By Associated Press, 8/27/02

RED LION, Pa. — There's no law in this eastern Pennsylvania borough to prevent residents from burying dead loved ones in their backyards, and a local official wants to know if they want that to change.

The borough council plans to discuss an ordinance that would prohibit human burials on property other than established cemeteries. The public will get a chance to comment on the proposal during a Sept. 9 meeting.

Solicitor Michael Craley raised the idea of a home-burial ban. There is no state law prohibiting home burials but the state borough code does allow municipalities to ban the practice if they wish, he said.

The borough has no law to regulate home burials in any way, zoning officer Lynn Rinehart said.

Officials said they did not know how often home burials occur in the borough.