Michigan Mortuary Cooler Requirements 2026: Article 18A, MCL 339.1861 and 339.1859

Michigan Article 18A: coolers must hold 36–39°F (MCL 339.1861), managers are licensed (MCL 339.1859). Compliant coolers from $7,414.11, in stock.

February 27, 2025 4 min read

Michigan Mortuary Cooler Requirements — State Funeral Home Storage Standards

Michigan sets one of the tightest storage bands in the country: 36°F to 39°F. Article 18A of the Occupational Code, added by 2024 Public Act 107 and effective April 2, 2025, created licensed refrigeration facilities and wrote the temperature, handling and manager rules into statute. This guide lists each rule with a link to the official text and the coolers that meet it, from $7,414.11.

Michigan at a glance

Temperature: 36–39°F at a refrigeration facility (MCL 339.1861)
Manager: licensed mortician, one facility only, not also a funeral establishment manager, lives within 100 miles (MCL 339.1859)
Handling: covered, ID tag or band, no floor storage, one per tray, no stacking without a rack (R 339.18932)
14 days with no contact from the contracted entity: the manager calls the medical examiner
Authority: Michigan LARA, Board of Examiners in Mortuary Science (LARA inspection guidance)

MCL 339.1861: temperature and handling

MCL 339.1861 requires a body at a refrigeration facility to be kept at 36°F to 39°F. The body must be clothed or covered, not stored directly on the ground, kept face up, and stored one per table tray or container unless the person with the right to make arrangements authorizes otherwise. A body may not be stored over another body unless it is on a rack strong enough to support it. If the contracted entity has not contacted the facility within 14 days of receipt, the manager must contact the medical examiner.

In practice, this means a cooler with individual trays or a rack system, plus a thermostat you can hold inside a 3-degree band. Set the controller near 37–38°F and log readings daily so an inspector can see the band was held.

MCL 339.1859: the refrigeration facility manager

MCL 339.1859 requires every refrigeration facility to designate a licensed mortician as manager. The manager supervises the handling and sheltering of bodies and may not otherwise practice mortuary science while acting as manager. A licensee may manage only one refrigeration facility, may not manage one while managing a funeral establishment under section 1809, and must live no more than 100 miles from the facility.

R 339.18932: storage and records

Mich. Admin. Code R 339.18932, effective May 1, 2025, adds that a body may not be placed directly on a room floor, including the floor of a refrigeration unit, and that bodies may not be placed on other bodies. Every body needs identification, such as a band or tag. Keep the case report for 7 years.

10x10 Walk-In Mortuary Refrigerator

Large walk-in for regional crematories and medical examiner overflow.

From $11,695.50

In stock

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Running a refrigeration facility for pets as well? Keep animal remains in a separate unit. See TITAN Pet mortuary equipment, including the TITAN Pet P400 cot.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature does Michigan require for a mortuary cooler?

MCL 339.1861 requires a dead human body stored at a refrigeration facility to be kept between 36°F and 39°F.

Who can manage a Michigan refrigeration facility?

Under MCL 339.1859 the manager must hold a Michigan mortuary science license, may manage only one refrigeration facility, may not also manage a funeral establishment, and must live within 100 miles of the facility.

Can bodies be stored on the cooler floor in Michigan?

No. Mich. Admin. Code R 339.18932 bars placing a body directly on a room floor, including the floor of a refrigeration unit, and bars stacking bodies without a rack.

What happens after 14 days at a Michigan refrigeration facility?

If the contracted entity has not contacted the facility within 14 days after the body was received, the manager must contact the medical examiner to proceed with final disposition (MCL 339.1861).

Which cooler fits a Michigan funeral home?

Most firms start with a two-body roll-in or three-body upright cooler set to 36–39°F. AMC coolers start at $7,414.11 and freight is calculated at checkout.

Related state guides

This guide summarizes published code text as of November 1, 2026. It is not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your state board before you buy or change procedures. Freight for every cooler is calculated at checkout.