North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 65. Cemeteries § 65-77. Minimum burial depth

(1) Burials where no part of the burial vault or other encasement containing the body is touching the ground.

(2) Burials where the land is located in a family owned cemetery that was established by deed recorded prior to January 1, 1989, and the individual to be buried is to be buried in a surface burial vault in a manner similar to that of the individual's deceased spouse who was buried prior to January 1, 1981.