Home Burial
Grief after losing a pet can feel surprisingly intense — and you don’t have to carry it alone. Below are free, external support options (hotlines, online chats, and support groups). Times are listed in Pacific Time (with the source timezone noted). Hours can change, so please use the links to confirm availability.
If you are in immediate emotional danger, or thinking about harming yourself, call/text 988 (U.S.) or your local emergency number. These pet loss resources are not emergency mental-health crisis lines.
Owner Responsibility
These rules may not be current, may not apply in your specific city, and may have additional local requirements. It is the pet owner’s responsibility to:
Confirm whether your city/HOA/landlord allows home burial, and verify the most up-to-date local regulations for your exact address (city + county) before choosing home burial.
Practical things to consider before choosing home burial
Where burial is allowed, families usually need to consider:
Where you live: city limits matter (some cities prohibit burial entirely).
Depth + covering soil: LA County’s minimum depth/cover requirement (if applicable where you live).
Utilities: call 811 before digging (gas/electric/water lines).
Soil + drainage: avoid low spots, runoff paths, or places that flood.
Distance from water features / wells / storm drains: choose a site that reduces the risk of contamination (see water safety note below).
Free Support Groups Online
First: check your city. Los Angeles County includes many incorporated cities, and some do not allow home burial at all.
City of Los Angeles: Home burial is not allowed (burial only in an established cemetery).
City of Santa Monica: Home burial is not allowed (“No person shall bury any dead animal within the limits of the City.”).
:
If you are not inside a city with a ban, then Los Angeles County’s Health & Safety Code includes this general burial rule:
Los Angeles County Code (Title 11) — burial depth + nuisance rule
Los Angeles County states it is unlawful to bury a dead animal unless the body is:
placed three (3) feet below the ground surface and
immediately covered with at least three (3) feet of soil, and
buried in a way/location that does not create a public health menace or a nuisance.
Los Angeles County Code (Title 11) — burial depth + nuisance rule
If euthanasia medication was used, do not leave your pet’s body where wildlife or other animals could access it. Secondary poisoning can occur. California wildlife guidance emphasizes secure disposal; if burial is chosen, bury deeply enough to discourage scavenging (their general guidance is ~4 feet and may include lime as a deterrent).
Safety note: protecting groundwater and water quality
To reduce the risk of contaminating water:
avoid burying near wells or where groundwater is shallow,
avoid areas where water collects or flows after rain
and do not irrigate over the burial site.
California environmental guidance for carcass burial highlights setbacks from wells and the importance of protecting groundwater and managing moisture.
Eden Veterinary
Holistic Healing. Heartfelt Goodbyes. Eden Is Home.
1653 7th St #901
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(424) 272-0345 • [email protected]
Hours
Open 24 hours
Quick links
🚨Emergency Note🚨
If your pet is having a medical emergency- trouble breathing, collapse, uncontrolled bleeding, seizures, severe pain, or anything that feels urgent, please go directly to a local 24/7 emergency hospital. If you're not near Los Angeles, search "24/7 emergency vet near me" or call the closest clinic for help locating the nearest emergency facility.
Below are some options for emergency hospitals. We recommend finding your nearest local emergency hospital.
VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital - 1900 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90025 --(310)473-2951 (Open 24 hours)
ACESS Specialty Animal Hospitals - Los Angeles (Culver City) -- 9599 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 -- (310)558-6100
Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital (MASH) - 6565 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038 -- (855)350-7387 (24/7 ER)