Scattering Ashes in Wisconsin — A Complete Guide

Everything Wisconsin families need to know about ash scattering laws, designated scattering gardens, Great Lakes guidelines, and cremation options in America's Dairyland.

Author's Note: One of my favorite card-playing friends moved from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin to follow a job offer. They have lived there for over a decade and have since retired. They say that their only regret is that they didn't move to Wisconsin sooner, which is a great compliment. The same experience was validated when our favorite large animal vet left the practice to manage one of the he largest dairy herds in Wisconsin. He thought it would only be for a few years, but now is not planning on coming back. There must be something in the water in Wisconsin!

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

  • State Flower: Wood Violet 🌸
  • State Tree: Sugar Maple 🍁
  • State Bird: American Robin 🐦
  • State Animal: Badger 🦡
  • State Fish: Muskellunge 🎣
  • State Rock: Red Granite ⛏️
  • State Song: "On, Wisconsin!" 🎶
  • State Motto: "Forward" 🌟

How Prevalent Is Ash Scattering in Wisconsin?

The practice of scattering ashes has become increasingly popular in Wisconsin, reflecting a broader national trend toward cremation and personalized memorials. In 2020, the cremation rate in Wisconsin was approximately 60%, 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.

Wisconsin's extraordinary natural landscape makes it one of the Midwest's most meaningful states for ash scattering. With two Great Lakes shorelines — Lake Michigan and Lake Superior — nearly 15,000 inland lakes, the Wisconsin River and countless other waterways, the Northwoods, Door County's rocky shores, and the rolling farmlands of the Driftless region, Wisconsin families have an exceptional range of natural settings to consider. Whether families choose a dedicated cemetery scattering garden, a quiet lakeshore, or a trusted mail-in service, Wisconsin's landscape offers deeply personal settings for final farewells.

Wisconsin Laws on Scattering Ashes

Wisconsin is a permissive state when it comes to ash scattering. Wisconsin state law does not restrict how or where you may scatter cremated remains. There is one notable Wisconsin-specific procedural requirement: cremated remains must be reduced to a particle size of one-eighth of an inch or less before disposition. The key statutes are:

  • Wis. Stat. § 440.80 — Cremated remains may be placed in a grave, niche, or crypt, or disposed of in "any other lawful manner," provided the remains have been reduced to a particle size of one-eighth of an inch or less
  • Wis. Stat. § 69.18 — Death certificate must be filed with the local registrar; a report for final disposition is required before moving remains for burial or cremation; note that Wisconsin law explicitly defines "final disposition" as cremation itself — disposition of ashes is not included in this definition
  • Wis. Stat. § 979.10 — A 48-hour waiting period is required before cremation may occur (unless waived for contagious disease), and a coroner or medical examiner must issue a permit before cremation
  • Wis. Stat. § 154.30 — Governs who has the legal right to control final disposition, following a specific order of kinship beginning with a pre-designated authorized agent, then spouse, then children, then parents

Rules by location type:

  • Private Property: Freely permitted on your own land. Scattering on another person's private land requires the landowner's permission.
  • Public Land (city and town): No Wisconsin statewide restriction, but individual cities and counties may have local ordinances. Check with the relevant municipality before scattering in a city park or public space.
  • Wisconsin State Parks and Forests: Contact the specific DNR unit in advance. Wisconsin State Parks may treat scattering as a form of "use" requiring advance notice or a Special Use Permit, particularly for groups. Confirm with the managing park before visiting.
  • National Parks (Apostle Islands, Ice Age Trail): Contact each park unit's Special Use Permit office in advance. A free permit is typically required. Follow the park's specific guidelines on location, group size, and conduct.
  • Great Lakes (Lake Michigan and Lake Superior): Federal Clean Water Act requirements apply for ocean/Great Lakes scattering — at least three nautical miles from the nearest shoreline, biodegradable containers only, and EPA notification within 30 days. No scattering on public beaches.
  • Inland Lakes and Rivers: No Wisconsin state law prohibits scattering in inland waters. The Clean Water Act governs inland water broadly; contact the relevant state or local water authority for guidance on specific waterways, particularly those within state or federal park boundaries.
  • Aerial Scattering: No Wisconsin state law restricts aerial scattering. Federal aviation regulations prohibit dropping any object — including an urn or container — that could cause harm; ashes must be removed from their container before aerial release.

Ash Scattering Gardens in Wisconsin

Several Wisconsin cemeteries offer verified scattering gardens or cremation memorial areas. Here are the confirmed options:

Forest Hills Cemetery — Fern Hill Cremation Scattering Garden

Location: 2405 W. Forest Home Ave., Greenfield, WI 53221 (Milwaukee area) Phone: (414) 282-6900

Forest Hills Cemetery in Greenfield, a south Milwaukee suburb, offers one of the most fully developed and named cremation scattering destinations in Wisconsin. Their Fern Hill Cremation Garden is a beautiful, forested natural setting that serves as the center of the cemetery's cremation services program, and includes a dedicated, named Scattering Garden where cremated remains can be respectfully scattered. The cemetery also maintains three granite Memorial Tablets set among ivy ground cover at Fern Hill, engraved with the names and dates of those scattered there — providing a permanent, revisitable memorial for families who scatter rather than inter. Additional options at Fern Hill include in-ground cremation burial, outdoor columbarium niches, and a Tree of Remembrance (a bronze leaf engraved with the name of the deceased, permanently displayed in the columbarium) that can be used to honor someone scattered at Fern Hill. Forest Hills operates an on-site crematory and welcomes families from across southeastern Wisconsin.

Website: foresthillscemetery.com

Graceland Cemetery — Cremation Services

Location: 6401 N. 43rd St., Milwaukee, WI 53209 Phone: (414) 353-8850

Founded in 1914 as a non-profit, church-owned cemetery endowed for perpetual care, Graceland Cemetery in Milwaukee has served the greater Milwaukee community for more than a century. The cemetery offers cremation services and burial options maintained with the religious heritage and family-values orientation the cemetery was founded on — making it a meaningful choice for Milwaukee-area families. Graceland's grounds are maintained year-round on the cemetery's sprawling north Milwaukee property. Families interested specifically in scattering options should contact the cemetery office directly at (414) 353-8850 to discuss current availability and policies, as cremation services continue to evolve at long-established cemeteries.

Website: gracelandcemeterymilwaukee.com

Riverside Cemetery — Cremation and Columbarium Options

Location: 714 N. Owaissa St., Appleton, WI 54911 Phone: (920) 733-5629

Established in 1870, Riverside Cemetery is the only nonprofit nonsectarian cemetery in the Fox Valley — serving all faiths from its 90-acre grounds in Appleton since the era of the Civil War. The cemetery is home to a historic 1910 stone entrance archway with chapel and office space, a freestanding garden mausoleum with above-ground crypts and niches for cremains, and columbarium units for urn placement. Riverside continues to serve families from across the Fox Cities region with a full range of cremation interment options. Families interested specifically in scattering options should contact the cemetery office directly at (920) 733-5629, as Riverside's services continue to evolve.

Website: riversidecemeteryappleton.com

Are There Mail-In Options for Ash Scattering Services?

Yes. Wisconsin families who want a peaceful, pastoral setting without travel — or who want a meaningful complement to a private family ceremony — 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 Wisconsin families who cherish America's Dairyland's rolling farmlands and open landscapes, Farmstead offers a lush working-farm setting — accessible without any permitting requirements, lake-access logistics, or weather-dependent 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 Wisconsin

Is it legal to scatter ashes in Wisconsin?

Yes. Wisconsin state law does not restrict how or where cremated remains may be scattered. The one specific Wisconsin requirement is that remains must be reduced to a particle size of one-eighth of an inch or less before disposition (Wis. Stat. § 440.80). Common-sense guidelines apply: get permission on private land, check local ordinances for public land, and contact managing agencies for state parks and federal lands.

What is the one-eighth inch particle size rule in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin Statute § 440.80 requires that cremated remains be reduced to a particle size of one-eighth of an inch or less before they are disposed of. This is a crematory processing standard — licensed crematories routinely process remains to meet this requirement before returning them to families. In practice, this rule has no impact on where or how families may scatter ashes.

Can I scatter ashes on Lake Michigan or Lake Superior?

Yes, in waters at least three nautical miles from the nearest shoreline. The federal Clean Water Act's ocean scattering rules apply to the Great Lakes as well as ocean waters. Use only biodegradable containers, and notify the EPA within 30 days. No scattering on public beaches. Many charter boat services along Wisconsin's Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shores offer assisted scattering services.

Can I scatter ashes on Wisconsin's inland lakes?

No Wisconsin state law prohibits scattering in inland lakes. Contact the managing authority for any specific lake — particularly those within state or county park boundaries, where an additional permit or notice may be requested.

Can I scatter ashes in Wisconsin state parks?

Wisconsin State Parks may require advance notice or a Special Use Permit for scattering, particularly when a group is involved. Contact the specific Wisconsin DNR park unit before visiting to confirm what is required.

What makes Forest Hills Cemetery's Fern Hill unique?

Fern Hill is one of the few Wisconsin cemetery scattering gardens with a proper name, a dedicated location, and a permanent memorial component — granite tablets set among ivy ground cover at Fern Hill where the names of those scattered there are engraved. This provides a revisitable, permanent memorial that addresses one of the most common concerns families have about scattering: the absence of a physical place to return to.

Can I scatter ashes along the Wisconsin River, Mississippi River, or other rivers?

No Wisconsin state law prohibits scattering in rivers. The Wisconsin River, Mississippi River, St. Croix River, and others are all navigable waterways — contact the relevant DNR region or local managing authority for guidance on any specific waterway within a state or federal park boundary.

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

Forest Hills Cemetery (Fern Hill Scattering Garden) serves the greater Milwaukee area. For families in Madison, Green Bay, Eau Claire, Wausau, La Crosse, or elsewhere in the state, 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 Wisconsin?

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 Wisconsin?

A licensed funeral director (or an immediate family member) must file the death certificate and report for final disposition before cremation in Wisconsin. Once cremated remains are in the family's custody, no funeral home is required for the actual scattering.

How much does ash scattering cost in Wisconsin?

Costs vary. Forest Hills Cemetery (Fern Hill Scattering Garden), Graceland Cemetery, and Riverside Cemetery each set their own pricing — contact each 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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