Scattering ashes
At sea, federal law applies: at least 3 nautical miles out, and tell the EPA within 30 days. On land, state and local rules.
What it is
At sea, the federal rule applies in every state. Cremated remains may be placed in ocean waters no closer than 3 nautical miles from land, and the burial must be reported within 30 days to the EPA.
On land, rivers and lakes, the rules come from the state and often the city or county. A landowner's permission is the usual starting point.
Good to know
- Report a burial at sea within 30 days with the EPA's online Burial at Sea Reporting Tool.
- Only materials that break down readily in the ocean may go in with the remains. Flowers and wreaths that decompose are fine.
At sea: the federal rule
- Cremated remains may be placed in ocean waters no closer than 3 nautical miles from land (40 CFR 229.1(a)(3)).
- Report the burial to the EPA within 30 days, using its Burial at Sea Reporting Tool (40 CFR 229.1(d)).
- Flowers and wreaths may go in only if they break down readily in the ocean; plastic or metal ones may not (40 CFR 229.1(c)).
Scattering ashes by state
| State | State rules for land and water |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Alabama Board of Funeral Service. |
| Alaska | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Mortuary Science. |
| Arizona | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Arizona Department of Health Services, Funeral Services Licensing. |
| Arkansas | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries, and Burial Services. |
| California | State rules Families may scatter; a state registration is needed only to scatter more than 10 people's remains a year. |
| Colorado | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Colorado Office of Funeral and Mortuary Science Services. |
| Connecticut | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Connecticut Board of Examiners of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Delaware | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Delaware Board of Funeral Services. |
| District of Columbia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the DC Board of Funeral Directors. |
| Florida | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services. |
| Georgia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service. |
| Hawaii | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Hawaii Department of Health. |
| Idaho | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Idaho Board of Morticians. |
| Illinois | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| Indiana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Indiana State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service. |
| Iowa | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Iowa Board of Mortuary Science. |
| Kansas | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts. |
| Kentucky | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Kentucky Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Louisiana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Maine | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Maine Board of Funeral Services. |
| Maryland | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors. |
| Massachusetts | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Embalming and Funeral Directing. |
| Michigan | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Mortuary Science. |
| Minnesota | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Minnesota Department of Health, Mortuary Science Section. |
| Mississippi | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service. |
| Missouri | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Montana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Montana Board of Funeral Service. |
| Nebraska | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Funeral Directing and Embalming. |
| Nevada | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Nevada Funeral and Cemetery Services Board. |
| New Hampshire | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New Hampshire Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| New Jersey | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science. |
| New Mexico | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New Mexico Board of Funeral Services. |
| New York | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Funeral Directing. |
| North Carolina | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service. |
| North Dakota | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service. |
| Ohio | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Oklahoma | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Oklahoma Funeral Board. |
| Oregon | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board. |
| Pennsylvania | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors. |
| Rhode Island | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| South Carolina | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the South Carolina Board of Funeral Service. |
| South Dakota | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the South Dakota Board of Funeral Service. |
| Tennessee | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| Texas | State rules Scattering is allowed over uninhabited public land, public waterways, the sea, or private land with the owner's consent. |
| Utah | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Utah Division of Professional Licensing, Funeral Service. |
| Vermont | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, Funeral Service. |
| Virginia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| Washington | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Washington Funeral and Cemetery Board. |
| West Virginia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the West Virginia Board of Funeral Service Examiners. |
| Wisconsin | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Examining Board. |
| Wyoming | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Wyoming State Board of Funeral Service Practitioners. |
Common questions
- How far out do I have to go to scatter ashes at sea?
- At least 3 nautical miles from land, under the EPA's general permit for burial at sea (40 CFR 229.1). Then report it to the EPA within 30 days.
- Can I scatter ashes on land?
- Usually with the landowner's permission, but rules differ by state and locality. The table below lists the state rules we have read.
Funeral homes near you
Call two or three homes and compare their written price lists.