Can you legally bury your pet or a person in your yard in NJ?

A few states have laws that prevent a pet from being buried in your yard. But what about New Jersey?

I realize this is a morbid subject but it's something that countless pet owners do.

Having grown up with many cats and dogs, when one passed away we never really thought twice about burying them in our backyard. We just did it. But is it legal here?

Can You Bury Your Pet in Your Yard in NJ?

Best that I can tell, yes it is. But there are some details worth sharing.

First of all, I'm basing that answer on several websites which seem to almost all reference a website for a wildlife removal company in North Jersey:

If it is your pet that died, you can put it inside a box like a coffin and put something in its possession like a lace. Dig a hole big enough to fit the box or put (the) carcass in the hole. The hole must at least two feet deep to prevent (a) flood from washing it away.

They also recommend putting a layer of stones over the grave to keep other animals from disturbing it.

Pet paws - Photo by Shane on Unsplash

READ MORE: This Huge NJ Department Store Closed Years Ago — What it Looks Like Inside Now

While that's not an "official" answer, I couldn't find any statutes from the State of New Jersey that made this act against the law.

While the state itself (apparently) doesn't prohibit burying a furry friend in your backyard, your local municipality might, so check with your city or township.

What Happens When I Move?

Well, that's a bit tricky.

Obviously, you don't want to shock the people who just bought your house when they go to do some new landscaping — and I'm sure you have no interest in exhuming a pet. That's something that you really need to consider.

As for alternatives, there are quite a few pet cemeteries in New Jersey. Contact your local veterinarian's office for more information or search online.

Can My Pet Be Buried With Me in NJ?

So, let's then take this one step further.

Some people get so attached that they want to be buried with their pets. Can you do that in New Jersey? Well, that's a little complicated.

Cemetery - Photo by Madeleine Maguire on Unsplash

READ MORE: Getting Closer! Buc-ee’s Soon to be Only 2 States Away from New Jersey

Until researching this topic, I wasn't aware that there is a New Jersey Cemetery Board that regulates things like this. They say,

No. By statute..."cemetery" means any land or place used or dedicated for use for burial of human remains or disposition of cremated human remains. A cemetery, by definition, may not accept pets, unless it is exclusively a pet cemetery.

While you cannot have your pet buried in a cemetery for humans, apparently, it is legal in New Jersey for a person to be buried in a pet cemetery as long as the human remains have been cremated. Several websites for law firms say this is OK.

Can a Human Be Buried on Private Property in NJ?

I didn't set out looking for an answer to this question, but when I discovered the New Jersey Cemetary Board, I found a big list of questions and answers. One of them is if it's legal to bury a person in your yard.

The answer: no.

Well, almost no.

The only place that burial can take place in New Jersey is on land that is dedicated for cemetery purposes. For your property to be used for burial, you would have to apply to the New Jersey Cemetery Board for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a "cemetery company."

Again, consider the consequences when you want to sell your house and in addition to saying how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has, you have to mention Aunt Edna is out back by the gazebo.