Scattering Ashes in Maryland — A Complete Guide

Everything Maryland families need to know about ash scattering laws, designated scattering gardens, Chesapeake Bay guidelines, and cremation options in the Old Line State.

Author's Note: For decades, my family would attend the Gaithersburg Antique Show. It was a magical show since we knew so many people there, but we only got to see them once or twice per year. One year, I found a Davy Crockett Membership ID bracelet, and I regret even today that I did not buy it. I will find it someday on eBay, but that memory still makes me smile. 

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

  • State Flower: Black-Eyed Susan 🌼
  • State Tree: White Oak 🌳
  • State Bird: Baltimore Oriole 🐦
  • State Crustacean: Maryland Blue Crab 🦀
  • State Gem: Patuxent River Stone 💎
  • State Song: "Maryland, My Maryland" 🎶
  • State Motto: "Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine" (Strong Deeds, Gentle Words) 🤝

How Prevalent Is Ash Scattering in Maryland?

The practice of scattering ashes has become increasingly popular in Maryland, reflecting a broader national trend toward cremation and personalized memorials. In 2020, the cremation rate in Maryland was approximately 50%, with projections showing continued growth. With this increase, more families are seeking meaningful and personalized ways to honor their loved ones, including scattering ashes in designated gardens, cemeteries, or natural locations.

Maryland's extraordinary geography — anchored by the Chesapeake Bay, with Atlantic beaches to the east, rolling Piedmont farmland through the center, Appalachian ridges to the west, and the historic waterways of the Eastern Shore — provides deeply personal settings for final farewells. Whether families choose a cemetery scattering garden, the Bay or Atlantic coast, a beloved park, or a trusted mail-in service, Maryland offers a meaningful range of options.

Maryland Laws on Scattering Ashes

Maryland is a permissive state when it comes to ash scattering on land. Maryland has no state laws restricting where cremated remains may be kept or scattered. However, the Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors and the Maryland Office of Cemetery Oversight have published guidance — and certain locations, particularly public land and waterways, carry specific requirements. The key statutes governing cremation and disposition in Maryland are:

  • Md. Code Health-Gen. § 4-212 — Death certificate must be filed with the vital statistics office within 72 hours of death
  • Md. Code Health-Gen. § 5-514 — Bodies must be buried in established cemeteries or family burial plots; cremated remains are exempt from this requirement
  • Maryland Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors Guidelines — Cremated remains are not legally required to be placed in a cemetery, but cannot be freely scattered on public domain or private property of others without permission

Rules by location type:

  • Private Property: Scattering on your own land is freely permitted. Maryland law permits scattering on private property of another with the property owner's permission. Without permission, scattering constitutes trespass.
  • Public Land (city, county, state): No statewide prohibition, but individual counties and municipalities may have ordinances. Check with local authorities before proceeding in city parks or other public spaces. The EPA and Maryland DNR have policies governing disposition of any material — including ashes — over public land or water.
  • Maryland State Parks and DNR Land: Contact the specific state park or DNR unit in advance. Discreet scattering in undeveloped areas is generally feasible but confirmation is recommended.
  • Chesapeake Bay — Important Note: See the dedicated section below. The Bay's varying width creates practical complications under federal distance requirements.
  • Atlantic Coast and Ocean: Federal rules apply — three nautical miles minimum from shore, EPA notification within 30 days. See the Chesapeake Bay and coastal section below.
  • Aerial Scattering: No Maryland state law restricts scattering from an aircraft. Federal aviation law requires that ashes be removed from their container before release.

⚠️ Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Scattering — Important Guidance

The Chesapeake Bay is one of Maryland's most requested scattering locations, but its geography creates practical complications families should understand before making plans:

Chesapeake Bay width: The Bay ranges from about 4 miles wide near Aberdeen to roughly 30 miles across near its southern reaches. Because the federal Clean Water Act requires that remains scattered in navigable waters be in open water, and because the Bay is a navigable waterway, families should be well offshore — preferably working with a licensed boating service familiar with Bay regulations. Additionally, cremated remains may no longer be placed in Chesapeake Bay artificial reefs — regulations that took effect in April 2012 prohibited this practice in the Maryland region.

Atlantic Ocean scattering: The federal Clean Water Act requires remains be scattered at least three nautical miles from the nearest shoreline. Some boating services operating off the Maryland Atlantic coast (Assateague, Ocean City area) scatter no less than 12 nautical miles from shore to account for additional EPA regional water restrictions between 3 and 12 miles. The EPA must be notified within 30 days of any at-sea scattering. Biodegradable containers only; no containers that won't easily decompose.

Ash Scattering Gardens in Maryland

In Maryland, several cemeteries offer designated scattering gardens or cremation garden areas — permanently maintained spaces where families may scatter or inter cremated remains. Here are verified options:

Columbia Memorial Park — Scattering Garden

Location: 11303 MD-108, Clarksville, MD 21029 Phone: (410) 531-5580

Established in 1988 at the corner of Trotter Road and Route 108 in Clarksville — in the heart of Howard County between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. — Columbia Memorial Park is a 38-acre park-style cemetery whose grounds bloom with flower gardens against a backdrop of majestic forest. Columbia Memorial Park's own website explicitly confirms they serve families with "a scattering garden for ashes", alongside traditional in-ground burial, lawn crypts, cremation, pre-need planning, and private benches. This is the most clearly and directly verified scattering garden in Maryland. Part of the Everstory Partners family of cemeteries.

Website: memorialplanning.com — Columbia Memorial Park

Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens — Rose of Sharon Cremation Garden

Location: 200 E. Padonia Rd., Timonium, MD 21093 Phone: (410) 666-0490

Founded in 1958 and one of the Baltimore region's most well-known cemeteries, Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens is a 70-acre family-owned park in Timonium, featuring over 20 themed gardens, a tranquil two-acre Swan Lake with a fountain and resident trumpeter swans, and a full mausoleum complex. The cemetery is the final resting place of notable Marylanders including Vice President Spiro Agnew, Governor William Donald Schaefer, and Baltimore Colts Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas. For families choosing cremation, Dulaney Valley offers the Rose of Sharon Cremation Garden — a peaceful garden of Rose of Sharon bushes bordering the stream that feeds into Swan Lake, with granite boulders featuring individual chambers for cremated remains. The cemetery also offers columbarium niches, cremation benches, and a variety of other cremation placement options. Families interested specifically in scattering should contact the cemetery directly to discuss current options.

Website: dulaneyvalley.com

Crownsville Veterans Cemetery — Veterans Burial

Location: 1122 Sunrise Beach Rd., Crownsville, MD 21032 Phone: (410) 987-6320

Operated by the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, Crownsville Veterans Cemetery is a 103-acre state veterans cemetery in Anne Arundel County near the Severn River, serving honorably discharged Maryland veterans and their eligible dependents since 1978. The cemetery has interred more than 28,000 veterans and dependents, and is expected to provide over 48,000 burial sites when fully developed. Crownsville offers in-ground burial of cremated remains and columbarium niches for veterans. Please note: Crownsville is a veterans-only burial facility — eligibility is limited to honorably discharged veterans and their eligible dependents. It is not a public scattering garden. Families should contact the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs at (410) 923-6981 to confirm eligibility and current availability.

Website: veterans.maryland.gov — Cemetery Program

Are There Mail-In Options for Ash Scattering Services?

Yes. Families who prefer a meaningful alternative to Maryland's cemetery options — or who want a peaceful, rural setting without travel or permitting requirements — may choose a mail-in ash scattering service.

Farmstead Scattering Garden is located on a working farm in northwestern Pennsylvania and offers a private, customizable mail-in experience. Cremated remains are mailed directly to the farm, where the scattering is carried out respectfully according to the options selected by the family. For Maryland families accustomed to the Bay's beauty and the Old Line State's historic landscapes, Farmstead offers a lush, pastoral farm setting that is accessible without any permitting requirements or travel.

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 Maryland

Is it legal to scatter ashes in Maryland?

Yes. Maryland has no state laws restricting where cremated remains may be kept or scattered. The Maryland Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors confirms cremated remains are not legally required to be placed in a cemetery. Common-sense guidelines apply: obtain permission on private land, check local ordinances for public land, and follow specific rules for waterways and federal land.

Do I need a permit to scatter ashes in Maryland?

Maryland does not require a statewide permit for land scattering. For state parks or DNR land, contact the park in advance. For national parks such as Catoctin Mountain Park or Assateague Island National Seashore, contact the park's permits office before visiting. For sea scattering, EPA notification within 30 days of scattering is required.

Can I scatter ashes in the Chesapeake Bay?

Scattering in the Bay's open water is generally permitted, but the Bay's varying width — from about 4 miles near Aberdeen to roughly 30 miles at its widest — means that reaching open navigable water can be logistically complex. Work with a licensed boating service familiar with Maryland waters. Note that placing cremated remains in Chesapeake Bay artificial reefs has been prohibited since April 2012 under updated regulations for the Maryland region.

Can I scatter ashes in the Atlantic Ocean off Maryland?

Yes, in ocean waters at least three nautical miles from the nearest shoreline. Some Maryland-based services scatter at 12 nautical miles or beyond to account for additional EPA regional water restrictions closer to shore. You must notify the EPA within 30 days. Use only biodegradable containers. No scattering on public beaches or in wading areas.

Can I scatter ashes at Assateague Island?

Assateague Island National Seashore is managed jointly by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Contact the park's permits office in advance for guidance on scattering within park boundaries. Ocean scattering off Assateague in waters beyond 3 nautical miles follows standard federal EPA rules.

Can I scatter ashes at Catoctin Mountain Park or other Maryland national parks?

Contact the specific national park's ranger station or permits office well in advance. National parks in Maryland — including Catoctin Mountain Park, Antietam National Battlefield, and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park — each have their own policies. Most require discreet scattering away from trails, roads, and waterways; some may require a permit.

What is the difference between a scattering garden and a columbarium?

A scattering garden is a designated cemetery area where cremated remains are scattered — typically onto soil or garden areas — with a wall or memorial recording the names of those honored there. A columbarium is a structure with niches for placing sealed urns. Columbia Memorial Park offers a verified scattering garden; Dulaney Valley offers both cremation garden placement and columbarium niches. The Maryland Office of Cemetery Oversight defines scattering gardens in its FAQ for families.

Is Crownsville Veterans Cemetery open to the public?

No. Crownsville Veterans Cemetery is a state veterans cemetery open only to honorably discharged veterans and their eligible dependents. Contact the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs at (410) 923-6981 to confirm eligibility. Maryland has five state veterans cemeteries across the state.

What if there is no scattering garden near me in Maryland?

Columbia Memorial Park in Clarksville is Maryland's most clearly verified public scattering garden, serving the Baltimore-Washington corridor. For families in other parts of the state — the Eastern Shore, Western Maryland, or Southern Maryland — Farmstead Scattering Garden in northwestern Pennsylvania accepts cremated remains by mail and carries out the scattering on a private working farm. Call or text (814) 450-5432 for more information.

Can I mail ashes for scattering if I live in Maryland?

Yes. Cremated remains may be legally mailed within the United States via the U.S. Postal Service using Priority Mail Express — the only domestic carrier federally permitted to transport cremated remains. Remains must be properly packaged and labeled. Farmstead Scattering Garden can walk you through the mailing process when you contact us.

Is a funeral home required to scatter ashes in Maryland?

A licensed mortician or funeral director must file the death certificate and oversee the cremation process. Once cremated remains are in the family's custody, no funeral home is required for scattering. For cemetery scattering gardens, the cemetery will coordinate the process directly.

How much does ash scattering cost in Maryland?

Costs vary by provider. Columbia Memorial Park and Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens each set their own pricing — contact them directly for current rates. Mail-in services like Farmstead Scattering Garden offer flexible options. Call or text (814) 450-5432 for details.

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