If you are asking whether you can be buried with your pet, it usually comes from a very simple place: you loved them, they were family, and the idea of being separated feels wrong. The hard part is that the answer is rarely a clean yes or no. In most of the U.S., what matters is a three-part reality: state law sets the outer boundaries, cemetery rules decide what happens on their property, and the practical details depend on whether you mean a full-body burial, placing pet cremains in a casket or grave, or combining memorial items at home.
This guide is written for 2026 families who want clarity without being pushed into a rushed decision. We’ll walk through what’s commonly allowed, what is often prohibited, the exact questions to ask a cemetery, and the most workable alternatives when a “together” plan is meaningful but the rules are tight. And because many families end up choosing cremation for one or both companions, we’ll also connect the dots to pet urns for ashes, keepsake urns, cremation jewelry, and the broader funeral planning decisions that make everything easier later.
What “buried with your pet” usually means in real life
People use the same phrase to describe very different plans. Before you call a cemetery (or a funeral home), it helps to name the version you mean—because cemeteries may allow one version and forbid another.
Option A: Your pet’s cremated remains are placed with you
This is the most common “together” plan. It might mean a sealed container of pet cremains placed in the casket, in the outer burial container, or in the same grave space. It can also mean both sets of cremated remains placed in the same niche, or placed in side-by-side niches. If your plan includes cremation, families often build it around a main urn plus smaller keepsakes—like pet keepsake cremation urns for ashes or keepsake urns—so everyone who loved the pet can have something meaningful, even if the final placement is later.
Option B: Your pet is buried in the same cemetery lot, but not in the same grave
Some cemeteries that are open to companion plans still want clear records and clean boundaries. They may allow your pet’s cremated remains to be interred on the same lot (or in the same family section) but require a separate inurnment location, separate container, or specific documentation.
Option C: Full-body co-burial
This is where things get difficult. Many human cemeteries do not allow full-body pet burials at all. When full-body pet burial is possible, it is often through a pet cemetery, a “whole family” cemetery concept, or a designated area with special rules. Even when allowed, there may be requirements around depth, containment, and how the grave is recorded.
If you want a calm overview of how “together” options are commonly structured, Funeral.com’s companion-burial explainer can help you sort the vocabulary before you start making calls: Can I Be Buried with My Pet? Human–Pet Companion Burial Options Explained.
What state laws typically cover (and what they usually don’t)
State law almost always regulates the disposition of human remains. Pet remains are often treated differently under the law, and the rules that exist may focus on public health (burial depth, proximity to water, and how remains are handled), consumer protection (cemetery authority and recordkeeping), and licensing (who can operate a cemetery and what they are allowed to inter).
That’s why, in many states, you won’t find one universal statute that clearly says “yes, pets may be buried with humans” or “no, they may not.” What you’ll find instead is that cemeteries are allowed to create their own regulations—sometimes called rules and regulations, interment policies, deed restrictions, or bylaws—and those documents are often what truly decide your options. Funeral.com’s cemetery-rule guide for pet cremains explains this “policy first” reality in plain language: Can Pet Ashes Be Buried with Humans? Laws, Cemetery Rules, and Realistic Options.
That said, a few states do address this topic more directly. Florida is a clear example: Florida law explicitly says its cemetery statutes do not prohibit interment or entombment of inurned cremated animal remains with human remains, as long as the human remains are not commingled with the pet remains and authorization requirements are met (see Florida Statutes section 497.273). You can read the language directly from the State of Florida here: Florida Statutes.
The pattern to notice is the one that shows up again and again: when a state allows co-placement, it often still emphasizes separation of containers and clear authorization—because cemeteries are trying to keep accurate records, maintain consistent standards, and avoid disputes later.
Why cemetery policy matters more than people expect
Even when state law doesn’t forbid it, many cemeteries still choose not to allow pet remains in a human grave. Sometimes that’s cultural—families have different comfort levels. Sometimes it’s administrative—cemeteries want simple, standardized records. And sometimes it’s tied to the type of property: a religious cemetery may have different rules than a municipal cemetery, and a private cemetery may have stricter deed restrictions.
The practical takeaway is this: treat “cemetery permission” as its own step in your funeral planning. If you wait until the last minute, you can end up making a different choice than you wanted simply because the paperwork or policy conversation happened too late.
The questions to ask a cemetery (and the wording that gets the clearest answer)
When families call a cemetery and say, “Can I be buried with my pet?”, the answer is often vague because the question is vague. These are the specific questions that tend to produce real clarity:
- Do you allow pet cremains to be placed in a casket or in the grave with human remains?
- If yes, do the pet cremated remains need to be in a sealed urn or a sealed inner container?
- Do you prohibit “commingled” remains (for example, mix ashes human and pet in a single container)?
- Do you allow placement in a niche (columbarium) if the pet remains are in a separate container?
- Is there a designated companion-burial or “whole family” section, or do you handle this as a special permission?
- What paperwork do you require (interment authorization, proof of cremation, lot owner consent)?
- If you don’t allow it, is it a hard policy, or can exceptions be granted?
If you want a second layer of guidance on how cemeteries tend to interpret these requests, it can help to read Funeral.com’s companion-burial overview first, then call with your specific plan: human–pet companion burial options.
Common rules families run into (and how to plan around them)
“The pet remains must be cremated”
This is extremely common. Full-body pet burial inside a human cemetery is often not allowed, but a small, sealed container of cremated pet remains might be considered. When families choose this route, the memorial objects matter: a durable pet urn, a small keepsake, or a companion plan that lets multiple people share. If you’re still choosing a vessel, start with pet cremation urns for ashes and then decide whether your plan needs something smaller like pet keepsake cremation urns for ashes.
“No commingling” (and why cemeteries say it)
This is the big one. Many cemeteries will not accept a container that holds mixed human and pet cremains. It’s not usually about chemistry; it’s about recordkeeping and authorization. Cemeteries often want to be able to say exactly what was interred and where, and commingling complicates that. If “together” matters deeply to you, a workable compromise is often two separate inner containers placed in the same location, or a keepsake urn approach where part of each remains at home while final placement follows cemetery rules. If you are deciding how to handle the “at home” season, Funeral.com’s guide on keeping ashes at home can make the practical side feel less intimidating.
“No pet remains in the casket” (but allowed in a niche)
Some cemeteries draw a line at graves but allow separate containers in a columbarium niche. If you’re exploring cremation-based placement, it helps to know the size and style options for the main urn. Funeral.com’s how to choose a cremation urn guide is a steady, practical starting point, and you can browse by category depending on what your plan needs: cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, or keepsake urns.
State-by-state: a fast research framework (so you can verify your local rules)
Because cemetery law and practice varies so much, a “rules by state” guide is most useful when it helps you verify your own local answer quickly. Here is a framework that works in every state, even when the law is silent.
Step 1: Identify the cemetery type
Ask whether the cemetery is private, municipal, religious, or a veteran cemetery. The type often predicts the strictness of the rules and whether exceptions are possible.
Step 2: Use a state-specific statute search phrase
Open your state legislature’s statute search page and use a phrase like: “cemetery interment cremated animal remains” or “inurned cremated animal remains.” In Florida, for example, the relevant language appears in the cemetery statute section 497.273, which you can read directly here: Florida Statutes.
Step 3: Find the state regulator that oversees licensed cemeteries
Many states regulate cemeteries through a consumer affairs department, a cemetery board, an insurance department, or a funeral/cemetery bureau. Even a quick call can tell you whether your state has an explicit allowance, a restriction, or no statewide rule at all—so you can focus on the cemetery’s policy conversation.
Step 4: Ask the cemetery for their written rules
Request the written rules and regulations (or interment policy). If the staff member gives you an informal answer, ask politely, “Is that written policy, and can you send it?” This reduces misunderstandings later.
Step 5: Confirm the “container rules” before you buy anything
If the cemetery allows pet cremains, they may require the pet remains to be in a sealed container, prohibit glass, require a specific size, or require labeling. This is where choosing the right memorial items matters. Some families prefer a decorative urn that feels like home—especially with pet figurine cremation urns for ashes. Others prefer a small, discreet keepsake. And some families choose wearable remembrance through cremation necklaces or cremation jewelry, especially when the final interment plan is complicated or delayed. If you want a calm explanation of what jewelry can (and can’t) do, start with Cremation Jewelry 101.
If the cemetery says no: alternatives that still feel “together”
A denial doesn’t have to mean separation forever. It often means your “together” plan needs a different shape.
Be buried near your pet
Some families arrange side-by-side placements: a human cemetery for the person and a pet cemetery nearby, or adjacent locations within a facility that has both options. The emotional meaning can still be there, even when the physical rules require separation.
Share cremains thoughtfully instead of forcing one container
If the worry is “only one household gets the ashes,” this is where keepsake urns can quietly solve a family problem. You can keep a main urn in one place while sharing small portions among siblings, children, or partners. Funeral.com’s keepsake urns 101 guide explains how this works without turning it into a cold transaction.
Create a home memorial now, then place later
For many families, keeping ashes at home is not indecision—it’s breathing room. It lets you grieve without rushing into a permanent placement. When you’re ready, you can revisit options like cemetery placement, scattering, or even water burial planning if that fits your story. If water is part of your family’s meaning, these Funeral.com guides can help you plan responsibly: Water Burial Planning and Water Burial and Burial at Sea.
How cremation trends are shaping these conversations
It’s not an accident that more cemeteries are being asked about pet cremains. Across the U.S., cremation has become the dominant disposition choice, and the numbers continue to rise. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 63.4% in 2025, more than double the projected burial rate. And the Cremation Association of North America tracks the continued growth and regional differences in cremation, which helps explain why cemetery policies can look very different from one state—or one county—to the next.
For families, the practical meaning is simple: if your plan includes cremation, it helps to choose memorial items that match your likely placement options. A central urn plus smaller keepsakes is often the most flexible structure. You can explore options by category at Funeral.com—cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, keepsake urns, and pet urns for ashes—and then decide what matches your family’s “together” plan.
Cost and planning: the part families don’t want to talk about (but should)
Sometimes families discover that the cemetery allows the plan—but the fees are unexpected. Or they realize that cremation makes the “together” idea more feasible financially. If you’re navigating both grief and budget, it helps to understand the real-world cost structure early. Funeral.com’s guide on how much does cremation cost breaks down what families are actually paying for, and what questions to ask so quotes are comparable.
And if your plan includes a memorial item, remember that “right” is not always “largest.” Some families choose a full-size urn. Others choose a small urn plus keepsakes. Some choose jewelry for everyday closeness. The point is not to perform grief correctly. The point is to choose something that supports your life and your family.
FAQ
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Can you be buried with your dog or cat’s ashes?
Sometimes—especially if the pet remains are cremated and sealed in a separate container—but it depends on the cemetery’s written rules and, in some states, specific statutes. The fastest path is to ask the cemetery whether they allow a sealed container of pet cremains in the casket, grave, or niche, and whether they prohibit commingled (mixed) remains.
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Is it legal to mix human ashes and pet ashes?
Laws vary, but the most common barrier is not a criminal law—it’s cemetery policy. Many cemeteries will not accept commingled remains because it complicates authorization and recordkeeping. If “together” matters, two separate inner containers placed in the same location is often more acceptable than mixing.
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Do cemeteries allow full-body burial of a pet with a human?
Usually not in a traditional human cemetery. Full-body pet burial is more commonly handled through pet cemeteries or specialized “whole family” arrangements. If you want full-body co-burial, ask directly whether the cemetery has a designated section and what containment or documentation is required.
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What should I ask a cemetery to get a clear answer?
Ask whether they allow pet cremains in a sealed container, whether the pet remains can be placed in the same grave or niche, and whether they prohibit commingled remains. Then request the policy in writing (rules and regulations or interment policy) so you can plan confidently.
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If my cemetery says no, what are meaningful alternatives?
Many families choose to be buried near their pet, use separate containers in the same niche where allowed, or create a home memorial with a main urn plus keepsakes and revisit final placement later. Keepsake urns and cremation jewelry can preserve the “together” feeling even when a cemetery’s rules require separation.
