How to Transport a Body for Green Burial: Permits, Refrigeration & Legal Requirements

When a family chooses a green burial, the decision is usually rooted in something simple: a desire to return a loved one to the earth with as little barrier as possible. But when death happens—especially at home, far from the chosen cemetery, or on a tight timeline—families quickly discover that natural burial logistics can feel like a second wave of grief. You may be trying to honor someone’s wishes while also asking practical questions you never expected to ask: Can we move the body ourselves? What paperwork do we need? How do we keep the body cool? What changes if we move body across state lines?

This guide is meant to bring steadiness into that moment. It explains the most common green burial paperwork, how home funeral body transport laws typically work in the U.S., and what families do in real life to transport a body safely and legally—whether you are driving across town or coordinating a long distance transfer. And because plans sometimes change midstream, we’ll also talk gently about alternatives (including cremation) without judgment, so you can keep your focus on what matters: a meaningful goodbye and a plan you can actually carry out.

Start with the two realities: you are allowed to care, and you must document

In many states, a family can legally participate in after-death care and may be able to transport the body without hiring a funeral director—especially when the death was expected and there are no unusual circumstances. But almost everywhere, legal permission hinges on two things: (1) the death must be properly documented, and (2) the body must be transported in a way that meets health and safety rules.

If you are reading this hours after a death, begin with the immediate step that unlocks everything else: the death must be officially pronounced, and the death certificate process must begin. If your loved one was on hospice, a nurse can often pronounce death at home and guide you through next steps. If the death was unexpected, authorities may need to be involved and transport rules may change. Funeral.com’s guide on what to do when someone dies at home can help you orient to those first calls and decisions.

Once pronouncement is handled, families typically encounter the document that matters most for transport: a transit or disposition permit. The name varies by state and even by county. Some offices call it a “disposition permit.” Others call it a burial transit permit or “burial-transit permit.” The concept is consistent: it is the authorization that allows the body to be moved and delivered for final disposition (burial or cremation). If you want a plain-language explanation of what the permit is called in different places and how families request it, see Transport Permits After a Death: When You Can Move the Body Yourself.

As you gather paperwork, keep it simple. Most families need a combination of:

• Death certificate information (often filed by a doctor, hospice, or funeral provider, depending on the situation)
• A funeral transport permit / disposition authorization (local name varies)
• Identification and the receiving cemetery’s requirements (especially for a green burial section)

If you call a county clerk, registrar, or vital records office, the most helpful phrase is not the name of the form—it is the purpose. You can say, “We need the permit that authorizes transport and final disposition for a burial.” That clarity is often faster than guessing terminology.

Cooling is the make-or-break detail: refrigeration, dry ice, and timing

Green burial often means no embalming, and that’s both a values choice and a practical one. The Green Burial Council describes green burial as a practice that avoids toxic embalming and uses biodegradable materials for burial. If you want a clear overview of what “green” means in concrete terms—vault rules, container options, and how to find cemeteries that actually allow the practices they advertise—Funeral.com’s Green Burial Guide is a strong place to start, and the Green Burial Council maintains a provider map to help families locate certified options.

But once you decide against embalming, you still need cooling. Most states and counties focus less on “how” you cool and more on “whether” you cool within an appropriate timeframe. Families usually choose between professional refrigeration (a funeral home or facility) and home-based cooling methods during a vigil. If you are considering a home vigil, Funeral.com’s Home Funerals 101 explains what families can typically do themselves and when professional involvement is required.

When families compare refrigeration vs dry ice body transport, it helps to think about two separate goals: keeping the body cool while you gather family and paperwork, and keeping the body cool during the physical transport. Refrigeration is steadier for longer periods. Dry ice is common for short windows and for transport—especially if you are driving a few hours and want extra protection against heat.

Dry ice is not “dangerous” in a mysterious way, but it does require respect. Carbon dioxide gas can displace oxygen in confined spaces, and dry ice can cause frostbite on contact. For a credible, plain safety reference, the CDC/NIOSH notes dry ice as a form of carbon dioxide with asphyxiation and frostbite hazards, and the NIH warns against using or storing dry ice in confined, unventilated areas and against sealing it in airtight containers.

There is also a transport-specific rule worth knowing: dry ice packages must be able to vent gas. U.S. hazardous materials regulations require packagings to permit the release of carbon dioxide gas to prevent pressure buildup. You can see that stated directly in 49 CFR 173.217. In practical terms: never seal dry ice in an airtight container, and keep your vehicle ventilated.

How to transport human remains safely: vehicle, containment, and dignity

Families often worry there is a special “approved vehicle” required. For local transport, that is rarely the issue. The bigger question is containment and safe handling—what you place the body on, how you protect the vehicle, and how you prevent shifting during transit. Funeral.com’s How to Transport Human Remains offers a practical walkthrough of what families do when they are responsible for the drive.

Most family-led transports use a clean, flat surface and protective layers: a transfer board or stretcher, absorbent padding, and a shroud or body bag depending on your plan and comfort level. If your loved one will be buried in a biodegradable shroud or simple wood container, your cemetery may have specific rules about what they will accept at the graveside. This is one reason it’s wise to coordinate with the cemetery early—ideally in writing—so you are not surprised on the day of burial.

When a family’s plan includes home care, washing, or dressing, transportation is part of a larger sequence of gentle tasks. Some families find those acts deeply meaningful; others prefer to keep involvement limited. Either choice can be loving. If you want to understand the basics of family-led care without pressure, Funeral.com’s guides on washing the body after death and dressing the body for a home vigil focus on dignity and practicality rather than ideology.

Think of transport as a continuation of care. Move slowly. Use enough help to lift safely. Plan the route with fewer stops. And if you are using dry ice, treat ventilation as non-negotiable. The goal is not perfection. The goal is steadiness—so the goodbye remains human, not frantic.

Crossing state lines changes the paperwork and the “who is allowed” question

The moment you move body across state lines, you should expect more scrutiny and more documentation. Even if your state allows family-directed transport within state boundaries, another state may require a licensed funeral director or may have specific container or permit rules for entry. This is where families sometimes lose precious time trying to interpret conflicting advice online.

Instead of guessing, anchor your plan in two sources: the receiving cemetery (or green burial ground) and the relevant state or county offices that issue transport permits. Funeral.com’s Transporting Human Remains Across State Lines guide explains common requirements and why families sometimes choose professional help for cross-border logistics even when they can do local transport themselves.

If air transport is involved, the process is typically handled through funeral homes and cargo systems with specialized requirements. Families are rarely able to arrange commercial air shipment of a body as a private individual; the practical workaround many families choose is to have a funeral home coordinate shipping or to adjust plans to cremation when distance and time make full-body transport difficult.

Green burial planning is still funeral planning—and you deserve a calmer path

Many families shy away from the phrase funeral planning because it sounds formal or expensive. But green burial planning is funeral planning: choosing a place, coordinating timing, understanding costs, and making sure documents align. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, interest in green options is significant (and increasing in recent consumer reporting), which means more cemeteries and providers are responding—but also that families still need to verify rules to avoid last-minute surprises. The Green Burial Council’s definition of green burial and its standards-based approach can help you separate true green practice from vague marketing. You can start with the Green Burial Council overview and confirm certification status through their maps.

On the practical side, it helps to build a “day-of” plan while you are still in the paperwork stage. Confirm where the body will be received, who meets you at arrival, where you park, and what the cemetery expects for transfer to the graveside. If you are arranging a family-led procession, ask whether the cemetery has any limits on vehicles or timing. These details may feel small, but they are what allow the emotional parts of the day—prayer, music, silence, stories—to happen without logistical interruptions.

If the plan changes: cremation can be a bridge, not a compromise

Sometimes a family begins with green burial in mind and then runs into a hard reality: the cemetery is farther than expected, permits take longer than expected, or the body must be moved across multiple jurisdictions. When that happens, choosing cremation is not “giving up.” It can be a way to keep the spirit of simplicity while giving the family time and flexibility.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4% in 2025 (with burial projected at 31.6%). And in the Cremation Association of North America’s preview of its annual report, CANA reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024. See the Cremation Association of North America report preview for the 2024 figure. Those numbers matter because they reflect what families are already doing: choosing a practical disposition, then building a memorial plan over time instead of forcing every decision into one difficult week.

If cremation becomes part of your plan, you may find yourself searching new questions: how much does cremation cost, what to do next, and how to create a memorial that feels right. Funeral.com’s guide on average cremation cost and what changes the price can help you understand pricing differences without overwhelm.

And then there is the question of the ashes. Some families choose a primary urn and keep it at home. Others share portions with siblings. Some plan a later ceremony in nature. Many do a combination over time. If you are exploring options, Funeral.com’s collection of cremation urns for ashes includes both traditional and contemporary styles, while small cremation urns and keepsake urns can make sharing feel thoughtful rather than improvised. If your grief includes an animal companion, Funeral.com also offers pet urns for ashes, including pet cremation urns designed for different sizes and styles, as well as pet keepsake options for families who want more than one person to hold a piece of the remembrance.

For some families, jewelry becomes the bridge between the day of disposition and the months after. Cremation jewelry is not about display; it is about closeness. If you want to understand how it works and what is realistic, read Cremation Jewelry 101, then browse cremation necklaces and other cremation jewelry styles to see what feels emotionally and practically right.

If your plan includes keeping ashes at home, you are not alone. Many families find comfort in creating a quiet place where grief has somewhere to land. Funeral.com’s guide to keeping ashes at home can help you think through placement, household dynamics, and simple safety. And if you are wondering what to do with ashes beyond the immediate weeks, the article What to Do With Cremation Ashes offers a wide range of ideas—from cemetery placement to scattering to shared keepsakes.

Families choosing green burial sometimes also ask about water burial for ashes, especially when a loved one felt most at peace near the ocean or a lake. If that is part of your story, Funeral.com’s guide to biodegradable ocean and water burial urns explains how these urns work and what to consider for a water ceremony.

A gentle checklist mindset: what you do now protects what you feel later

In a season of grief, a “checklist” can sound cold. But families who successfully transport a body for green burial usually do one compassionate thing: they reduce the number of unknowns. They confirm the cemetery’s rules. They ask the county what permit authorizes movement. They choose a cooling method that fits the timeline. They plan a safe, respectful vehicle setup. That is what a home burial transport checklist really is—not a bureaucratic exercise, but a way to protect the goodbye from avoidable disruption.

If you want the simplest next step, choose one phone call that unlocks the rest: call the cemetery (or green burial ground) and ask what they require for acceptance and delivery. Then call the local office that issues transport authorization and ask for the permit that authorizes movement and final disposition. From there, everything becomes more concrete.

FAQs about transporting a body for green burial