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 are also regulated under the Public Health Regulation 2022, administered by NSW Health.

NSW cemeteries and crematoria are incredibly diverse. They range from large metropolitan multi-faith spaces to regional cemeteries run by councils to small church graveyards that no longer accept new burials. More information is available on our Data and research page.

To inform operators about their regulatory requirements under the Act CCNSW provides a range of resources.

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.

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.