Is Human Composting Legal in California? What AB 351 Allows
Yes, California has legalized human composting, but families cannot use the option immediately. Assembly Bill 351, signed in 2022, authorizes a process called natural organic reduction and sets a future start date of January 1, 2027. Until then, human composting is not an available legal disposition option in California. The law also calls for state regulations and establishes limits on how the resulting soil may be handled. Those timing and handling rules matter when comparing it with burial or cremation.
California’s Human Composting Law At A Glance
California’s law is Assembly Bill 351 (AB 351), signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 18, 2022. It adds natural organic reduction to the state’s recognized forms of final disposition. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, giving California time to develop regulations and prepare the funeral industry for the new option.
In practical terms, the law answers the question “Is human composting legal in California?” with a qualified yes: it is legally authorized for the future, but it is not yet available as a disposition choice before its effective date. A family making arrangements before then must choose an option currently permitted under California law, such as burial or cremation.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What is the law? | AB 351, which authorizes natural organic reduction. |
| When does it take effect? | January 1, 2027. |
| Can a California family choose it before then? | No. The option is not available in California before the effective date. |
| What happens to the resulting material? | It is subject to statutory limits, including a prohibition on using it to grow food for human consumption. |
What Human Composting Means
Human composting, also called natural organic reduction, transforms a deceased person’s body into soil-like material through a controlled process. The body is placed in a purpose-built vessel with plant materials. Conditions such as airflow, moisture, and temperature support natural microbial activity that breaks down organic matter. The operator then processes the material according to applicable standards before returning it or arranging for its permitted use.
It is different from backyard composting. The process is conducted by a licensed or otherwise authorized provider in a facility designed for human remains, subject to funeral and public-health rules. Families do not carry out the process at home, and the resulting material is not simply ordinary garden compost.
Natural organic reduction is also distinct from alkaline hydrolysis, sometimes called water cremation. Alkaline hydrolysis uses water, heat, pressure, and an alkaline solution to accelerate decomposition. Human composting instead relies on controlled biological decomposition. Both are alternatives to conventional flame cremation, but they involve different equipment, procedures, and legal frameworks.
What AB 351 Requires And Limits
AB 351 places natural organic reduction within California’s laws governing the disposition of human remains. It directs state agencies to develop regulations for the process, facilities, and handling of the resulting material. The goal is to establish safeguards around a practice that requires specialized equipment, trained operators, documentation, and respectful treatment of the deceased.
One important statutory restriction is that the resulting soil may not be used to grow food for human consumption. That limitation distinguishes human composting material from unrestricted agricultural compost. Families should ask a provider how the material is returned, stored, or otherwise handled and should review the rules that are in force when the service becomes available.
The law does not mean that any person or business can begin offering the service without oversight. Funeral providers and facilities must comply with California’s applicable licensing, recordkeeping, authorization, and disposition requirements. The state’s regulations will clarify operational details and how existing funeral laws apply to this new form of disposition.
For the enacted text, readers can consult the California Legislature’s AB 351 bill page. Because implementation rules can be updated, families and providers should also check current guidance from the California Department of Public Health and the state agency responsible for funeral and cemetery oversight.
Why The 2027 Start Date Matters
AB 351 did not make human composting available as soon as it was signed. Its January 1, 2027 effective date creates a gap between legislative approval and practical availability. During that period, the state can develop rules and providers can prepare facilities and procedures to meet them.
That distinction is important for families searching for “human composting in California” or “California human composting services.” A provider may discuss future plans, but a planned service is not the same as a service that can legally accept and process remains in California today. Before signing a contract or paying a deposit, consumers should confirm the service’s location, its legal authorization, and the date it expects to begin operations.
Statewide authorization also does not guarantee that a facility will open in every region on the first day the law takes effect. Availability will depend on providers, facility readiness, licensing, and any applicable local requirements. People may need to compare options by location and ask whether transportation of remains is included.
How The Process May Work For Families
When natural organic reduction becomes available, the arrangement is expected to involve a funeral provider or authorized facility. As with other forms of disposition, a family member or legally authorized agent will need to provide the required consent and documentation. The provider will explain the process, price, timing, and options for receiving or handling the resulting material.
Before making arrangements, families should ask for clear answers to practical questions:
- Authorization: Is the facility licensed and approved to provide natural organic reduction in California?
- Timing: When will the service begin, and how long does the process and return of material take?
- Cost: What does the quoted price include, such as transportation, permits, containers, and return delivery?
- Return and use: How much material will be returned, and what choices are available under state rules?
- Documentation: What consent forms, permits, and records will the provider supply?
- Contingencies: What happens if the facility cannot accept the remains or the family changes its arrangements?
These questions are useful for any disposition decision, but they are especially relevant while a new service is entering the market. Written terms help families distinguish confirmed procedures from estimates or future plans.
Comparing Human Composting With Other Options
California families can compare natural organic reduction with burial and cremation, the established disposition choices available under state law. The options differ in process, cost, cultural meaning, environmental considerations, and what happens to the remains. No single choice is right for every family.
| Option | Basic process | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Natural organic reduction | Controlled biological decomposition in a specialized facility. | Authorized by AB 351, with California availability beginning no earlier than January 1, 2027; resulting material cannot be used to grow food for human consumption. |
| Flame cremation | Reduction of the body using high heat in a cremation chamber. | Established service with familiar procedures and options for keeping or scattering cremated remains subject to applicable rules. |
| Burial | Placement of the body in a grave, often in a cemetery. | May involve cemetery, casket, vault, and ongoing memorial choices, depending on the arrangements. |
Environmental comparisons require care. Natural organic reduction avoids flame cremation, but its total impact depends on factors such as facility energy use, transportation, materials, and what happens to the resulting soil. Cremation and burial also have impacts that vary by equipment, products, and practices. Families seeking a lower-impact option should ask providers for specific, verifiable information rather than relying on broad claims such as “zero impact” or “completely green.”
Is Human Composting Available In Other States?
Natural organic reduction has been authorized in several states, though each state has its own effective dates, regulations, and provider availability. Washington became the first state to legalize the practice in 2019. Other states have since enacted laws, but authorization does not mean every state has operating facilities or that every provider serves out-of-state families.
Californians might consider a provider in another state, but transporting human remains across state lines involves legal and logistical requirements. Families should not assume that an out-of-state service can accept a body from California or that the resulting material can be brought back without meeting applicable rules. A funeral home or state regulator can explain requirements for permits, transportation, and return of remains.
How To Verify Current California Rules
Because implementation is tied to a future effective date, details can change as state agencies issue regulations and providers prepare to operate. The most reliable approach is to confirm both the statute and current agency guidance before making a decision.
- Read AB 351 on the California Legislature website to verify the law’s language and effective date.
- Check the California Department of Public Health for public-health guidance and rulemaking information.
- Contact the state’s funeral and cemetery regulator to verify provider licensing and current requirements.
- Ask any prospective provider for written confirmation that it is authorized to accept remains in California on the proposed date.
The practical answer is straightforward: California has passed a law allowing human composting, but the option is scheduled to become available on January 1, 2027—not before. Families should confirm the latest regulations and provider status as that date approaches, and should treat future service announcements as plans until the provider is legally authorized and operational.