How to get your license: Funeral establishments

Who needs a license?

Any business that provides care, shelter, transportation, embalming, preparation, and arrangements for the disposition of human remains.

Requirements

To get a funeral establishment license, a person, partnership, association, corporation, or other organization must:

Have a physical business location.
Designate the name under which the funeral establishment will operate and the location for which the establishment license is to be issued.
Be licensed in Washington as a funeral director, or employ at least 1 funeral director who will be in service at each location.
Be bound by all the establishment's existing prearrangement funeral service contracts.

Denial for disciplinary actions

The board may deny an application for a funeral establishment license, or issue a conditional license, if disciplinary action has been taken previously against the applicant or the applicant's designated funeral director or embalmer.

How to apply

File a business license application to get a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number from the Department of Revenue. Once you receive your UBI you can apply for your Funeral Establishment license.
Complete a List of Officers form.
Submit your application:
- Online
  - Log in or sign up to apply, upload your completed List of Officers form, and pay the application fee.
- By mail
  - Mail your completed and signed Funeral Establishment/Branch License Application and Information Change Request and List of Officers with a check or money order for the application fee (payable to the Department of Licensing) to:
    Funeral and Cemetery Board
    PO Box 3777
    Seattle, WA 98124-3777

Expiration dates

All funeral establishment licenses expire on January 31 each year. You must renew your license annually.

License not transferable

Funeral establishment licenses aren't transferable. You may apply for more than 1 funeral establishment license as long as you meet the requirements for each license.

Questions? Need help?

Email us: funerals@dol.wa.gov
Call us: 360.664.1555