Scattering ashes on San Francisco Bay is legal. California law allows scattering in the Bay at least 500 yards from any shoreline, and in the open ocean beyond the Golden Gate, federal rules require at least 3 nautical miles from shore. Molly’s Boats plans your route to the right rule and handles the required filings. A private memorial charter costs $700 for a 90-minute family voyage and includes ceremony assistance, the GPS coordinates of the scattering site, and a memorial certificate. Nearly 70% of Californians now choose cremation, and more Bay Area families are choosing the water for a final goodbye. Here is what it costs, how the rules work, and what the day looks like.
Key Takeaways
| What it costs | $700 for a private 90-minute memorial charter, your family only. Same price for our Beloved Companions pet memorial trips. |
| Is it legal? | Yes. California allows Bay scatterings at least 500 yards from shore. Ocean scatterings beyond the Golden Gate happen at least 3 nautical miles out under the EPA’s general permit. We follow the rule for your route and handle the required filings. |
| What’s included | USCG-licensed captain, a route planned with you, ceremony assistance, GPS coordinates of the site, and a memorial certificate to keep. |
| The route | Your choice: the Golden Gate, the Tiburon shoreline, or, when conditions allow, toward the Farallon Islands. |
| Comfort | Heated cabin and no set pace. Music, readings, and flowers welcome. |
How Much Does Ash Scattering at Sea Cost?
Price is usually a family’s first practical question, so here it is plainly. The Loved Ones Memorial is $700. That covers a private 90-minute charter for your family, the scattering itself, ceremony assistance, legal compliance, and GPS-documented coordinates. The Beloved Companions pet memorial is also $700 and adds a photo of the ceremony.
For comparison, a burial plot and traditional service in the Bay Area commonly runs well into five figures. There are no hidden fees and no per-person charges. The boat is yours.
Is Scattering Ashes Legal in California? The Rules, Plainly
Yes, and the rules depend on where the scattering happens. California treats San Francisco Bay differently from the open ocean, and a licensed charter follows the right rule for your route:
- Inside San Francisco Bay. California Health and Safety Code section 7117 permits scattering in the state’s inland navigable waters, which includes the Bay, as long as it takes place at least 500 yards from any shoreline and never from a bridge or pier. We hold well past that line and log the position.
- The open ocean. Beyond the Golden Gate, the federal EPA’s general permit governs. Scattering must happen at least 3 nautical miles from shore, and the EPA must be notified within 30 days.
- The paperwork. California requires a verified statement of the scattering to be filed with the county registrar within 10 days. We handle the filings that go with your route.
The families who run into trouble are almost always the ones who improvised: a beach, a pier, a rented boat, no idea the rules existed. Booking a licensed charter removes that risk. California law also requires that ashes be released from their container (a dissolving scattering urn is the one exception) and that nothing non-biodegradable go into the water. That is why flowers should be loose blooms, and we’ll guide you on what can go overboard.
A Private Charter, Your Family Only
Every memorial trip is private. Your family, one captain, no strangers on board. We build the trip around what you came to do, whether that is scattering ashes, laying flowers, or simply a quiet last goodbye on the water.
Your charter is hosted by Captain Molly, who holds a 100-ton USCG license and grew up with these tides. Experience matters more on a memorial voyage than on a sightseeing trip. You are trusting your captain to read the conditions and keep the ceremony dignified even when the Bay gets rough. The cabin is heated, so a cold day doesn’t have to be an uncomfortable one.
Where We Take You
Routes are planned with you, not assigned. Families often choose the Golden Gate, the quieter Tiburon shoreline, or, when timing and conditions align, a run out toward the Farallon Islands. Each puts the ceremony in a different light, literally. Pick the water that meant something to the person you’re honoring, and we’ll position the scattering itself where the law requires: 500 yards off any Bay shoreline, or past the 3-mile line in open ocean.
How the Ceremony Works, Step by Step
- We talk first. Tell us your route preferences, family size, and any wishes for music, readings, or flowers.
- We plan the trip around Bay conditions and the atmosphere you want.
- We handle compliance: the required distance from shore during the trip, and the filings afterward.
- We document the site. You receive the GPS coordinates and a memorial certificate, so you can return to the exact spot. Many families do, on anniversaries.
- We support the moment. A few words at the rail, a favorite song, silence. The pace is yours and we never rush it.
What do you say when scattering ashes at sea?
There’s no script. Some families share a memory or read a poem. Some stand together quietly while the ashes meet the water. Some release a single flower each afterward, or read the coordinates aloud so everyone carries the place with them. Your captain handles the timing and stays out of the way.
Beloved Companions: A Final Journey for Your Pet
Some families come to us for a beloved companion, and we treat those trips with the same seriousness as any other memorial. The Beloved Companions memorial ($700) is a private charter to honor your pet, with the captain, compliance handled, GPS coordinates, a memorial certificate, and a photo of the ceremony. All species are welcome. See our memorial options →
Ready When You Are
When a water ceremony feels right, book your memorial charter online, or start by reading the details of the Loved Ones and Beloved Companions trips. We’ll confirm your route, timing, and the small details that shape the day. If the weather shifts, we tell you early, and as long as it’s safe, we go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to scatter ashes in San Francisco Bay or the ocean in California?
Yes, both. California law allows scattering in the Bay at least 500 yards from any shoreline (never from a bridge or pier). In the open ocean, the EPA’s general permit requires at least 3 nautical miles from shore, with the EPA notified within 30 days. Every Molly’s Boats memorial charter follows the rule for its route and includes the required filings.
How much does it cost to have ashes scattered at sea?
Our private 90-minute family memorial charter is $700, all-inclusive: captain, ceremony assistance, compliance, GPS coordinates, and a memorial certificate.
How long does a memorial at sea take?
The charter itself is 90 minutes on the water. Plan 2 to 3 hours door to door with boarding and briefing. The ceremony is never rushed.
Can we bring flowers, music, or readings?
Yes. Loose biodegradable flowers for the water, plus any music or readings you’d like. Tell us in advance and we’ll build the timing around them.
Do you provide the scattering location afterward?
Yes. Every charter includes the GPS coordinates of the site and a memorial certificate, so your family can return.
Can you do a memorial for a pet?
Yes. The Beloved Companions charter ($700) is a private pet memorial at sea with the same care, plus a photo of the ceremony. All species welcome.
What if the weather is bad on our day?
The Bay shifts quickly and we plan for it. If it’s safe, we go. If not, we tell you early and reschedule without drama.