Under what condition may two funeral establishments share a common preparation and/or storage room?

• A. The firms are under common ownership or have a contractual agreement to share facilities
• B. The firms are under common ownership and serve different geographic markets
• C. The firms are under common ownership and are located in the same county
• D. The firms are under common ownership and serve the same geographic market

Answer: (A)

Sharing a preparation or storage space is allowed only when there is a formal control relationship between the firms—either they are under common ownership or there is a written contract that authorizes sharing facilities. This requirement ensures clear accountability, regulatory oversight, and a documented process for handling and storing remains, reducing the risk of misidentification or improper use of space. Merely being in the same county or serving the same market doesn’t demonstrate that kind of formal arrangement or control, so those factors don’t by themselves authorize the shared facility. The key element is the existence of common ownership or a contractual agreement to share facilities.