Human composting
The body becomes soil in a closed vessel. Legal only in states whose law allows it.
What it is
Human composting is called natural organic reduction in the law. Washington, the first state to allow it, defines it as the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil.
It is legal only where a state's law authorizes it, and some states set a later start date while regulators write the rules. California's law, for example, takes effect on January 1, 2027.
Good to know
- States can limit what happens to the soil. In Colorado it may not be sold or used to grow food for people.
- If your state does not allow it yet, ask a funeral home whether it can arrange transport to a licensed facility in a state that does.
Human composting by state
| State | Does state law allow it? |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Alabama Board of Funeral Service. |
| Alaska | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Mortuary Science. |
| Arizona | Legal Arizona's funeral law counts natural organic reduction as a form of cremation. |
| Arkansas | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries, and Burial Services. |
| California | Legal from January 1, 2027 Allowed from January 1, 2027, at reduction facilities licensed by the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. |
| Colorado | Legal Legal since Senate Bill 21-006, signed in May 2021. |
| Connecticut | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Connecticut Board of Examiners of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Delaware | Legal Legal under a law approved May 16, 2024; the Board of Funeral Services regulates it. |
| District of Columbia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the DC Board of Funeral Directors. |
| Florida | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services. |
| Georgia | Legal Legal; the State Board of Funeral Service licenses organic human reduction facilities. |
| Hawaii | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Hawaii Department of Health. |
| Idaho | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Idaho Board of Morticians. |
| Illinois | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| Indiana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Indiana State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service. |
| Iowa | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Iowa Board of Mortuary Science. |
| Kansas | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts. |
| Kentucky | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Kentucky Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Louisiana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Maine | Legal Legal under Public Law 2023, chapter 676, which became law in April 2024. |
| Maryland | Legal Legal since October 1, 2024 under the Green Death Care Options Act. |
| Massachusetts | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Embalming and Funeral Directing. |
| Michigan | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Mortuary Science. |
| Minnesota | Legal Legal since July 1, 2025, at facilities licensed by the Department of Health. |
| Mississippi | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service. |
| Missouri | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Montana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Montana Board of Funeral Service. |
| Nebraska | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Funeral Directing and Embalming. |
| Nevada | Legal Nevada law counts natural organic reduction as cremation, since 2023. |
| New Hampshire | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New Hampshire Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| New Jersey | Legal Legal from July 1, 2026, in facilities inside or on the property of a registered mortuary. |
| New Mexico | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New Mexico Board of Funeral Services. |
| New York | Legal Legal; facilities are run by cemetery corporations under rules in effect since August 7, 2024. |
| North Carolina | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service. |
| North Dakota | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service. |
| Ohio | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Oklahoma | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Oklahoma Funeral Board. |
| Oregon | Legal Legal since July 1, 2022. |
| Pennsylvania | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors. |
| Rhode Island | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| South Carolina | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the South Carolina Board of Funeral Service. |
| South Dakota | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the South Dakota Board of Funeral Service. |
| Tennessee | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| Texas | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Texas Funeral Service Commission. |
| Utah | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Utah Division of Professional Licensing, Funeral Service. |
| Vermont | Legal Legal under Act 169 of 2022, with effective dates starting January 1, 2023. |
| Virginia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| Washington | Legal Legal since May 1, 2020, the first state to allow it. |
| West Virginia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the West Virginia Board of Funeral Service Examiners. |
| Wisconsin | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Examining Board. |
| Wyoming | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Wyoming State Board of Funeral Service Practitioners. |
Common questions
- Is human composting legal in my state?
- Check the table below. It lists every state where we read a law that allows natural organic reduction, with the date it took effect where the law states one. For other states we have not confirmed the law yet, and the table links to the state's funeral regulator.
- What happens to the soil?
- It is returned to the family or placed as the law and the facility allow. Some states limit its use: in Colorado the soil may not be sold or used to grow food for people.
Funeral homes near you
Call two or three homes and compare their written price lists.