Laws and rules - Funeral and cemeteries

Current laws and rules

Laws relating to cemeteries, morgues, and human remains

• Chapter 68 RCW: Cemeteries, morgues, and human remains
• Chapter 70.58 RCW: Vital statistics
• Chapter 70.58A.200 RCW: Reports of death—Filing and registration requirements
• Chapter 70.58A.210: Final disposition of human remains—Issuance of burial-transit and disinterment permits
• Chapter 246-500 WAC: Handling of human remains
• Chapter 308-47 WAC: Cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, and natural organic reduction
• Chapter 308-47A WAC: Final disposition permit
• Chapter 308-50A WAC: Cemeteries - endowment care funds
• Chapter 308-50B WAC: Cemeteries - endowment care total return distribution
• Chapter 308-51B WAC: Cemeteries prearrangement contracts
• Chapter 308-52A WAC: Abandoned cemeteries
• Chapter 18.235 RCW: Uniform regulation of business and professions act
• Chapter 98 WAC: Department of Licensing (Cemetery Board) REPEALED

Laws relating to funeral directors and embalmers

• Chapter 18.39 RCW: Embalmers - funeral directors
• Chapter 308-47 WAC: Cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, and natural organic reduction
• Chapter 308-48 WAC: Funeral directors and embalmers
• Chapter 308-49 WAC: Prearrangement funeral services
• Chapter 18.235 RCW: Uniform regulation of business and professions act

Rulemaking activity

Rule and status	Public hearing or comments
Chapter 308-48-800 WAC: Fees (New rule) Adopted Rule Rule-Making Order	Public hearing held October 11, 2022
Title 98 WAC: Licensing, Department of (Cemetery Board), Title 308 WAC: Licensing, Department of Current rules: Title 98 WAC: Licensing, Department of (Cemetery Board) Title 308 WAC: Licensing, Department of Proposed rules: OTS-1876.1 OTS-1877.1 OTS-1878.1 OTS-1879.1 OTS-1880.1 OTS-1881.1 OTS-1882.1 OTS-1883.1 OTS-1884.1 OTS-1885.1 OTS-1886.1 OTS-1887.1 OTS-1888.6 OTS-1889.2 OTS-1890.1 OTS-1891.1 OTS-1892.1 OTS-1893.2 Rule-Making Order Concise Explanatory Statement	Public hearings held February 25 and 26, 2020 Seattle public hearing audio* (February 25) (mp3 format: 17 minutes) Spokane public hearing audio* (February 26) (mp3 format: 5 minutes)
Title 98 WAC: Licensing, Department of (Cemetery Board) Chapter 308-47 WAC: Rules of Procedure for Cremation Chapter 308-48 WAC: Funeral Directors and Embalmers Chapter 308-49 WAC: Prearrangement Funeral Services Current rules Title 98 WAC: Licensing, Department of (Cemetery Board) Chapter 308-47 WAC: Rules of Procedure for Cremation Chapter 308-48 WAC: Funeral Directors and Embalmers Chapter 308-49 WAC: Prearrangement Funeral Services Preproposal Statement of Inquiry Withdraw notice	See Preproposal Statement of Inquiry for information about submitting comments.
Title 308 WAC: Licensing, Department of Current rule Adopted rule Concise Explanatory Statement Rule-Making Order	Public hearing held January 7, 2020 Public hearing audio * (mp3 format: 2 minutes)
Title 98 WAC: Licensing, Department of (Cemetery Board) Current rule Adopted rule Concise Explanatory Statement Rule-Making Order	Public hearing held June 12, 2018 Public hearing audio * (mp3 format: 15 minutes)
Chapter 98-12 WAC: Endowment Care Cemeteries Current rule Adopted rule Concise Explanatory Statement Rule-Making Order	Public hearing held November 21, 2017 Public hearing audio * (mp3 format: 3 minutes 15 seconds)

Explanation of abbreviations

• RCW—Revised Code of Washington (Washington State laws)
• WAC—Washington Administrative Code (Washington State agency regulations)

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