Home Pet Burial Laws: What is Allowed
Legal requirements for burying your pet at home—it varies more than you think.
My grandmother buried every pet under the apple tree. No permits, no questions. Today, the rules are more complicated—but home burial is still possible in many places.
Is home burial legal?
**Short answer:** It depends on where you live.
**Generally allowed:**
**Often prohibited:**
Common regulations
**Depth requirements:** Most areas that allow burial require 2-4 feet deep. This prevents other animals from digging and allows proper decomposition.
**Distance from water:** Usually must be 50-100+ feet from wells, streams, or other water sources.
**Property lines:** Often must be certain distance from neighboring properties.
**Size limits:** Some areas prohibit burial of large animals (horses, livestock).
How to find your local rules
If home burial is not allowed
**Alternatives:**
How to bury properly
If burial is legal in your area:
Practical considerations
**Frozen ground:** In winter, you may need to wait or use cremation
**Large pets:** May require equipment to dig adequately deep
**Future moves:** If you might move, cremation may be more practical
**Other pets:** May dig if burial is too shallow