A NSW Government website

Industry regulation

Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW (CCNSW) regulates NSW cemeteries and crematoria under the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 (the Act) and the Cemeteries and Crematoria Regulation 2022. Cemetery and crematoria operators in NSW are required to hold a licence under the Interment Industry Scheme.

Crown cemetery operators have additional regulatory requirements because they operate cemeteries on Crown land (State government land).

Read below for more information on key aspects of industry regulation.

Other regulatory requirements

Cemetery and crematoria operators are also regulated under the Public Health Regulation 2022, administered by NSW Health. Resources on relevant NSW Health requirements for cemetery and crematoria operators are available on the NSW Health website regarding Final arrangements of the deceased, including information in relation to burial depths, burying a body on private land, shrouded burials, and exhumations.

Other legislative requirements may also apply to cemeteries and crematoria, including the Heritage Act 1977, environment regulations, and planning and zoning requirements. Operators should ensure that they are aware of the full range of their regulatory requirements.

Headstones in graveyard

The Interment Industry Scheme creates an operating licence and sets standards for cemetery and crematoria operators in NSW.

Woman standing in graveyard looking at headstones

Resources to help cemetery and crematorium operators.

Path thru graveyard with headstones and trees

Crown cemetery operators have additional regulation to other cemetery operators, because they operate cemeteries on Crown land (State government land)

Bunch of pink flowers sitting on stone headstone in cemetery

The Interment industry scheme regulates cemetery and crematorium operators. Where funeral directors are selling certain cemetery or crematoria products to a customer (such as a burial, ash interment or cremation) they will need to comply with some Scheme requirements.

People walking beside Waverley Cemetery next to the ocean

Submit activity reporting in our online portal.

Grave headstone with orange and red flowers

Cemetery and crematorium operators in NSW pay a levy to fund our work setting and enforcing standards to protect consumers.

Related information

Our Regulatory Framework outlines how we will carry out our regulatory responsibilities.

The Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 has been reviewed as required by legislation.