Delaware is one of the few states without a dedicated green burial ground. But families here still have options, by arranging natural burial in neighboring Maryland, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania, where green burial is fully legal.
🌿 Nearby Choices
- Maryland allows natural burial using biodegradable caskets or shrouds, with the required permits and proper burial depths.
- New Jersey permits green burial with minimal regulation, so long as families meet permit requirements.
- Pennsylvania also allows natural burial, requiring only the proper death certificate and burial permit.
For Delawareans, this means it’s possible to have a green burial just across state lines while still honoring eco-friendly values.
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Creating a Green Burial Ground in Delaware
Starting one here, or converting part of an existing cemetery into a hybrid section, is possible but requires planning and regulatory approval. Key steps include:
- Reviewing Delaware’s cemetery laws and local zoning codes.
- Deciding whether to establish a full natural burial ground or a hybrid section within an existing cemetery.
- Partnering with local officials, funeral homes, and possibly land trusts to secure approval and land use permits.
- Following best practices: shallow hand-dug graves, no embalming, no vaults, and maintaining safe distances from water sources.
- Offering only biodegradable shrouds or caskets, natural stone markers, or GPS coordinates to preserve the land’s integrity.
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A Path Forward
With growing awareness, Delaware could establish its first natural or hybrid green burial site. Until then, residents can look to nearby states, or begin the work of petitioning for a site closer to home.
If you want information on how to start your own natural burial cemetery, or you want to make me aware of another green, natural, or hybrid cemetery in this state, please reach out!
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