Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
Arizona has not legalized human composting, so there is no state license and no application process. You cannot operate a facility in-state. The legislature considered a bill in 2023 but it failed. If you want human composting for yourself, you must arrange transport to a legal state like California or Colorado, costing roughly $5,000, $7,000 plus $1,500, $3,000 in transport. The whole process from death to finished soil takes about six to eight weeks.
Do you need a license for human composting in Arizona?
No. There is no license for human composting in Arizona because the practice is not legal in the state. The Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers licenses funeral establishments, crematories, funeral directors, and embalmers under A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 8, but natural organic reduction is not among the regulated disposition methods [1].
In 2023, Arizona lawmakers introduced House Bill 2560, titled “natural organic reduction,” which would have added human composting to the list of permitted final disposition methods and directed a regulatory agency to create rules. The bill never advanced past the House Health and Human Services Committee [2]. As a result, no licensing authority, no application forms, and no fee schedule exist. Anyone offering human composting services within Arizona would be operating without legal authorization and could face sanctions from the Board.
If Arizona ever legalizes human composting, you will need a license. What that license looks like will depend on the final law. Models from other states offer a preview.
Current Arizona law on human composting
As of early 2025, the Arizona Revised Statutes do not mention natural organic reduction, human composting, or recomposition. The only lawful methods for final disposition are burial (in-ground or entombment), cremation, and, since passage of SB 1301 in 2023, alkaline hydrolysis, often called water cremation [3].
HB 2560 (2023) defined human composting as a “controlled process that converts human remains into soil using natural decomposition with the addition of organic materials.” It would have required a facility license, separate from a funeral establishment license, and tasked the Arizona Department of Health Services or the funeral board with rulemaking [2]. Because the bill died in committee, the state made no progress toward a regulatory framework.
No human composting bill was introduced in the 2024 session, and as of publication, no bill is active in the current 2025 session. Anyone tracking this issue should monitor the Arizona Legislature Bill Status site for terms like “natural organic reduction” or “human remains conversion.”
What kind of license would human composting require if Arizona legalizes it?
We can’t say for certain, but every state that has legalized human composting has created a specific facility license, usually under its funeral or mortuary licensing board. For example, in Washington, which legalized natural organic reduction in 2019, you must obtain a human composting facility license from the Funeral and Cemetery Board of the Washington Department of Licensing. The application fee for a new facility is $1,100, and the annual renewal is $350 [4].
Colorado requires a “natural organic reduction facility” license issued by the Division of Professions and Occupations, and Oregon issues a facility license through the Oregon Cemetery and Mortuary Board. Arizona’s regulatory body, the State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, would almost certainly be tasked with licensing, because it already oversees “other means of disposition” and promulgates rules for new methods. The board’s statutory authority is in A.R.S. § 36-325, which broadly covers the “care, disposal, and transportation of dead human bodies” [1].
A new Arizona law would likely require an application that includes a facility plan, zoning and environmental compliance, background checks for owners, and operational procedures. If you plan to be ready when the law changes, study licensing requirements in Colorado and Washington as reference points [5].
How much does human composting cost in Arizona?
Because no provider operates in Arizona, the cost you’ll face is a combination of the out-of-state service fee and body transportation. In legal states, the average base cost for human composting runs between $5,000 and $7,000. Recompose, based in Washington, charges $7,000 for its full service, including concierge support and return of soil [6]. Earth Funeral, which operates in several states, lists a starting price of $5,450 [7].
Transport costs vary by distance and the funeral home handling the transfer. From Phoenix to a provider in California or Colorado, expect to pay $1,500 to $3,000 for ground transport. Air transport can cost more. Some families use a local funeral home solely for transfer and refrigeration, which adds another $500, $1,500. That puts the total for an Arizona family using out-of-state human composting in the range of $8,000 to $11,000.
| Service component | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Human composting service fee (out of state) | $5,000, $7,000 |
| Body transport to out-of-state facility | $1,500, $3,000 |
| Local funeral home basic services (optional) | $500, $1,500 |
| Total estimated cost for Arizona residents | $8,000, $11,000 |
Cost breakdown:
These figures are based on published pricing from providers and a 2024 Funeral Consumers Alliance survey; getting an exact quote requires contacting a provider directly because transport distances and local funeral home fees vary.
How long does human composting take in Arizona?
Human composting does not happen in Arizona, so the timeline includes the logistics of shipping a body to a legal state. Once a body arrives at the facility, the process itself is fairly standard: active reduction takes about 30 days, followed by a curing period of two to four weeks, and then soil testing and return to the family. Recompose says its normal timeline is “approximately 30 days” for the decomposition phase, with “several weeks” for curing [8].
From the moment of death to receiving the finished soil, plan on six to eight weeks. This accounts for:
- Obtaining a death certificate and disposition permit (1 to 3 days)
- Transfer to a licensed funeral home (same day if prearranged)
- Transport to the out-of-state facility (1 to 3 days by ground)
- Facility intake, cooling, and vessel placement (1 day)
- Active decomposition (30 days)
- Curing and soil testing (14 to 21 days)
- Packaging and return shipping (up to a week)
If you want to accelerate the process, some providers allow the body to be flown directly to them, which can cut a couple days off transport, but ground transport is more common.
Who regulates funeral services in Arizona and what that means for human composting
The Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, created by the legislature and operating under A.R.S. § 32-300 et seq., licenses funeral establishments, crematories, funeral directors, and embalmers. The board investigates complaints, adopts rules, and can impose disciplinary actions. It does not currently have any human composting rulemaking because the legislature has not authorized the method.
If a human composting bill passes, the board will likely be directed to adopt rules within a certain timeframe, often 180 to 360 days after the effective date. This is what happened in Washington and Colorado. Until then, the board’s role is strictly limited to the disposition methods already in statute. Anyone wanting to influence the rulemaking process can attend board meetings or comment during public notice periods once a bill passes.
Transporting a body out of Arizona for human composting: what the law says
Arizona law allows a dead body to be transported out of state, but you must follow specific procedures. A.R.S. § 36-325 states that a body “shall not be removed from the state… without first obtaining a permit from the local registrar” [1]. You also need a certified copy of the death certificate. If transport will take more than 48 hours from the time of death, the body must be embalmed or placed in refrigeration that maintains a temperature between 35 and 40°F.
The funeral director handling the transfer typically secures the disposition permit and files the transit permit required by the receiving state. The out-of-state human composting facility will also have its own intake paperwork. Most families find it simplest to work with a local funeral home that has experience with interstate transport, even if that funeral home is not providing the final disposition service directly. Expect to pay for this basic transfer service as noted in the cost section.
States where human composting is legal (and why Arizona residents use them)
As of 2025, human composting is legal in seven states: Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California, New York, and Nevada. For Arizona residents, the closest options are providers in California (Los Angeles and the Bay Area) and Colorado (Denver and surrounding areas). Some families also use Washington-based Recompose, especially if they have a connection to the Pacific Northwest.
California’s human composting law took effect in 2027, but some providers began offering services earlier under other frameworks. The licensing path in California is more detailed; for a full walkthrough, see our guide on getting a human composting license in California. Colorado’s facilities have been operating since 2021 and often have shorter wait times. Utah, like Arizona, has not legalized human composting, but you can read about its status in our Utah license article.
If you are researching costs, the Utah cost guide offers a useful regional comparison human composting cost in Utah. For Arizona residents, the most practical path is to choose a provider in a legal state and plan the transport logistics carefully.
What if you want to start a human composting business in Arizona?
Today, you cannot apply for a license or open a facility. That will not change until the Arizona Legislature passes a bill and the governor signs it. But you can prepare in ways that put you ahead when the law eventually changes.
Start by monitoring the bill-tracking site at azleg.gov for keywords “natural organic reduction.” Join the email list of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Arizona, which often advocates for end-of-life choice legislation. Build relationships with licensed funeral directors who might be open to partnering once the method is legal. You can also study the operational models used in Colorado and Washington, everything from vessel design to compost testing standards, so you have a facility plan ready to submit.
Our NOR Facilitator Statute Kit helps you understand the licensing paper trail for states that have already legalized natural organic reduction. For $199, you get a jurisdiction-specific breakdown of forms, fees, and board contacts. It’s useful for staying organized while you watch Arizona closely, but it cannot create a license where none exists. Learn more at /start.
Does Arizona offer any green burial alternatives while you wait?
Yes. Although human composting is not available, Arizona residents can choose alkaline hydrolysis, also known as water cremation. The legislature legalized alkaline hydrolysis via SB 1301 in 2023, and the State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers now regulates it as a “chemical disposition” method [3]. It is considered more environmentally friendly than flame cremation because it uses no fossil fuels and produces fewer carbon emissions.
Natural burial, interment in a biodegradable container or shroud without embalming, is also legal in Arizona. Several green cemeteries exist, and some conventional cemeteries set aside sections for natural burial. These options allow you to reduce your environmental impact without leaving the state. If your priority is returning to the soil directly, natural burial is the closest local equivalent to human composting.
What to do now if you live in Arizona and want human composting
Pre-planning is your best move. Even though you can’t use a local provider, you can sign a pre-need contract with an out-of-state human composting facility. Recompose, Earth Funeral, and others offer payment plans that lock in current pricing. You can also include your wishes in an advance directive and health care power of attorney, though Arizona law does not obligate anyone to honor a request for human composting.
Next, talk with a funeral home near you that handles interstate transfers. Ask for a written quote for “transport of remains to [provider] for natural organic reduction,” including the disposition permit fee. Keep this document with your estate planning papers. The HumusPath NOR Facilitator Statute Kit, available at /start, includes a checklist for pre-need contracts in human composting, useful for Arizona families even if the service happens out of state.
If you have more questions about the legal steps, including what a license would look like if the law changes, start with our full guide on how to start human composting in Arizona.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for human composting in Arizona?
No. Human composting is not legal in Arizona, so no license exists and no application can be filed. The practice would require a law change before any licensing becomes available.
How much does human composting cost in Arizona?
Since no providers operate in Arizona, you’ll pay for an out-of-state service plus transport. The human composting service itself costs $5,000, $7,000, and body transport to a nearby legal state runs $1,500, $3,000, putting the total typically between $8,000 and $11,000.
How long does human composting take in Arizona?
The entire process, from death to soil return, takes about six to eight weeks for an Arizona family. The active decomposition takes roughly 30 days, followed by 2 to 4 weeks of curing, plus time for paperwork, transport to an out-of-state facility, and shipping the soil back.
Is human composting allowed in Arizona right now?
No. Natural organic reduction is not a permitted disposition method under Arizona law. The only legal final disposition methods are burial, cremation, and alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation).
Can I have human composting if I live in Arizona?
Yes, but only by arranging transport to a state where human composting is legal. You would work with a local funeral home to ship the body to a provider in California, Colorado, or another legal state, and the soil can be returned to you.
What is the closest state to Arizona that has legalized human composting?
California and Colorado are the nearest states with legal human composting. Depending on where you live in Arizona, a facility in California may be a few hours’ drive, while Colorado facilities are about a day’s drive away.
Is there a bill to legalize human composting in Arizona?
House Bill 2560, introduced in 2023, would have legalized natural organic reduction, but it did not advance past committee. As of early 2025, no active bill addresses human composting. You can monitor future bills at azleg.gov.
Can I pre-pay for human composting from Arizona?
Yes, you can sign a pre-need contract with an out-of-state provider like Recompose or Earth Funeral. Prepayment locks in current pricing and allows you to record your preference in your estate plan, even though Arizona does not yet recognize the practice.
Do I need a funeral director to arrange human composting from Arizona?
Yes. A licensed funeral director in Arizona must handle the disposition permit, death certificate, and interstate transit permit required to transport a body out of state. You can work with a local funeral home solely for this transfer service.
What is the cheapest human composting option for Arizona residents?
Earth Funeral often lists the lowest base price, starting at $5,450, compared to $7,000 at Recompose. However, transport cost and distance will affect the total, so get quotes from both providers and a local transfer funeral home to find your best total price.
Is human composting covered by insurance or Medicare in Arizona?
No. Human composting is not covered by health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. It is an elective funeral expense. Some people set aside funds in a payable-on-death account or use a small burial insurance policy to cover the cost.
How do I get a quote for human composting transport from Arizona?
Contact a human composting provider directly, explain you are in Arizona, and ask for a referral to a local funeral home that handles transfers. The provider can often coordinate a quote that bundles the service and transport, so you don’t have to manage two separate vendors.
Sources
- Arizona Revised Statutes: A.R.S. § 36-325 governs removal of dead bodies from the state and requires a permit from the local registrar.
- Arizona State Legislature, HB 2560 (2023): HB 2560 proposed natural organic reduction but died in the House Health and Human Services Committee.
- Arizona State Legislature, SB 1301 (2023): SB 1301 authorized alkaline hydrolysis as a chemical disposition method in Arizona, signed into law in 2023.
- Washington State Department of Licensing, funeral and cemetery licensing fees: Human composting facility license application fee is $1,100 and annual renewal is $350 in Washington.
- Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 12, Article 54: Colorado issues a natural organic reduction facility license under the Division of Professions and Occupations.
- Recompose, pricing: Recompose charges $7,000 for its full human composting service.
- Earth Funeral, pricing and options: Earth Funeral starts human composting at $5,450 for its standard service.
- Recompose, FAQ, process timeline: The Recompose natural organic reduction process takes about 30 days with several additional weeks of curing.