Scattering Ashes at Sea off the Coast of California Require a Permit issued from the County. An original or certified death certificate or transit permit is required in order to obtain the California permit. The Permit cannot be obtained with a photocopy of a death certificate (only the original document will be accepted).
Questions re: E-Filed Documents: What if my transit permit or death certificate was electronically filed? As electronically filed death certificates and transit permits are becoming more common, the policy is to accept the documents as proof in order to obtain the VS-9 permit. However, If you are unsure whether your document fits this criteria, please email it to us to review.
Unusual cases: If the deceased was an American citizen and died abroad, you will receive a document entitled "Report of an American Citizen Who Died Abroad" from the Embassy. This original document can also be used to apply for the permit.
If the death certificate is in a language other than English, the County will require a Certified Translation in addition to the original death certificate.
How to Obtain the Permit Yourself
- Bring an original death certificate or an original transit permit from the state of death to the nearest County office of Vital Records.
- Tell them you need to obtain a VS-9 Burial Permit and that it needs to state "at sea off the coast of Marin County."
- It will cost $12.00.
We can Obtain the Permit For You
- you'll need to mail us the original Death Certificate or an original transit permit to our Mailing Address:
Ashes On The Bay
3001 Bridgeway K-172,
Sausalito, CA 94965
- It will cost $65.00 - $12 for the permit and $53 for processing
- You will receive your original documents back.
