Family Burial Grounds
Family burying grounds no longer need to be registered
The creation of family burying grounds will no longer need to be registered with the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Environmental Health (Division). For many years the Division has been approving applications for family burying grounds. However, based upon a recent review of the statutory language (13 M.R.S. § 1142) governing family burying grounds, the Division has determined that the statute does not require approval by the Division.
Any new or expanded burial ground or cemetery requires prior review and approval from the Division. This excludes family burial grounds, but includes public cemeteries and private cemeteries such as those associated with places of worship, and private for-profit cemeteries. Mausolea (above ground burial vaults) and columbaria (cremated remains depositories) also require prior review and approval from the Division.
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Division staff will still be available to answer questions from home owners and municipal officials regarding family burying grounds. Additionally, we have posted several documents on our web site, which may be useful to you, including a frequently asked questions brochure which you may download and distribute.