Campbell River, British Columbia
Green burial in Campbell River.
A plain-language guide to natural burial at Elk Falls Cemetery — what it is, what the bylaw allows, what it costs, and how to arrange it.
An educational resource from And Grace Too Deathcare.
The basics
A natural burial returns the body to the earth.
Green burial is a simpler approach to burial. The body is not embalmed and is placed directly into the earth in a biodegradable casket, shroud or other natural container.
There is no concrete grave liner or burial vault. Instead, the body and burial materials are allowed to naturally break down and return to the soil over time.
At Elk Falls Cemetery, the green burial area is also cared for differently. There are no individual headstones. Native plants are used throughout the area, and names can be added to a shared memorial installed by the City.
It is burial with fewer layers between the body and the earth.
Based on the City of Campbell River Cemetery Management Bylaw No. 3733, 2019 (Part 9 and Schedule A). Confirm current requirements with the City when making arrangements.
Making it happen
How to arrange a green burial.
Most people arrange a green burial through a funeral home or funeral provider, though families can take on parts of it themselves. In outline:
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Choose a green burial lot at Elk Falls
An interment right in the green burial area can be bought at the time of need or in advance. The lot is assigned when it is needed for a burial.
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Arrange care of the body and a container
The body is not embalmed. Arrange a fully biodegradable shroud, casket or container with a rigid base, and have the City approve it before the service.
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Complete the paperwork
A BC Burial Permit — issued once the death is registered with the Vital Statistics Agency — is given to the City, along with a signed interment authorization. Fees are paid in full before the burial.
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Give notice and book the time
Normally at least 24 hours’ notice. Burials can take place on any day, at a time set with the City, and no more than 60 days ahead.
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The burial
The City opens and closes the lot. With notice, family and friends may help fill the grave. A memorial inscription, if wanted, is added later to the communal marker.
Outline based on the City of Campbell River Cemetery Management Bylaw No. 3733, 2019, Parts 8 and 9. Whether a licensed funeral provider must be involved is still being confirmed.
This guide
What this guide covers.
A short page for each question someone considering green burial in Campbell River tends to ask.
What is green burial →
The idea, why people choose it, and how it differs from conventional burial and cremation.
How green burial actually works →
A deeper look: the body, the container, the grave, decomposition, depth and the environmental picture.
Green burial in Campbell River →
Where green burial is available locally, and who runs it.
Elk Falls Cemetery →
The City’s municipal cemetery and its green burial area.
How to arrange a green burial →
The steps: paperwork, notice period, who does what, the day itself.
Costs →
Current City of Campbell River fees for a green burial plot and interment.
Rules & requirements →
What the bylaw requires: no embalming, biodegradable container, no vault.
Caskets & shrouds →
A directory of biodegradable caskets, wood, wicker and shrouds from regional suppliers.
Funeral providers in Campbell River →
Local funeral providers, and what a funeral home does in a green burial.
Questions to ask your funeral director →
A conversation guide: what to ask, what to listen for, and how to advocate for the burial you want.
Green burial vs cremation vs conventional →
A side-by-side comparison.
Could green burial be right for you? →
A short decision guide to help you explore what matters to you and how your preferences may align with green burial, cremation or conventional burial.
FAQ →
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
Resources & links →
The City bylaw and fees, BC law, and the green-burial organisations.
Where green burial happens locally
Elk Falls Cemetery
Elk Falls Cemetery is the City of Campbell River’s municipal cemetery, operated by the City. It has a designated green burial area, and green burial plots are currently available for purchase.
The cemetery is on Highway 28. Arrangements, bookings and payments are handled by the City at the Dogwood Operations Centre, 385 S. Dogwood Street, Monday to Friday. Interments can be scheduled on any day of the week, at a time set with the City.
Current fees
What a green burial plot costs at Elk Falls.
The City of Campbell River sets cemetery fees in a public schedule. A full green burial in the Natural Burial (Green) Section is made up of three City charges:
| Charge | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Grave space (preparation & placement) | $987 | $1,237 |
| Care Fund contribution | $296 | $371 |
| Opening & closing (interment) | $1,402 | $1,402 |
| Total, before tax | $2,685 | $3,010 |
City of Campbell River Cemetery Management Bylaw No. 3733, Schedule C, effective 1 January 2026. Before 5% GST. Other fees may apply — for example weekend or after-hours interment, double-depth, or landscaping. These figures still need to be confirmed against the City’s published documents.
No embalming. No vault. No headstone.
Find a funeral provider
Funeral providers in Campbell River.
Campbell River has several local funeral providers who can help families make funeral and burial arrangements. A green burial at Elk Falls is normally arranged through one, though families can take on parts of it themselves.
GreenBurialCR is currently confirming each provider’s experience with green burial at Elk Falls. Until that has been verified directly with the provider, no funeral home is labelled here as a green burial provider, and being listed is not an endorsement.
Caskets & shrouds
Biodegradable caskets, wood, wicker & shrouds.
Green burial doesn’t require a conventional funeral-home casket. Options include simple wood caskets, woven containers and burial shrouds — as long as the container meets the cemetery’s requirements. Elk Falls needs a fully biodegradable shroud, casket or container with a rigid base, approved by the City in advance.
The Caskets & shrouds page lists several suppliers available to families in BC, including one in the Comox Valley, with current posted prices. No product is marked as accepted at Elk Falls — confirm the specific casket or shroud with the City before you buy.
Common questions
Questions people ask.
Does the body have to be embalmed?
No. In the green burial area the body must not be embalmed.
Can I be buried in a shroud?
Yes. A shroud, casket or alternative container is allowed if it is fully biodegradable and approved by the City in advance. It must have a rigid base.
Is a conventional casket required?
No. Plywood, particleboard, fibreboard, metal, exotic or non-sustainable wood, bleached cardboard, and synthetic finishes, glues or linings are not permitted in a green burial lot.
Is a grave liner or vault used?
No. No grave box, grave liner or vault is permitted in a green burial lot.
Can I have a headstone?
Not an individual one. Inscriptions in the green burial area are made on a shared communal marker installed by the City, on one line: name and years of birth and death.
Can family help close the grave?
Yes. With advance notice, family and friends may take part in closing a green burial lot, under City supervision.
Answers summarise the City of Campbell River Cemetery Management Bylaw No. 3733, 2019, Part 9. They are general information, not legal or funeral-planning advice.
Free worksheet
Questions to Ask Your Funeral Director About Green Burial.
A one-page checklist you can print and take to an appointment. Enter your email and we’ll send it to you.
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Go to the source
Primary sources.
- City of Campbell River — Cemeteries
The Cemetery Management Bylaw, interment information and forms.
- City of Campbell River — Fees and Charges Bylaw 2026
Current cemetery and interment fees.
- Green Burial BC
Lists Elk Falls Cemetery as a hybrid green cemetery.