California · Business and Professions Code - BPC

BPC §7713.3: It is a misdemeanor for any person, firm, or corporation to cremate human remains or to engage in the disposition thereof without a valid, unexpired crematory license.

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

It is illegal to cremate human remains or dispose of them without a valid, current crematory license. Each cremation is a separate violation.

Read the full statutory text
It is a misdemeanor for any person, firm, or corporation to cremate human remains or to engage in the disposition thereof without a valid, unexpired crematory license. Each cremation shall be a separate violation.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.