Florida Statutes
Part II - Cemetery Regulation (Ss. 497.260-497.287)
497.274 - Standards for grave spaces.


(1) A standard adult grave space shall measure at least 42 inches in width and 96 inches in length, except for preinstalled vaults in designated areas. For interments, except cremated remains, the covering soil shall measure no less than 12 inches from the top of the outer burial container at time of interment, unless such level of soil is not physically possible. In any interment, a legally authorized person may waive the 12-inch coverage minimum.

(2)(a) Prior to the sale of grave spaces in any undeveloped areas of a licensed cemetery, the cemetery company shall prepare a map documenting the establishment of recoverable internal survey reference markers installed by the cemetery company no more than 100 feet apart in the areas planned for development. The internal reference markers shall be established with reference to survey markers that are no more than 200 feet apart which have been set by a surveyor and mapper licensed under chapter 472 and documented in a certified land survey. Both the map and the certified land survey shall be maintained by the cemetery company and shall be made available upon request to the department or members of the public.
(b) The map of the area proposed to be developed shall show:
1. The number of grave spaces available for sale.
2. The location of each grave space.
3. The number designation assigned to each grave space.
4. The dimensions of a standard adult grave space.


(3) Adult grave spaces established prior to October 1, 2005, are not required to meet the standards established under this section for the dimensions or separation of grave spaces.
History.—s. 56, ch. 2004-301; s. 12, ch. 2016-172.

Structure Florida Statutes

Florida Statutes

Title XXXIII - Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Investments, and Solicitations

Chapter 497 - Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services

Part II - Cemetery Regulation (Ss. 497.260-497.287)

497.260 - Cemeteries; exemption; investigation and mediation.

497.261 - Existing companies, effect of this chapter.

497.262 - Duty of care and maintenance of licensed cemetery.

497.263 - Cemetery companies; license required; licensure requirements and procedures.

497.264 - License not assignable or transferable.

497.265 - Annual license fees.

497.266 - Care and maintenance trust fund; remedy of department for noncompliance.

497.267 - Disposition of withdrawals from the care and maintenance trust fund; notice to purchasers and depositors.

497.2675 - Withdrawal methods from the care and maintenance trust fund.

497.268 - Care and maintenance trust fund, percentage of payments for burial rights to be deposited.

497.269 - Care and maintenance trust fund; financial reports.

497.270 - Minimum acreage; sale or disposition of cemetery lands.

497.271 - Standards for construction and significant alteration or renovation of mausoleums and columbaria.

497.272 - Construction of mausoleums, columbaria, and belowground crypts; preconstruction trust fund; compliance requirement.

497.273 - Cemetery companies; authorized functions.

497.274 - Standards for grave spaces.

497.276 - Records.

497.2765 - Recording purchase of burial rights.

497.277 - Other charges.

497.278 - Monuments; installation fees.

497.280 - Illegal tying arrangements.

497.281 - Licensure of brokers of burial rights.

497.282 - Disclosure of information to public.

497.283 - Prohibition on sale of personal property or services.

497.284 - Abandoned cemeteries; immunity; actions.

497.285 - Inactive cemeteries.

497.286 - Owners to provide addresses; presumption of abandonment; abandonment procedures; sale of abandoned unused burial rights.

497.287 - Report of identification of exempt cemeteries.