning)-Not required
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiNoMust be sufficient to avoid public health nuisance and animal disturbanceRequired
Idaho Flag
IdahoDepends (check local zoning)-Not required
Illinois Flag
IllinoisDepends (check local zoning)18” from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceNot required
Indiana Flag
IndianaDepends (family plot possible in rural areas)24" from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceNot required
Iowa Flag
IowaYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Kansas Flag
KansasYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Kentucky Flag
KentuckyYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Louisiana Flag
LouisianaDepends (family plot possible in rural areas)24” from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceNot required
Maine Flag
MaineYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Maryland Flag
MarylandDepends (check local zoning)-Not required
Massachusetts Flag
MassachusettsYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Michigan Flag
MichiganYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Minnesota Flag
MinnesotaYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Mississippi Flag
MississippiYes (w/ permit)24” from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceNot required
Missouri Flag
MissouriYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Montana Flag
MontanaYes (w/ permit)18” from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceNot required
Nebraska Flag
NebraskaYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Nevada Flag
NevadaYes (w/ permit)-Required
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireYes (w/ permit)-Not required
New Jersey Flag
New JerseyYes (w/ permit)4’ adult from top to surface 3.5’ child from top to surfaceNot required
New Mexico Flag
New MexicoYes (w/ permit)6’ minimum bottom depthNot required
New York Flag
New YorkYes (w/ permit)-Required
North Carolina Flag
North CarolinaYes (w/ permit)18" from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceNot required
North Dakota Flag
North DakotaYes (w/ permit)3.5' from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceRequired
Ohio Flag
OhioYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Oklahoma Flag
OklahomaYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Oregon Flag
OregonYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Pennsylvania Flag
PennsylvaniaYes (w/ permit)24" from the hipbone or casket/vault to surfaceRequired
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode IslandYes (w/ permit)-Required
South Carolina Flag
South CarolinaYes (w/ permit)10" from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceNot required
South Dakota Flag
South DakotaYes (w/ permit)-Required
Tennessee Flag
TennesseeYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Texas Flag
TexasYes (w/ permit)24" from top of body or casket/vault to surfaceNot required
Utah Flag
UtahYes (w/ permit)-Required
Vermont Flag
VermontYes (w/ permit)3.5' adult and infant min. bottom depthNot required
Virginia Flag
VirginiaYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Washington Flag
WashingtonNo-Not required
West Virginia Flag
West VirginiaYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Wisconsin Flag
WisconsinYes (w/ permit)-Not required
Wyoming Flag
WyomingYes (w/ permit)-Not required
  • None of the 50 states legally require a casket for burial or cremation.
  • In all 50 states, funeral homes must accept caskets that consumers have purchased from another source.
  • In every state except Alabama, funeral homes must accept caskets that consumers have built on their own.
  • In Idaho and Maine, only licensed funeral directors may sell caskets.