---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-21-5. Incineration or cremation of dead body or parts thereof.
collection: code
id: 31-21-5
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-21-5 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-5
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-5.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-5/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t31-(v23)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=da7ded69_0#page=867
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-4.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-6.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: HEALTH / DEAD BODIES / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-21-5. Incineration or cremation of dead body or parts thereof.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to incinerate or cremate a dead body or parts thereof; provided, however, that the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a crematory licensed by the State Board of Funeral Service pursuant to Chapter 18 of Title 43 or to a hospital, clinic, laboratory, or other facility authorized by the Department of Community Health and in a manner approved by the commissioner of community health.

(b) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

## History

Code 1981, § 31-21-5, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 992, § 1; Ga. L. 2008, p. 12, § 2-31/SB 433.