Cremation urns for ashes in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma sits on south Puget Sound in a state that both has a very high cremation rate and expressly lists Puget Sound as a lawful scattering water. Families often shop for a cremation urn for ashes or plan a small water ceremony.
The 81.5% figure is Washington’s statewide 2025 projection from the NFDA 2024 report, not a Tacoma-only rate. Commencement Bay and the surrounding sound are why Tacoma ash-scattering questions come up so often next to requests for cremation jewelry or a home urn.
The Memorial Market does not have a Tacoma office. Listings ship to Pierce County.
Tacoma ash scattering and south Puget Sound
WAC 308-47A-020 includes Puget Sound among public navigable waters under state control. An authorizing agent may carry out the disposition without a permit; a business that regularly scatters remains for others must obtain a disposition permit for placements outside a cemetery. Stay clear of shipping lanes and respect port, park, and tribal shorelines.
Mount Rainier National Park is nearby and, under the same Washington rule, requires permission from the chief park ranger. Pacific Ocean placements must follow the EPA general permit and be reported to Region 10.
Cremation urns, jewelry, and memorials for Tacoma families
These memorials are from the live Memorial Market catalog — cremation urns for ashes, cremation jewelry, and related tributes. The Memorial Market is an online marketplace and does not operate a funeral home or showroom in this city. Boat or plane ash-scattering listings, when shown, are the actual departure areas named on those listings.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a family scatter ashes on Commencement Bay?
Puget Sound is named in WAC 308-47A-020. Commencement Bay is part of that waterway, but docks, parks, and port property have their own managers. Use a lawful vessel and do not leave non-decomposable materials in the water. This is not legal advice.
Does The Memorial Market have a store or funeral home in Tacoma?
No. The Memorial Market is an online marketplace. We do not operate a showroom, funeral home, or staffed office in Tacoma. Families there can browse cremation urns for ashes, cremation jewelry, and other memorials on the site, and vendors ship completed pieces. Local funeral homes, crematories, and park agencies handle arrangements and any permits where you live.
What is a biodegradable memorial urn?
A biodegradable memorial urn is a vessel designed to break down in soil or water, often chosen for a burial or a water scattering. The U.S. EPA’s general permit for burial at sea allows only materials that are readily decomposable in the marine environment — plastic or metal containers must not be left in the ocean. The Memorial Market’s current urn listings are primarily artisan ceramic, glass, and sculptural cremation urns for ashes; none of the published titles are labeled biodegradable. If you need a water-soluble vessel for an ocean ceremony, confirm the material with the seller or your charter captain before you buy.
What is the cremation rate in Washington?
The National Funeral Directors Association’s 2024 Cremation & Burial Report projected that 81.5% of deaths in Washington would be cremated in 2025, compared with a national projection of 63.3% in the same table. Those figures are projections, not a final vital-statistics release. A later NFDA report, announced in October 2025, updated the national 2025 projection to 63.4%. The Cremation Association of North America has separately reported a U.S. cremation rate of 62.8% in 2025. CANA’s full state table is not published publicly.
Do I need a permit to scatter ashes in Washington?
WAC 308-47A-020 says the authorizing agent may dispose of reduced remains without a permit. A person or company that regularly scatters remains for others must register for a disposition permit when the placement is outside a dedicated cemetery. National parks and state trust uplands still require permission from the named official. Pacific Ocean placements must follow the EPA general permit. This is not legal advice.
Is Puget Sound treated as a legal scattering site?
Yes, the Washington rule expressly includes public navigable waters under state control, including Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, rivers, streams, and lakes. Local, tribal, or facility rules may still apply at a particular dock or park. This is not legal advice.
Sources
This page summarizes published statistics and public rules to help families plan. It is not legal advice. Rules can change, and parks, cemeteries, and landowners may have their own requirements — confirm with the agency or owner that manages the place you have in mind.