Laws by State

Burial Laws by State 2025

HI AK WA MT ND MN WI MI NY VT NH ME RI MA CT NJ DE OH IL IN MD PA WV VA SC GA TN KY MO CO NV OR ID IA NE SD WY NC FL AL MS CA UT AZ NM OK LA TX KS AR

Private Property Burial Allowed

Depends (check local zoning)
Depends (family plot possible in rural areas)
No
Yes (w/ permit)
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.