In recent years, the number of cremations in France has risen considerably. The Association Française d'Information Funéraire even estimates that by 2030, cremation will account for almost 50% of the country's funerals. Legislation governing the management of cremated remains has had to evolve in response to these new trends. One of the most significant measures was implemented in 2013. Since that date, it has no longer been permitted to keep ashes must be systematically scattered or kept in an appropriate place within a cemetery. Have all these upheavals changed the price of concessions? How much does a columbarium cost, and how do you set its price? Granimond takes stock.
The different cemetery spaces
These cinerary spaces can be divided into two categories:
- areas for scattering ashes (memorial garden)
- rest areas.
In the latter case, the ashes of the deceased are placed in an urn, which is then placed in a cinerary monument.
The most common of these buildings is the columbarium. The columbarium can take several forms, depending on the planning choices made by the mayor. It can be :
- individual
- collective
- buried
- in elevation
- half-elevation.
The different configurations have a direct impact on the price of a columbarium plot.
CTA: Would you like to install a columbarium? Ask for a free personalized study!
Columbarium concession prices
Like burials, columbarium concession prices are set by the Mayor. Prices vary according to :
- the length of time the space is reserved (5, 10, 15, 30, or 50 years depending on the commune)
- the type of monument chosen (collective or individual).
Most communes set the price of their concessions according to the investment they have made, i.e. they start with the amount invested (price of the columbarium) and divide it by the number of cells in the module, including installation and identification plaque. As the columbarium is an expense for the commune, it will be self-financed by the families. Prices vary on average from 350 euros to 1,200 euros per plot, and are publicly displayed at the town hall.
Once this sum has been paid in full to the municipality, the plot can be used until the concession expires. Concessions are renewable, and families have a variable period in which to make a request.
What should I do if my concession is not renewed?
At the end of this period (5, 10, 15, 30 or 50 years), if the plot is not renewed, and if the ashes of the deceased are not reclaimed by the next of kin, they will be scattered in the memorial garden or placed in the ossuary. To prevent this from happening, town halls systematically send a reminder letter to the deceased's next of kin. Generally speaking, it is the mayor who designates the plot for the deceased, giving the family the right to use and enjoy the space. However, the commune retains ownership of the monument and is responsible for its upkeep.
Finally, we remind you that cannot dispose of a private burial site, on pain of heavy fines..
How to set the price of a columbarium plot: what you need to know
In France, the cremation rate continues to rise. In the face of these societal changes, legalization is evolving. Ashes can no longer be kept at home, but scattered or stored in an appropriate place, such as a columbarium. The price of a columbarium concession is set by the mayor. The price varies according to the length of time the space is reserved and the type of monument chosen, ranging from 350 to 1,200 euros.
