Burying your dog in the garden: what does the law say?

The official service-public.gouv.fr sheet (F33426) clearly forbids it. The "under 40 kg" threshold you see everywhere came from the old article L226-4 of the Code rural, repealed in January 2016 : it's no longer valid. Throwing a body in the bin or down the drain is also illegal, with a fine of up to €3,750.

How do you bury your dog?

Burial at home isn't a legal route. To give your dog a resting place, you can go through a pet cemetery (a place to visit and reflect) or an individual cremation , with the ashes returned in an urn. Your vet arranges whichever route you choose.

What should you do with your dog's body?

Nothing hinges on a matter of minutes. Keep the body cool, call your vet (who can keep it and arrange what comes next), choose the route (cremation, a pet cemetery or the disposal service), and report the death to I-CAD if your dog was identified. You're allowed to take your time to say goodbye.

How long can you keep your dog's body at home?

The law sets no deadline in days : the limit is biological, not administrative. By keeping the body in the coolest room, you give yourself time to decide. The "48 hours" you sometimes read only concerns the window for notifying the disposal service, not an obligation to rush.

Burying your dog in your garden: what the law says

Rights, paperwork & daily lifePart of · Rights, paperwork & daily life

Burying your dog in your garden: what the law says

Q: How much does it cost to cremate a dog?

As a rough guide: a communal cremation (no ashes returned) often runs around €50 to €150, and an individual cremation (ashes in an urn) around €150 to €400, depending on weight and options. These aren't quotes: only the crematorium or your vet can price your actual case.

5 min read

In France, you are not allowed to bury your dog in your garden, whatever its weight. The law provides for cremation or a pet cemetery.

Why it is banned

The ban exists for public health reasons: a buried body can contaminate the soil and the groundwater, as the Ordre national des vétérinaires (the French veterinary association) points out. The official service-public.gouv.fr factsheet (F33426) spells it out: “it is also forbidden to bury an animal yourself, in particular in your garden”.

What to do

Call your vet

That is the first thing to do: they can keep the body and arrange the cremation.

Report the death to I-CAD

The process is free and can be done online from your owner account, through the Filalapat app, or by post.

The legal routes

Cremation

Communal: with other animals, with no ashes returned. The most affordable option, often in the region of 50 to 150 € depending on weight.
Individual: ashes returned in an urn, generally 150 to 400 € depending on weight and options.
Your vet or a pet crematorium takes care of it.

The pet cemetery

A place to come and remember, run by private companies or charities, found all over France.
The plot is paid for, from a few hundred euros up to 1,000-2,000 € over its full term.

These figures are ballpark ranges (France, 2026), not a quote: only the provider can price your own case. Many clinics also offer to handle transport of the body, usually as a separate extra: ask for the price directly, as it depends on the distance.

What to do when your pet has died (factsheet F33426), service-public.gouv.fr
Former art. L226-4 of the French rural code, repealed (the old tolerance for dogs under 40 kg, now void) (2016)
Position against home burial, on public health grounds, Ordre national des vétérinaires

Going further

guideGrief and the law: what to do with your dog's bodyThe very first moments after the death: the calm steps to take and the options for your dog's body.Read the guide guideDeciding to put your dog to sleepHow the decision is made, together with the vet, as the end of life approaches.Read the guide guideCompulsory dog identification: microchip, tattoo and I-CADHow the microchip and the I-CAD register work, from registration to keeping the file up to date.Read the guide guideThe real cost of a dogPlanning for what a dog really costs, from adoption through to end-of-life expenses.Read the guide guidePublic liability: who pays if your dog causes damageAnother point of law worth knowing: who pays if your dog causes damage.Read the guide guideAssessing my dog's quality of lifeFor older dogs, concrete markers to assess how comfortable they are.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Can you bury your dog in your garden?

No. In France, burying your animal yourself, in particular in your garden, is banned, whatever the dog's weight (service-public factsheet F33426). The reason is public health: a buried body can contaminate the soil and the groundwater. The law provides for cremation or a pet cemetery.

Is the “under 40 kg” rule still valid?

No, it no longer counts for anything. That “under 40 kg” threshold came from the former article L226-4 of the French rural code, repealed in January 2016. Today the official service-public.gouv.fr factsheet (F33426) is clear: burying your animal yourself is banned, whatever its weight. Putting a body in the bin or down the drain is also banned, with a fine of up to 3,750 €.

How do you bury a dog?

Burial at home is not a legal route. To give your dog a resting place, you can go through a pet cemetery (a place to come and remember) or through individual cremation, with the ashes returned in an urn.

What do you do with your dog's body?

Call your vet: they can keep the body and arrange the cremation. Either way, also report the death to I-CAD.

How much does it cost to cremate a dog?

As a ballpark: a communal cremation (no ashes returned) often comes in around 50 to 150 €, and an individual cremation (ashes in an urn) around 150 to 400 €, depending on weight and options. These are not quotes: only the crematorium or your vet can price your actual case.

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