Why I Need a disposition permit

A Permit for Disposition of Human Remains (Disposition Permit / Burial Permit) must be issued for each death at the time of preparation for burial, cremation or transit of the remains. The state basically need to know what is happening to the remains and the final resting place of the deceased individuals remains. If cremated remains are divided for placement at more than one location, a Burial Permit must be issued for each location. A burial permit is needed for the following reasons:

• Shipping the remains out of the state or country.
• Scattering cremains on land or burial at sea.
• Deeming the remains for scientific use.
• Shipping the remains into the State of California.
• When disinterment is required for moving the remains to another location other than a new location within the same cemetery.
• When remains are temporarily stored.

Obtaining a Disposition Permit

Generally, the permit is just obtained by the funeral establishment through whom you have funeral arrangements. It is just part of the general services they provide when you contact with them for services.

If is possible to obtain a permit yourself if needed. In our experience this is never required with dealing with the physical body but may be required when dealing with cremated remains. With our Burial at sea company (San Diego Burial at Sea) on occasion families choose to get their own permit. Most often however they just ask us to obtain it for them.  It is so much easier if we just do it since we are at the county office several times a week and have much experience in obtains these permits.

The County of San Diego charges $12 per permit.

Obtaining disposition Permit – in Person

Bring (1) an Original or Certified Death Certificate or (2) an Original Transit Permit from the state of death, to the nearest County Office of Vital Records. (a photocopy will not be accepted)

If you would like to scatter cremains (ashes) at sea, tell the county  you need to obtain a VS-9 Burial Permit and that it needs to state “at sea off the coast of [insert county of disposition here] County.”

You will need to have the following information and documents with you:

• The decedents full name
• Date of birth
• Date of death
• City of Death
• County (if death occurred in California)/ State (if death occurred outside California)
• An original death certificate or an original transit/burial permit

Payment may be check or money order payable to County of San Diego Public Health Services. Cash will not be accepted.

Obtaining the Disposition Permit – By Mail

To request a burial permit by mail, you need to completely fill out the Application and Permit for Disposition of Human Remains provided on the county of San Diego’s website. It’s important that the permit is filled out completely in BLACK INK and correctly; any edits are unacceptable.

Please return the completed permit along with an Original Death Certificate or Original Transit/Burial Permit. If you fail to include these items, your application will be rejected as incomplete and returned to you without being processed.