Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
Human composting (natural organic reduction) is illegal in California as of August 2026. No provider can operate here, so there's no in-state price. In states where it's legal, the process runs $4,500 to $7,000 and takes 30 to 45 days. If California legalizes NOR, licensing would likely run through the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, and early costs would probably track Washington and Oregon.
Is human composting legal in California right now?
No. California has not legalized human composting, also called natural organic reduction (NOR). The state came close in 2022. Assembly Bill 351 passed the legislature, and Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed it on September 28, 2022. In his veto message he said he was 'concerned about the state’s ability to regulate this process' [1]. No NOR bill has reached the governor's desk since.
As of August 2026, no funeral establishment can legally perform NOR in California. The California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau has no licensing category for natural organic reduction, and a standard funeral establishment license does not cover it [2].
Want a legal provider? You'll have to ship the body to a state like Washington or Colorado. That's expensive, and most families won't do it.
How much does human composting cost in California?
There's no direct cost in California, because no in-state provider can legally operate. If California legalized NOR, you'd probably pay between $4,500 and $7,000. That's the spread across states where it's legal today.
In Washington, Recompose charges $7,000 and Return Home lists $4,950. In Oregon, Earth Funeral charges $5,000 [3][4][5]. In Colorado, The Natural Funeral offers NOR for $6,000 [6]. Those prices cover the reduction itself. They don't cover transportation, death certificates, or a funeral home's basic services fee. Add roughly $1,000 to $2,000 for those extras, and the total lands around $5,500 to $9,000.
The chart below shows provider list prices as of August 2026.
How long does human composting take in California?
There's no California timeline, because NOR isn't legal here. In states where it's practiced, the process runs about 30 to 45 days from placement to soil collection, plus a curing period of two to four weeks. Recompose says the full 'transformation' takes 8 to 12 weeks [7]. Earth Funeral cites 30 to 45 days for the active phase [8].
If California legalized NOR, the timeline would match those numbers. Biology doesn't change at the state line.
Expect a full service to take roughly two to three months, door to door.
What exactly is natural organic reduction?
Natural organic reduction (NOR) copies what happens on a forest floor, but inside a controlled vessel. The body goes into a cradle of wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. Over about 30 days, microbes break down soft tissue and most bone.
After that, the material comes out and gets screened for non-organic implants like pacemakers or metal fillings, which are recycled or disposed of. The remaining soil cures for a few weeks until it's dry and crumbly. You end up with about one cubic yard per body.
The soil usually goes back to the family, who can use it for landscaping or conservation. It's not green burial. It's not cremation. It's its own thing.
Why isn’t human composting legal in California?
Governor Newsom's 2022 veto of AB 351 is the main reason. In his veto message he wrote: 'I am returning Assembly Bill 351 without my signature... I am concerned about the state’s ability to regulate this process and ensure that public health and safety standards are met' [9]. The bill was thin on regulatory language. The governor wanted more detail on how the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau would oversee facilities, handle potentially infectious remains, and confirm soil safety.
Some opposition came from the Catholic Church and other religious groups that consider the process disrespectful. No follow-up bill has cleared both houses since. Lawmakers keep introducing new ones, but none have made it through. The CFB can't act on its own here because it has no statutory authority [2].
Do you need a license for human composting in California?
Right now, no. The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau doesn't issue a human composting license, because the practice isn't permitted under state law. The bureau licenses funeral establishments, funeral directors, cremated remains disposers, and crematories, among others [2].
If legislation legalizes NOR, the state would either build a new license category or fold NOR into an existing one (say, a funeral establishment license with an NOR endorsement).
For operators, the licensing gap is the thing to watch. Once the law changes, you'll file an application, pay fees, and meet facility standards. If you want a head start, HumusPath's $199 one-time NOR Facilitator Statute Kit pulls together the licensing statutes from states that already permit NOR. It's a reference, not legal advice, but it shows the paperwork you'll face.
What would the licensing process look like if NOR is legalized?
Look to Washington and Oregon for the likely model. Washington licenses 'reduction facilities' through its Department of Licensing, which requires a facility plan, an approved embalmer on staff or under contract, and compliance with health and safety rules. Oregon's Mortuary and Cemetery Board issues permits for 'natural organic reduction facilities' under similar rules.
California would probably follow the same path: a new facility category under the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, with an application fee, a facility inspection, and regular reporting.
What the application actually asks for is guesswork until a bill passes. Budget for an initial licensing fee in the low thousands, plus annual renewal. Nobody can name the exact figures yet, because no statute sets them.
What can I do to help legalize human composting in California?
Contact your state assemblymember and senator. Tell them you support NOR legalization along the lines of AB 2714, a 2024 bill that didn't pass. Track new bills by searching the California Legislative Information site for 'natural organic reduction.'
The thing that moves this forward is a lot of voices at once: funeral directors, environmental groups, and consumers all pushing together. As of 2026, no bill has reached the governor a second time. There's work to do.
Comparing costs: California vs. other states
California has no NOR providers, but you can still compare what residents of Washington, Oregon, and Colorado pay. The median NOR price across those states is about $5,500. Shipping a body out of state adds real money, usually $1,500 to $3,000 for transport, plus the receiving funeral home's fee.
So a family in Los Angeles who sends a loved one to Recompose in Seattle might pay $7,000 (base) plus $2,500 (transport) plus $1,200 (local funeral home paperwork), for $10,700 total.
Compare that to a standard cremation in California, which runs $600 to $3,000, or a traditional burial with casket and vault, which often tops $10,000. Human composting, if it were available in state, would compete with mid-range burial on price. For state-by-state pricing, see our breakdowns for Colorado and Delaware.
What about home human composting in California?
Also illegal. No individual can perform NOR at home, even on land they own. The practice requires a licensed facility that meets zoning, health, and environmental rules. DIY composting of human remains isn't sanctioned anywhere in the U.S. Try it and you're looking at serious legal consequences. If California ever legalizes NOR, home composting almost certainly won't be part of the bill.
Environmental benefits driving the movement
The environmental case is what supporters lean on. Recompose says human composting uses about 1/8 the energy of cremation and avoids the roughly 500 pounds of CO2 released per cremation [10]. The resulting soil can sequester carbon and support plant growth. In drought-prone California, that soil is a modest but real resource. These arguments have carried legislative fights in several states, and they'll come back when California takes another run at the issue.
Current providers offering human composting elsewhere
If you're set on NOR and willing to travel, your options are Recompose in Seattle, WA ($7,000), Return Home in Auburn, WA ($4,950), Earth Funeral with facilities in Portland, OR and Seattle ($5,000), and The Natural Funeral in Lafayette, CO ($6,000). Each coordinates shipping for out-of-state families. All are licensed in their home states. You'll still need a California funeral director to prepare the body and arrange transport.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for human composting in California?
Not right now, because NOR is illegal. If it's legalized, you'd likely need a license from the California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, either a new category or an endorsement on a funeral establishment license. No such license exists today.
How much does human composting cost in California?
It's not legal here, so there's no direct cost. In legal states, the NOR process itself runs $4,500 to $7,000, before transportation or funeral home fees. Add those in and expect $5,500 to $9,000 total for a California family.
How long does human composting take in California?
It's not available in California. In states where it's legal, reduction takes 30 to 45 days, plus two to four weeks of curing. The full process runs about two to three months from start to soil.
Can I prearrange human composting in California?
No. Preneed contracts for NOR have no legal standing in California, because the service can't be performed here. Any funeral home selling prearranged NOR risks violating state law.
Is body transport to another state legal?
Yes. A California-licensed funeral director can arrange transport to a state where NOR is legal. You'll need a burial-transit permit and have to meet the receiving state's laws. Transport typically runs $1,500 to $3,000.
Will human composting ever be legal in California?
It's likely. Multiple bills have been introduced, and public support keeps growing. The 2022 veto cited regulatory gaps, not an outright ban. If a future bill closes those gaps, California could become one of the largest NOR markets in the country.
What’s the cheapest NOR provider in the US?
Return Home in Washington advertises $4,950, the lowest list price among active, licensed NOR facilities. Shipping to Washington can eat that savings for a California family, though. Recompose lists $7,000, Earth Funeral $5,000, and The Natural Funeral $6,000. Transport from California typically runs $1,500 to $3,000, plus a local funeral home fee, so compare the full door-to-door cost first.
Does insurance cover human composting?
Most life insurance policies pay a set death benefit that can go toward any disposition, including NOR where it's legal. Check your policy, but there's no built-in exclusion for human composting.
What kind of soil comes out of human composting?
About one cubic yard of dry, crumbly, nutrient-rich soil that looks and smells like compost from a garden center. It's safe for trees, flowers, and conservation land. Some state rules discourage using it on food gardens.
How does human composting compare to cremation in California?
Cremation is legal and everywhere in California, with direct cremation costing as little as $600. NOR, if legalized, would run more ($4,500 and up), but supporters value its lower energy use and the ability to receive soil instead of ashes.
Are there any NOR bills currently active in California?
As of August 2026, no NOR bill has passed. Check the California Legislative Information website for the latest bills containing 'natural organic reduction' to see what's moving.
Can I be composted on my own land in California?
No, that's illegal. No individual can perform natural organic reduction at home in California, even on their own land. The practice requires a licensed facility that meets zoning, health, and environmental rules. DIY composting of human remains isn't sanctioned anywhere in the U.S., and an attempt would bring serious legal consequences. Even if NOR is legalized, home composting almost certainly won't be allowed.
Sources
- California Legislative Information: AB 351 was vetoed by the Governor on September 28, 2022.
- California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, Funeral Establishment Licensing: The CFB licenses funeral establishments but does not license human composting.
- Recompose: Recompose charges $7,000 for human composting.
- Return Home: Return Home charges $4,950 for human composting.
- Earth Funeral: Earth Funeral charges $5,000 for human composting.
- The Natural Funeral: The Natural Funeral charges $6,000 for human composting.
- Recompose FAQ: Recompose states the human composting process takes 8 to 12 weeks.
- Earth Funeral, How It Works: Earth Funeral states the natural organic reduction process takes 30 to 45 days.
- Governor Gavin Newsom, AB 351 Veto Message: Governor Newsom expressed concern about the state's ability to regulate human composting.
- Recompose, Environmental Impact: Human composting uses about 1/8 the energy of cremation and avoids approximately 500 pounds of CO2.