Scattering Ashes in Tennessee — A Complete Guide

Everything Tennessee families need to know about ash scattering laws, cemetery scattering gardens, the Smoky Mountains, the Tennessee River, and cremation options in the Volunteer State.

Author's Note: We have been to Tennessee a few times for horse competitions. THough our daughter has competed in horse competitions since a very young age, there was a two-year period where my son competed, and he made it to Nationals in that particular series. We decided to take a day during that week and go fishing. It was a great day with many memories made. 

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

  • State Flower: Iris 🌸
  • State Wildflower: Passion Flower
  • State Tree: Tulip Poplar 🌳
  • State Bird: Northern Mockingbird 🐦
  • State Gem: Tennessee River Pearl 💎
  • State Mineral: Agate
  • State Songs: Tennessee has eleven official state songs, including "Rocky Top," "Tennessee Waltz," and "My Homeland, Tennessee" 🎶
  • State Motto: "Agriculture and Commerce" 🌟

How Prevalent Is Ash Scattering in Tennessee?

The practice of scattering ashes has become increasingly popular in Tennessee, reflecting a broader national trend toward cremation and personalized memorials. The cremation rate in Tennessee was approximately 48% in 2020, 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.

Tennessee's landscape makes it one of the most naturally varied states in the South for ash scattering. The Great Smoky Mountains — the most visited national park in the country — the Cumberland Plateau, the Tennessee River valley, the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee, and the Mississippi River bluffs of Memphis all offer families deeply personal settings for final farewells. Whether families choose a dedicated cemetery cremation garden in Nashville or Memphis, a mountain trail, a favorite river bend, or a trusted mail-in service, Tennessee's terrain invites meaningful memorials.

Tennessee Laws on Scattering Ashes

Tennessee has no state laws controlling where cremated remains may be kept or scattered, making it one of the most permissive states in the country. The primary cremation statute is Tenn. Code § 62-5-508, which governs the final disposition of cremated remains and explicitly authorizes scattering "at sea, by air or in a dedicated area at a cemetery used exclusively for the scattering on the ground of cremated remains." A cremation permit is required before cremation under Tenn. Code § 62-5-504, but no state permit is required for scattering once remains are in the family's custody.

Rules by location type:

  • Private Property: Permitted on your own land. Scattering on another person's property should be done with their permission.
  • Public Land (city and county parks): No state restrictions, but check local ordinances before scattering in municipal parks, as cities and counties may have their own rules.
  • Tennessee State Parks: Scattering is permitted in Tennessee state parks, but you must obtain permission from the specific park or the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) before scattering. Some parks have designated areas; contact each park in advance.
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The park requires advance permission and has site-specific guidelines. Contact the park's Special Use Permit coordinator before your visit. Stay away from trails, roads, developed areas, visitor facilities, and waterways; leave no markers.
  • Other Federal Land (Cherokee National Forest, Cumberland Gap, etc.): Contact the relevant federal land manager in advance. Individual contact and permit guidance is available through each unit's office.
  • Tennessee River and Inland Waterways: No state law prohibits scattering in Tennessee's rivers and lakes. The federal Clean Water Act may require a permit from the state water management agency for formal in-water disposition. Contact TDEC or the relevant TVA authority for guidance on specific waterways.
  • Aerial Scattering: No Tennessee state law restricts aerial scattering. Federal aviation law prohibits dropping the urn or container; ashes must be removed before aerial release.
  • Ocean / Sea Scattering: The Clean Water Act requires scattering at least three nautical miles from shore. Containers must be biodegradable or disposed of separately. EPA Region 4 notification is required within 30 days. EPA Region 4 office: (404) 562-9900.

Ash Scattering Gardens and Cremation Memorial Options in Tennessee

Spring Hill Cemetery — Nashville

Location: 5110 Gallatin Pike South, Madison (Metro Nashville), TN 37115 Phone: (615) 865-1101

Spring Hill Cemetery is one of the most historically significant and culturally rich burial grounds in all of American music. Established at the site of the Spring Hill Presbyterian Meeting House in 1785 — the oldest continuously operating cemetery in Middle Tennessee — the grounds at 5110 Gallatin Pike South in Nashville's Madison neighborhood hold over 40,000 graves across what is now a beautifully landscaped park. The cemetery is the final resting place of an extraordinary concentration of country music legends: Roy Acuff, Earl Scruggs, Kitty Wells, Keith Whitley, Floyd Cramer, Hank Snow, Jan Howard, Jimmy Martin, Johnnie Wright, Pete Drake, Bobby Hebb, and John Hartford are among those interred here — making it as much a pilgrimage site for music lovers as a place of family remembrance.

For families interested in cremation, Spring Hill offers cremation gardens — beautifully landscaped areas featuring cremation pedestals, granite and bronze benches, and cremation boulders designed to look like natural rocks. The Serenity Chapel Mausoleum and columbarium options (indoors and outdoors) round out the cemetery's cremation memorial offerings. Contact Spring Hill directly for current scattering garden availability and pricing.

Website: springhillfh.com

Chattanooga Memorial Park — Chattanooga

Location: 2400 S. Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408 Phone: (423) 877-6414

Chattanooga Memorial Park is a Dignity Memorial-affiliated cemetery serving the greater Chattanooga area with a full range of burial, cremation, and memorialization services. The park offers traditional ground burial, mausoleum entombment, and cremation memorialization options. Families interested in scattering garden options or specific cremation memorial spaces should contact the cemetery directly for current availability and policies, as Chattanooga Memorial Park's specific scattering options are not detailed on the primary website. The staff are available 24/7 to walk families through current cemetery offerings.

Website: dignitymemorial.com — Chattanooga Memorial Park

Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery — Memphis

Location: 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 Phone: (901) 767-8930

Memorial Park is one of the most remarkable cemetery grounds in the American South — a 152-acre park in East Memphis founded in 1924 by E. Clovis Hinds, who was inspired by Forest Lawn in California to create a cemetery that functioned as a living work of art. The park is best known for the Crystal Shrine Grotto, widely described as the only man-made crystal cave in the world, hand-built in 1938 by Mexican folk artist Dionicio Rodriguez, whose imaginative concrete sculptures — including the Annie Laurie Wishing Chair, the Wishing Well, the Pool of Hebron, and the Fountain of Youth — create an atmosphere unlike any other cemetery in the United States. The grounds also feature a gracefully curved reflecting pool and three-tiered entrance fountain.

For cremation families, Memorial Park offers scattering ceremonies alongside a wide array of cremation interment options, including Grotto Estates (a premium cremation estate area bordering the Pool of Hebron), Fountain Crest (a mixed-use garden with multiple cremation options), and Garden Bluff Estates (overlooking the Grotto area). The cemetery also offers alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation) — one of the relatively few facilities in Tennessee to do so. Contact the cemetery directly for current scattering garden and cremation garden options and pricing.

Website: memorialparkfuneralandcemetery.com

Are There Mail-In Options for Ash Scattering Services?

Yes. Tennessee families who want a farm setting — or families from anywhere in the country honoring a loved one — may choose Farmstead Scattering Garden in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania. We offer a private, customizable mail-in experience on a working farm. Cremated remains are mailed directly to the farm, where they are scattered respectfully according to the family's chosen preferences — including specific location and ceremony details. No travel is 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 Tennessee

Is it legal to scatter ashes in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee has no state laws controlling where cremated remains may be kept or scattered. Tenn. Code § 62-5-508 explicitly authorizes scattering at sea, by air, or in dedicated cemetery scattering areas. The only legal requirements before scattering are obtaining a cremation permit (§ 62-5-504) and filing a death certificate — both handled by the funeral home or crematory as part of the cremation process.

Do I need a permit to scatter ashes in Tennessee state parks?

Yes, advance permission is required. Tennessee allows ash scattering in state parks but requires approval from the specific park or the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation before scattering. Contact the park office directly before your visit.

Do I need a permit to scatter ashes in the Great Smoky Mountains?

Yes. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park requires advance permission and has site-specific guidelines for ash scattering. Contact the park's Special Use Permit coordinator well in advance of your visit. The permit is typically free.

Can I scatter ashes in the Tennessee River or other waterways?

Tennessee has no state law prohibiting scattering in rivers or lakes. The federal Clean Water Act may require a permit for formal in-water disposition from the relevant state water management agency. Contact the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation or the TVA for guidance on specific waterways.

Does Tennessee have a designated state song for guidance on its identity?

Tennessee is uniquely proud of its musical heritage and has eleven official state songs — the most of any U.S. state. These include "Rocky Top" (1982), "Tennessee Waltz" (1965), "My Homeland, Tennessee" (1925), "Smoky Mountain Rain" (2010), and "Copperhead Road" (2023), among others.

What are the cremation garden options at Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville?

Spring Hill offers cremation gardens with pedestals, benches, and boulders, as well as mausoleum and columbarium options. Contact the cemetery at (615) 865-1101 for current availability, scattering garden policies, and pricing. The cemetery is also notable as the resting place of many of country music's most beloved figures.

Is Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis open for scattering ceremonies?

Yes. Memorial Park's own listing confirms scattering ceremonies among its services, and the grounds offer multiple cremation estate areas. The cemetery also offers alkaline hydrolysis. Contact (901) 767-8930 for current options.

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

Yes. Cremated remains may be legally 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 for details.

Is a funeral home required to scatter ashes in Tennessee?

Tennessee law does not require a licensed funeral director for all final arrangements (Tenn. Code § 62-5-102), and once remains are in the family's custody after a permitted cremation, no funeral home is required for the actual scattering.

Legal and Regulatory References

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