Are open air cremations illegal in most of the US?
<p>Almost all cremations done in the US are done at crematoriums where bodies are put inside an incinerator.  The only open-air cremation service in the US is the non-profit <a href="http://informedfinalchoices.org/crestone/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Crestone End-Of-Life Project</a>, which does a handful of open-air cremations every year in Crestone, Colorado.</p>
<p>But my question is, are there specific state laws that prohibit open-air funerals everywhere else in the country?  Maybe environmental laws, fire safety laws, or body desecration laws?</p>

<p>I'll give you the situation in Washington, which is probably similar to the situation elsewhere. <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=68.50.130" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RCW 68.50.130</a> say that you have to follow the law in disposing of a body. To perform a cremation, <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=308-47-090" rel="nofollow noreferrer">you need a license</a>. The regulations established by the Department of Licensing say that cremations take place in a crematory, and <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=308-47-080" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the facility must be licensed</a>. We turn to the <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=308-47-010" rel="nofollow noreferrer">definition</a> of crematory, which is</p>
<blockquote>
<p>a building or area of a building that houses one or more cremation
chambers, to be used for the cremation of human remains</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This applies to hydrolysis facilities as well, but not composting facilities (which can simply be &quot;real property&quot;).</p>

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