Maine Cemetery and Crematorium Regulations
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Environmental Health is responsible for the oversight of new and expanded burial grounds, cemeteries, mausolea, and crematoria.
Burial Grounds
Any new or expanded burial ground or cemetery requires prior review and approval from the Division. This includes family burial grounds, 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.
Crematoria
The Division has adopted rules for the regulation of existing and proposed crematoria. Any new crematorium designed to process human remains must obtain approval from the Division prior to operation. Any existing crematorium must obtain approval for continued operation.
Records
The Division does not maintain records for specific plots in any burial ground or cemetery, nor for any cremated remains interred in any specific columbarium. The Division further does not maintain records for any individuals interred in any specific facility. There are no registrations on file at the Division for any burial ground, cemetery, mausoleum, or columbarium prior to July of 1974.
Crematoria Rules Adopted
The Maine Division of Environmental Health has adopted Maine’s Rules for Establishment and Operation of Crematoria, which have an effective date of 0ctober 26, 2009.
Our goal was to develop crematoria rules which are equitable to the industry, but do not compromise the protection of public health, safety and welfare. Please contact us if you would like to have a copy of the rules e-mailed to you, or download a copy in PDF format.
Once again, the Division extends our thanks to everyone who has participated in this process. Your collective input has been invaluable to us.
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Updated 10/30/09
