1. A. A crematory shall be available for inspection by a representative of the Office at any time during operating hours. The permit holder or registered crematory operator shall be available to accompany the inspector during the inspection and sign the initial inspection report. A copy of the inspection report shall be provided to the permit holder or registered crematory operator.

2. B. Each crematory shall be inspected:

   1. (1) On at least a biennial basis;
   2. (2) In furtherance of an investigation; or
   3. (3) Upon the sale or change of ownership of the crematory.

3. C. A crematory shall maintain the following minimum standards:

   1. (1) The premises shall be maintained in a sanitary manner to comply with Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines on universal precautions;
   2. (2) Except by express, written consent of the authorizing agents to perform simultaneous, multiple cremations or alkaline hydrolyses, there shall be no more than one human body cremated or hydrolyzed in a single cremator or alkaline hydrolysis unit at a time;
   3. (3) A cremator or alkaline hydrolysis unit shall be cleaned completely after each cremation or alkaline hydrolysis;
   4. (4) There may not be co-mingling of human remains and pet remains in refrigeration units, cremators, or alkaline hydrolysis units;
   5. (5) Separate cremators or alkaline hydrolysis units shall be dedicated for the cremation or alkaline hydrolysis of human remains and the cremation or alkaline hydrolysis of pets;

   6. (6) There may not be:

      1. (a) Co-mingling of processed human remains with other processed human remains or pet remains;
      2. (b) Scooping of processed human remains from a bucket containing commingled processed human remains; or
      3. (c) Any form of misrepresentation in the return of processed human remains;
   7. (7) Excluding a deceased person with a known communicable infection, human remains shall be properly identified before cremation or alkaline hydrolysis by verifying that the documentation accompanying the human remains is consistent with a visual observation of the human remains;
   8. (8) A burial transit permit shall be an original document pertaining to the deceased;

   9. (9) Each crematory shall have:

      1. (a) A sink with hot and cold water in the room in which the crematory equipment is housed; and
      2. (b) The tools necessary to thoroughly clean the floor within the room housing the crematory equipment with water and an appropriate sanitizing agent;
   10. (10) The name of the deceased shall be visible on the outside of the crematory container;
   11. (11) Human remains shall be properly stored prior to cremation or alkaline hydrolysis;

   12. (12) Crematories shall:

       1. (a) Use only mechanical pulverizing equipment meeting industry standards that has been thoroughly brushed as clean as possible between each use; and
       2. (b) Pulverize the processed human remains with a mortar and pestle when the processed human remains are not sufficient in amount for pulverizing in mechanical equipment;
   13. (13) Separate pulverizing drums shall be dedicated for processed human remains and processed pet remains;
   14. (14) Before pulverizing, the mechanical pulverizer shall be clamped;
   15. (15) A crematory may not refuse to release processed human remains pending payment of outstanding fees;
   16. (16) Cremators without safety devices that prevent the automatic door from dropping unintentionally shall be retrofitted with such safety devices;
   17. (17) Portable fans may not be used in the area of the cremator or pulverizing equipment;
   18. (18) There shall be a minimum of 6 inches between a cremator smoke stack and the roof of the crematory;
   19. (19) A cremator shall have, visible on its front, a warning sign stating “No leaning past the door of the cremator.”;
   20. (20) The permit holder or registered crematory operator shall be present at the crematory during regular business hours; and
   21. (21) All individuals who operate the cremator or alkaline hydrolysis unit in a crematory shall be certified by the Cremation Association of North America, International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, or other equivalent certification recognized by the Office and the Board. Individuals receiving training toward certification to operate a cremator or alkaline hydrolysis unit shall be allowed to work under the supervision of a registered crematory operator who has the required certification for a period not to exceed 6 months.

4. D. The following completed forms shall be available at all times for inspection and copying and are subject to be pulled at random by the inspector:

   1. (1) Crematory services authorization form;
   2. (2) Burial transit permit;
   3. (3) Delegation of authority form;
   4. (4) Receipt for human remains;
   5. (5) Record of cremation or alkaline hydrolysis;
   6. (6) Certificate of cremation or alkaline hydrolysis; and
   7. (7) Return of processed human remains certificate.
5. E. Inspection results shall be written on forms approved by the Office.

6. F. The representative of the Office performing the inspection shall, upon completion of the inspection:

   1. (1) Apprise the permit holder of the findings of the inspection; and
   2. (2) Provide the permit holder or a representative of the permit holder with a copy of the inspection report.
7. G. The permit holder or representative of the permit holder shall sign and verify receipt of the inspection report.

8. H. At the time of the Office’s inspection, the permit holder shall provide written documentation to the Office’s inspector that:

   1. (1) The crematory equipment has been inspected in accordance with manufacturer specifications;
   2. (2) In accordance with manufacturer specifications, it is not time for a manufacturer’s inspection; or
   3. (3) The permit holder has requested that the manufacturer conduct an inspection of the crematory equipment.

Authority: Business Regulation Article, §§5-204, 5-310, and 5-311, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: March 31, 2014 (41:6 Md. R. 378)

Regulation .02 amended effective April 13, 2026 (53:7 Md. R. 327)

Regulation .04A amended effective April 13, 2026 (53:7 Md. R. 327)