Scattering Ashes in Florida — A Complete Guide

Everything Florida families need to know about ash scattering laws, the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, state parks, the St. Johns River, and verified cemetery scattering gardens across the Sunshine State.

Author's Note: Our family spent each winter break in Marathon Key when I was a child. I can remember my parents pulling us out of school for a week or two each year. I would do my missed assignments in the car on the way down so I could focus on having fun when I got there. We fished off the jetty, enjoyed the fishing charters, drove on the seven-mile bridge, and spent a lot of time with my family playing cards and hanging out at the beach. Those vacations are still some of my favorite memories. A couple of years ago, we took our own family to Marathon Key and relived a lot of those same experiences. 

If you are thinking of scattering ashes in the state of Florida, it may be helpful to know the official symbols:

  • State Flower: Orange Blossom 🌸
  • State Tree: Sabal Palm 🌴
  • State Bird: Northern Mockingbird 🐦
  • State Gem: Moonstone 💎
  • State Stone: Agatized Coral 🪸
  • State Song: "Old Folks at Home" 🎶
  • State Motto: "In God We Trust" 🙏

Note: Florida designates both a State Gem and a State Stone. The moonstone (Fla. Stat. § 15.034, 1970) was chosen to honor the Apollo 11 moon landing — all astronaut-controlled spaceflights had launched from Kennedy Space Center in Brevard County. Ironically, the moonstone is not found naturally in Florida, nor was it found on the moon. Agatized coral (§ 15.036, 1979) is a fossilized form of silicified coral formed over 20–30 million years — it is native to Florida and found near Tampa Bay, the Econfina River, and the Withlacoochee/Suwannee River beds. Florida has no officially designated "State River" in its statutes.

How Prevalent Is Ash Scattering in Florida?

Florida has one of the highest cremation rates in the nation — approximately 67% as of 2020, well above the national average, driven by the state's large retiree population, year-round warm weather, and deep connection to the water. The National Funeral Directors Association projects Florida's cremation rate will continue to climb, with ash scattering consistently among the top choices for families honoring loved ones.

Florida's extraordinary natural landscape makes it one of the most compelling settings in the country for a final farewell. Over 1,350 miles of coastline border both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean — from the white-sand beaches of the Panhandle to the blue waters of the Florida Keys. The St. Johns River, one of the few rivers in the country that flows north, begins near Indian River County and winds 310 miles through Jacksonville and into the Atlantic — a slow, broad, blackwater river lined with cypress and live oak. The Everglades — the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States — stretch across South Florida as a shallow, slow-moving river of grass, hosting manatees, alligators, roseate spoonbills, and hundreds of bird species. The Florida Keys extend 125 miles into the warm waters between the Gulf and Atlantic, connected by the Overseas Highway. The springs of North Florida — more than 700 freshwater springs statewide — include Ichetucknee, Silver, Rainbow, and Wakulla, among the clearest and most peaceful natural settings in the state. For families seeking a setting that reflects Florida's essence, the options are as varied as the state itself.

Florida Laws on Scattering Ashes

Florida is one of the most permissive states in the nation for ash scattering. Key statutes and regulations:

  • Fla. Stat. § 497.005 — Florida's funeral and cemetery law defines "scattering garden" as a recognized cemetery option and "burial right" as including the right to use a scattering garden. Florida explicitly recognizes scattering gardens within its cemetery licensing framework.
  • Fla. Stat. § 497.607 — Cremation procedure statute. Written authorization from a legally authorized person is required before cremation. If remains are unclaimed after 120 days, the funeral or direct disposal establishment may scatter them at sea or place them in a licensed cemetery scattering garden or pond, or in a church columbarium.
  • Fla. Stat. § 382.006 — A burial-transit permit is required before any final disposition, including cremation. This is normally handled by the funeral home.
  • No state restrictions on scattering locations: Florida has no statewide law prohibiting scattering in any specific location on land. Common sense and common courtesy are the practical guide.

Rules by location type:

  • Private Property (your own): No state restriction. Permitted freely.
  • Private Property (someone else's): Get written permission from the landowner as a best practice, though Florida does not mandate this by statute.
  • Florida State Parks: Contact the specific state park office before any ceremony. Florida State Parks operates 175 parks across the state. Contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Recreation and Parks at (850) 245-2157 or via floridastateparks.org.
  • National Parks (Everglades, Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, etc.): NPS regulations (36 CFR 2.62) require advance contact with the park superintendent and a permit or letter of authorization for any scattering ceremony.
  • Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean: Federal Clean Water Act requires scattering at least 3 nautical miles from land. The EPA must be notified within 30 days. Boats used for scattering ceremonies must be seaworthy registered vessels.
  • Inland Waters (St. Johns River, Everglades, springs, lakes): Florida does not impose a state-specific ban on inland water scattering beyond federal Clean Water Act requirements. Contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) at (850) 245-2118 for specific waterway guidance.
  • Aerial Scattering: No Florida law restricts aerial scattering. Federal aviation regulations (14 CFR 91.15) prohibit dropping objects that could harm people or property — ashes without a container are permissible.

Cemetery Scattering Gardens and Cremation Memorial Options in Florida

Palm Cemetery — Winter Park (Greater Orlando)

Location: 1005 N. New York Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789 Phone: (407) 599-3450 (City of Winter Park Parks & Recreation)

Palm Cemetery is Winter Park's oldest and most historic cemetery — a 17-acre grounds in continuous operation since 1906, maintained by the City of Winter Park's Parks & Recreation Department. Founded on land donated by Winter Park co-founder Loring Chase, Palm Cemetery holds a remarkable place in Central Florida's civic history: 23 mayors of Winter Park are buried within its grounds, alongside U.S. senators Edward Gurney and Paula Hawkins, sculptor Albin Polasek, and architect James Gamble Rogers II. The cemetery is situated at the corner of Webster and New York Avenues — a quiet, well-shaded grounds adjoining the Winter Park Country Club, with benches and a peaceful atmosphere suited to reflection.

Palm Cemetery offers columbarium niches for cremated remains, and the city's cemetery regulations permit multiple cremations per burial space. Contact the City of Winter Park Parks & Recreation Department at (407) 599-3450 to inquire about current cremation options, columbarium availability, and any scattering arrangements.

Website: cityofwinterpark.org/departments/parks-recreation/cemeteries

Royal Palm Memorial Gardens — West Palm Beach (South Florida)

Location: 4001 Burns Rd., West Palm Beach, FL 33410 Phone: (561) 626-4000

Royal Palm Memorial Gardens is a serene memorial park and funeral home complex in West Palm Beach, part of the Dignity Memorial® network. The grounds are surrounded by the majestic royal palm trees that inspired its name, creating a distinctly Floridian setting for a final resting place. The cemetery serves the broader Palm Beach County community with a full range of burial and cremation options, three veterans gardens honoring military service members with 14 dedicated granite monuments throughout the property, and an annual Memorial Day service each year.

Royal Palm's own primary website confirms a comprehensive range of cremation memorial options — niches, columbaria, and memorial benches — as well as an onsite crematory ensuring remains never leave the family's care for the cremation process. Three funeral chapels and dedicated visitation rooms serve families planning memorial services. Contact Royal Palm at (561) 626-4000 to inquire about cremation memorial garden options and any scattering availability.

Website: dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/florida/west-palm-beach/royal-palm-funeral-home/9794

Serenity Gardens Memorial Park — Largo (Tampa Bay Area)

Location: 13401 Indian Rocks Rd., Largo, FL 33774 Phone: (727) 562-2080

Serenity Gardens Memorial Park is one of the most beautiful and distinctive cemetery properties in the Tampa Bay area — a 38-acre former orange grove in southwest Largo, Pinellas County, whose two natural lakes divide the property and create a genuinely serene landscape of tropical greenery, large shade trees, and colorful seasonal gardens. Founded in 1932 as the Moss Funeral Home by Jack and Ann Moss, the facility later merged with the Feaster Memorial funeral homes in 1985 and today operates as part of the Dignity Memorial® network under the Serenity brand.

Serenity Gardens' own primary website explicitly confirms a dedicated scattering garden: "Families choosing cremation can consider our scattering garden, a cremation niche or a cremation memorial bench." The cemetery also offers indoor and outdoor mausoleums with crypts and columbaria, a Lakeside Mausoleum with natural light and air conditioning, and Rose Garden Estates within the celebrated George and Ann Sturgeon Memorial Rose Garden — opened April 4, 1981, and now recognized by the National Rose Society as Florida's third-largest rose garden, with more than 450 bushes in 131 varieties cared for by a full-time rosarian. The cemetery hosts annual Easter Sunrise, Memorial Day, and Holiday Candlelight services. Contact Serenity Gardens at (727) 562-2080 for scattering garden arrangements and current availability.

Website: dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/florida/largo/serenity-funeral-home/4681

Are There Mail-In Options for Ash Scattering Services?

Yes. Florida families — or families anywhere honoring a loved one — may choose Farmstead Scattering Garden in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania. Cremated remains are mailed directly to the working farm, where they are scattered respectfully according to the family's chosen preferences. No travel required.

Visit our service page at farmsteadscattering.com/collections/services, or call or text us at (814) 450-5432 to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scattering Ashes in Florida

Is it legal to scatter ashes in Florida?

Yes. Florida has no statewide laws restricting where ashes may be scattered on land. For ocean scattering, the federal Clean Water Act requires a minimum of 3 nautical miles from shore. Florida is considered one of the most permissive states in the country for ash scattering.

Can I scatter ashes in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean near Florida?

Yes, with federal rules governing the process. The Clean Water Act requires scattering at least 3 nautical miles from shore; the container must be removed before scattering or be biodegradable. The EPA Region 4 office must be notified in writing within 30 days. Contact the EPA at epa.gov/ocean-dumping/burial-sea.

Can I scatter ashes in Florida State Parks?

Florida State Parks does not publish a blanket prohibition, but individual park offices may have specific guidance. Always contact the specific state park before any ceremony. Florida State Parks can be reached at floridastateparks.org or (850) 245-2157.

Can I scatter ashes in the Everglades or other national parks?

Yes, with a permit. NPS regulations (36 CFR 2.62) require advance contact with each national park's superintendent and a permit or letter of authorization. Contact Everglades National Park at (305) 242-7700 or nps.gov/ever.

Can I scatter ashes in the St. Johns River or other Florida inland waters?

Florida has no state-specific ban on inland water scattering, but the federal Clean Water Act governs navigable waters. Contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) at (850) 245-2118 for guidance on specific waterways including the St. Johns River, the springs, or other inland bodies.

Does Serenity Gardens Memorial Park in Largo have a scattering garden?

Yes — confirmed from their own primary Dignity Memorial website. Serenity Gardens explicitly offers a scattering garden as one of three primary cremation options for families, alongside columbarium niches and memorial benches. Contact (727) 562-2080.

What is Florida's State Gem, and why is it the moonstone?

Florida designated the moonstone as its State Gem in 1970 (Fla. Stat. § 15.034) to commemorate the Apollo 11 moon landing — all astronaut-controlled spaceflights had launched from Kennedy Space Center in Brevard County. Ironically, the moonstone is not found naturally in Florida, nor was it found on the moon. Florida separately designates agatized coral as its State Stone (§ 15.036, 1979) — a fossilized silicified coral that is genuinely native to Florida.

Does Florida have a "State River"?

No. Florida has no officially designated State River in its statutes. Chapter 15 of the Florida Statutes lists every official state symbol, and no river designation appears. The St. Johns River is historically and ecologically significant — it is one of the few rivers in the country that flows northward — but it has never been designated as an official Florida state symbol by the legislature.

What happens to unclaimed ashes in Florida?

Under Fla. Stat. § 497.607, if cremated remains go unclaimed for 120 days after cremation, the funeral or direct disposal establishment may dispose of them by scattering at sea, placing them in a licensed cemetery scattering garden or pond, or in a church columbarium, or by other methods as provided by rule.

Can I mail ashes for scattering from Florida?

Yes. Cremated remains may be mailed within the United States via the U.S. Postal Service using Priority Mail Express. Farmstead Scattering Garden in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania accepts mail-in remains for private farm scattering. Call or text (814) 450-5432 or visit farmsteadscattering.com.

Legal and Regulatory References

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