What is home burial?

Can you bury someone in your garden? Let's find out more about this alternative kind of funeral.

What is home burial?

Home burial involves burying a loved one in a garden or other piece of privately owned land. There are rules and regulations to follow before going ahead with a home burial.



While home burials are not unheard of, they're far from common in the UK. This has led to some misconceptions among members of the public and even some sections of the funeral industry.

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Can you bury someone in your garden?

Yes – it's legal in the UK to bury someone in your garden. There are, however, rules and regulations to be followed to ensure the process is legally compliant and environmentally friendly. For this reason, it's advisable to consult the Environment Agency when planning a home burial.



There are a couple of other things to keep in mind. First, a home burial may affect the value of the property. Secondly, if the property is sold, you may have to agree on a right of access if you want to visit the grave. This could put off a potential buyer.

What are the UK home burial laws?

There are several laws in the UK relating to home burials. The following laws apply in England and Wales – check if you're in Scotland or Northern Ireland.


First, you must have the consent of the freeholder of the burial location. The freeholder owns the land the property sits on. You may own the property as a leaseholder but not own the land as a freeholder.


Next, the freeholder needs to check that no restrictive covenants apply to the property regarding home burial.


You need to obtain a Certificate of Authority for Burial from the Registrar of Births and Deaths. This is typically issued when the death is registered.


You should inform the Environment Agency and work with them to ensure that the burial is at a safe distance from water sources (ditches, drains, springs, running or standing water, wells and boreholes).



When digging the person's grave, there should be a minimum depth between the settled soil level and the top of the coffin.

Finally, the landowner needs to keep a burial register containing details of the home burial.

Home burial FAQs

  • Can you bury a person at home?

    Yes, it's possible to bury a loved one in the garden or on a person's land. The grave should be dug at a safe distance from water sources, drainage, cables and gas supplies. 

  • What is garden burial?

    Garden burial involves burying a person in a private garden. It's not the same as a cemetery garden or memorial garden.

  • Do I need planning permission for a home burial?

    You don't need planning permission to carry out a home burial unless it means a "material change of use". This means, to take two examples, that a field must stay a field and a wood must stay a wood. You may also need planning permission to erect a large monument.

  • Can you bury ashes in the garden?

    Yes, it's legal in the UK to bury ashes in the garden. Before you do, you should get permission from the landowner.

  • What role do the authorities play in a home burial?

    Before carrying out a home burial, the death needs to be registered with your local Registrar of Births and Deaths.

    It's also advisable to consult the Environment Agency to ensure the burial won't have a negative impact on the environment.

  • How do you dig a grave for a home burial?

    When planning a home burial, it's important to remember that digging a grave is hard work.


    You can dig a grave by hand or using a small mechanical digger. This second option, however, is less environmentally friendly than the first.


    Most gravediggers in the UK are employed by local authorities and private cemeteries. There are, however, freelance gravediggers you can employ.


    The grave-digging process begins with a preliminary excavation to ensure the soil isn't too sandy and that standing water won't gather.


    The grave should have a minimum depth of two feet of soil between the ground and the coffin lid. 


    The grave should be kept away from the house and away from water sources, cables and gas supplies.


    It's also worth remembering that an open grave is hazardous. It can be worth cordoning off to reduce the possibility of injury.

Arrange the funeral you want with AFD

At Akshardham Funeral Directors, we work with people from all faiths, backgrounds and walks of life. We offer a listening ear and clear, compassionate guidelines at all stages of the process. Get in touch via our webpage or on our 24/7 phone line on 020 8355 7876.