Burial in France, also known as interment, is strictly governed by law—primarily the General Code of Local Authorities. It cannot occur anywhere. Generally, the mayor of the chosen municipality holds the authority to approve or deny burials on public land. Burials on private property are permitted but subject to rigorous conditions.
French law allows burial by right in the cemetery of the municipality where the deceased resided, died, or where the family vault is located. For French citizens living abroad, burial is possible in the town where they were registered on the electoral rolls, even without a family grave. To bury outside these locations, the family must request permission from the target municipality's mayor. However, the mayor may refuse if cemetery spaces are unavailable or if the burial risks public order disturbances.
The General Code of Local Authorities prohibits burials in churches, temples, synagogues, hospitals, public chapels, or any enclosed buildings used for worship gatherings, as well as within town or village enclosures. Exceptionally, a mayor may authorize funerary monuments in a hospital as a public tribute for founders or benefactors who requested it in their donation acts, foundation documents, or wills.
In the Paris region, authorization for cemetery burial is issued by the mayor of the arrondissement where the coffin was sealed, even if the cemetery is outside Paris.
Burial on private property is rare and heavily regulated. The regional prefect grants approval. Key requirements include: if the landowner isn't the deceased, their consent is mandatory. Per the General Code of Local Authorities, the site must be outside agglomerations, cities, or towns and at least 35 meters from neighboring properties. An approved hydrogeologist from the Regional Health Agency must verify the site's distance from groundwater and soil stability to prevent grave slippage (except for urn burials). Any funerary monument must meet communal cemetery standards.
Additional rules apply: Under the Penal Code, graves must be immovable and indestructible. If the property changes hands, the new owner must maintain the grave and allow perpetual access for the deceased's heirs for remembrance. Heirs may also exhume and relocate the remains for a decent burial as defined by law.
