Green Burial in Louisiana: What the Law Actually Allows

For families who want burial that is environmentally gentle — no embalming chemicals, no concrete vault, a simple shroud or biodegradable casket — Louisiana offers more legal latitude than many people realize. The challenge is not the state law. It is the cemetery bylaws.

This post explains what green or natural burial means in practice, what Louisiana's state law actually requires (and what it doesn't), where to find certified natural burial options, and what strategies exist when you're trying to arrange a natural burial at a conventional cemetery.

What Green Burial Means

Natural or green burial means returning the body to the earth without materials that slow decomposition or introduce chemicals into the soil. In practice, this typically means:

• No embalming — or dry ice or refrigeration for preservation rather than formaldehyde
• No concrete burial vault — the body is placed directly in the ground, or in a biodegradable container
• Biodegradable casket or shroud — wicker, untreated wood, linen, or similar materials
• No concrete grave liner — some conventional cemeteries require liners even where they don't require vaults

The Green Burial Council (GBC) certifies cemeteries and funeral homes at different tiers depending on how fully they support these practices.

What Louisiana State Law Requires

Louisiana state law is more permissive than many families expect on these points.

Embalming is not mandated by Louisiana state law in most circumstances. As explained in our post on Louisiana embalming laws, embalming is generally required only if the body will be transported across state lines in certain circumstances, or if disposition cannot happen within the legally mandated timeframe. If the body is continuously refrigerated below 45°F, embalming is not required under Louisiana's 30-hour rule.

Concrete vaults are not mandated by Louisiana state law. The state does not have a blanket requirement that all burials use a vault or grave liner.

This is where families often stop reading — and then run into trouble.

The Cemetery Bylaw Problem

While Louisiana state law does not require vaults or liners, individual cemetery bylaws frequently do — and those bylaws are legally binding contracts between the cemetery and the family.

Many conventional cemeteries in Louisiana require a concrete outer burial container (either a vault or a grave liner) for a straightforward maintenance reason: without one, the ground above the grave subsides over time as the casket breaks down, creating depressions that make mowing and groundskeeping difficult. Cemetery management is entitled to require vaults for this reason regardless of what state law says.

The result is that a family that wants natural burial cannot simply walk into any Louisiana cemetery and request it. They need to either find a cemetery whose bylaws permit it, or negotiate a bylaw waiver.

Rose-Neath Cemetery: Louisiana's Certified Green Burial Option

Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City holds Green Burial Council (GBC) certification as a hybrid natural burial ground. This means:

• A designated section of the cemetery is maintained for natural burials
• That section's rules do not require concrete vaults or grave liners
• Embalming is not required for burials in the natural section
• Biodegradable containers and shrouds are permitted

Rose-Neath's hybrid status means it also maintains conventional sections for families who want standard burial — it is not an exclusively natural burial cemetery. The GBC certification is an independent verification that their natural burial practices meet defined ecological and operational standards.

For families in northwest Louisiana or willing to travel, this is the most straightforward option. Contact Rose-Neath directly to confirm current availability in their natural burial section and to understand their specific requirements.

Negotiating Vault Waivers at Rural and Church Cemeteries

Small rural cemeteries and church cemeteries sometimes operate under older or less formal bylaws, and their governing boards may have more flexibility than large commercial cemeteries. Some families have successfully negotiated vault waivers at these locations.

If you want to pursue this approach:

1. Request the cemetery's current bylaws in writing. Before any conversation about a waiver, understand exactly what the written rules say. A cemetery's board cannot grant a waiver to a rule they don't have authority over.

2. Speak directly with the cemetery's governing authority. For a church cemetery, this is typically the church board or a deacon committee. For a parish-governed cemetery, it may be a board of trustees.

3. Frame the request around practical concerns they care about. Explain what you plan to use instead of a vault and how it addresses their maintenance concern — for example, that you understand the grave may require occasional settling, and you accept responsibility for that.

4. Get any agreement in writing before proceeding. A verbal agreement from one board member is not a binding waiver.

This approach works more reliably at small, family-oriented cemeteries than at large commercial operations with standardized procedures.

The Family Burial Ground Option

Louisiana law does allow burial on private property through the formal Family Burial Ground process under La. R.S. 8:1(22). A private burial ground on your own land would allow you to choose your own burial practices — including natural burial without a vault — since you are not subject to a third-party cemetery's bylaws.

However, establishing a Family Burial Ground is a significant legal undertaking with permanent consequences for the property. See our full post on Louisiana home burial laws for the complete requirements, including the application to the Louisiana Cemetery Board, the $250 filing fee, and the permanent property encumbrance that results.

A Funeral Director Is Still Required — Even for Natural Burial

This is a point that surprises many families who are drawn to natural burial partly because they want a more personal, family-led process. Under La. R.S. 37:848, Louisiana requires that all disposition of human remains be handled through a licensed funeral establishment. There is no exception for natural or green burial.

This means:

• A licensed funeral director must handle the death certificate and burial permit paperwork
• The body must be transported by a licensed funeral establishment
• The burial transit permit — required for any movement of remains — can only be obtained by a licensed funeral director, not a private family member

You can work with a funeral director who is sympathetic to green burial practices and will support your choices about embalming, containers, and burial location. Many will. But you cannot bypass the funeral home entirely.

When interviewing funeral homes, ask directly: "Are you willing to support a natural burial without embalming, and without requiring a concrete vault?" Not all will be, but some will work with you.

Low-Cost Cremation as an Eco-Friendly Alternative

For families whose primary concern is environmental impact and cost rather than in-ground burial specifically, direct cremation is worth considering. Cremation eliminates the need for a burial vault, a casket, and the long-term land use of a cemetery plot.

Direct cremation in Louisiana typically runs $700–$2,500 depending on the provider — significantly less than the $7,000–$10,000 cost of a full-service conventional burial. Cremated remains can be scattered (with appropriate permissions), kept at home, or interred in a columbarium or green urn.

Cremation does involve fuel and emissions, which some families weigh against other environmental factors. It is not a perfect solution for every eco-conscious family, but it is a legal, accessible, and substantially lower-cost option.

For more detail on how cremation is regulated in Louisiana, see our post on Louisiana burial and cremation laws.

Making Your Decision

Green burial in Louisiana is possible but requires advance planning. The key steps are:

1. Identify a cemetery whose bylaws permit natural burial, or decide whether a Family Burial Ground or direct cremation is the right path
2. Find a funeral director willing to support natural burial practices
3. Confirm the specific requirements of your chosen cemetery in writing before making any commitments

The more preparation you do before need arises, the more choices you will have.

Get the Complete Guide

Louisiana's funeral laws contain important details that affect your choices at every stage — from embalming requirements to burial permit rules to what funeral homes must disclose about pricing. Understanding the full picture protects your family and helps you make decisions that reflect your values.

Get the complete guide to Louisiana funeral laws and consumer rights to understand your options under state and federal law, and what to do when a funeral home's requirements don't match what the law actually mandates.

See more Louisiana guides →