Pet cemeteries: where you can build them and how to register

The animal carcasses you bury at a pet cemetery are animal by-products (ABPs).

You must apply for planning permission to build a pet cemetery.

Your local planning authority will also consult other interested groups like:

You can check that your pet cemetery meets these location requirements by talking to:

When first dug, the bottom of any burial hole must be free of standing water.

You must bury all animals at least 0.5m below the surface to prevent other animals digging up the carcass.

To start operating as a pet cemetery, you must register your site with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Once you’re registered, you can then bury domestic pet carcasses (for example cats, dogs, rabbits, horses).

You can’t bury farm animals like cattle, sheep, goats or pigs, even if they were kept as pets.

An APHA inspector will visit the site to make sure your pet cemetery is operated legally and is built according to regulations.

Once you’re registered the inspector will make occasional inspection visits to make sure you’re still operating legally.

You usually need a permit to bury or spread ash.

If your site is in England or Wales your activity may be covered by a regulatory position statement (RPS). If you comply with all the conditions of the RPS you don’t need to apply for an environmental permit to bury or spread ash.

If your site is in Scotland you must apply to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for your permit.