Funeral Establishment Information and Checklist
A funeral establishment (1) conducts business in a building or separate portion of a building having a specific street address or location, and devoted exclusively to those activities as are incident, convenient, or related to the preparation and arrangements, financial and otherwise, for the funeral, transportation, burial, or other disposition of human remains, including, but not limited to, either of the following: (a) A suitable room for the storage of human remains. (b) A preparation room equipped with a sanitary flooring and necessary drainage and ventilation and containing necessary instruments and supplies for the preparation, sanitation, or embalming of human remains for burial or transportation; (2) employs a licensed funeral director to manage, direct, or control its business or profession. Licensed funeral establishments within close geographical proximity of each other, may request the bureau to allow a licensed funeral director to manage, direct, or control the business or profession of more than one facility.
To be eligible to apply for licensure as a funeral establishment, or in the case the applicant is an association, partnership, or corporation, all officers of the corporation or association or all general partners of the partnership, must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Shall not have committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Section 480 of the Business and Professions Code.
To apply for licensure as a funeral establishment, submit the following:
- A completed application form and required filing fee.
- Copy of the Articles of Incorporation if a corporation (include a corporate resolution specifically authorizing the applicant to pursue the application on behalf of the corporation).
- Copy of a Partnership Agreement if a partnership.
- Include a certification affidavit for each owner, partner, corporate officer, and trustee.
- Letter or documentation from the city or county in which the establishment is located approving the use and location of the proposed funeral establishment.
- If you are sharing preparation and/or storage and it is not under common ownership, submit a contractual agreement with the establishment you are sharing with.
- Name and address of funeral establishment designated as main office if sharing a funeral director, and/or preparation and/or storage.
The license term is one year from date of issuance.
A funeral establishment application must be completed when a funeral establishment changes ownership, incorporates, adds a partner, or when the owner dies leaving the funeral establishment as all or part of an estate.
For additional information about licensure as a funeral establishment, call the Bureau's Licensing Unit at (916) 574–7870.
