We are vetting licensed captains and vessels in San Francisco now. Tell us your preferred date and we will contact you as soon as a captain is available, or choose a nearby city with boats today.
What to expect in San Francisco
Your captain meets your group at the dock, takes you to the scattering spot, and gives you time for words, music, flowers or silence. Afterward, the captain records the coordinates of the scattering so your family always knows where it took place. Biodegradable urns and flowers can be ordered from our memorial store and delivered before your service.
Scattering rules in San Francisco
Captain license
Not needed when the family scatters
Cremated Remains Disposer (CRD) registration
Inside San Francisco waters
Allowed with conditions
San Francisco Bay; the Golden Gate; Pacific Ocean outside the Golden Gate
Ocean
3+ nautical miles from land
Federal rule. Report to the EPA within 30 days.
San Francisco Bay, including the Golden Gate strait, is inland navigable water. State law allows scattering 500+ yards from any shoreline, from a boat. You may not scatter from the Golden Gate Bridge or any pier. Mid-channel in the Golden Gate and the open central bay can meet the 500-yard rule, but this is heavy ship traffic under Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service, so stay clear of the traffic lanes. Bay waters are not in a national marine sanctuary. Just outside the Golden Gate, the Greater Farallones and Monterey Bay sanctuaries meet near Rocky Point, Marin. Their rules list no exception for cremated remains (see open questions). The EPA 3-nm rule applies once you are in ocean waters. File with SF Office of Vital Records (101 Grove St, Room 105) if San Francisco is the nearest county.
Full California guide: permits, paperwork and sourcesLast checked October 15, 2026. A summary, not legal advice.
Questions families ask about San Francisco
Are there burial at sea boats in San Francisco?
We are vetting licensed, insured captains in San Francisco, CA now. Tell us your preferred date through the contact page and we will reach out as soon as a captain is available, or choose a nearby city with boats today.
How far out do boats go for a burial at sea from San Francisco?
In the ocean, ashes are scattered at least 3 nautical miles from land under the federal EPA rule, at any depth. From San Francisco, boats head out to the Pacific Ocean outside the Golden Gate. No permit is needed in advance; the captain reports the scattering to the EPA within 30 days.
Can ashes be scattered in the bay or harbor at San Francisco?
California allows scattering in bays and harbors from a boat at least 500 yards from every shoreline, with the same paperwork as at sea. Many harbors are too small to be that far from shore anywhere, so most ceremonies are held outside the breakwater or 3 nautical miles out in the ocean.
What do I need to bring for a burial at sea in California?
The Permit for Disposition of Human Remains. Funeral homes and crematories usually arrange it with the county, and it travels with the ashes. Whoever in the family has the right to decide on the ashes (usually the next of kin) scatters them, or names a family member to do it. Your captain will confirm anything else they need before the day.
What can we put in the water with the ashes?
Only things that break down naturally: the ashes, loose flowers or petals, and a biodegradable water urn if you would like one. No plastic, balloons, wreath frames or glass. Biodegradable urns and flowers can be ordered from our memorial store before your service.
How do I book a burial at sea in San Francisco?
Contact us with your preferred date and group size and we will let you know as soon as a captain in San Francisco is available. Nearby cities with boats are listed above.