Burial Services
Orkney Islands Council, through the requirements of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016, is responsible for the overall management of council owned burial grounds. The Council provides its burials service to the public and to undertakers through the council’s registrars, administered locally by burial clerks in some areas. The physical assets are currently managed by the Neighbourhood Services and Infrastructure directorate.
Details of overall management and policy for Orkney’s burial grounds as well as customer rights and information can be found in the Code of Practice, Burial Ground Management Plan and Customer Charter, which can be downloaded from the 'Related Downloads' section of this page.
Charges
Shown below are the council charges associated with burial services.
- Excavation of grave - £821.00 (per excavation)
- Excavation of grave for casket - £238.00 (per excavation)
- Sale of lairs where double depth interment is possible - £952.00 (per lair)
- Sale of lairs where only single depth interment is possible - £646.00 (per lair)
- Excavation of a grave for an infant / juvenile - £0.00 (no charge)
- Permit to erect a memorial on a lair in OIC managed burial ground - £65.00 (per permit)
Contact
For queries about the management of burial grounds call 01856 873535 and ask for the Burial Grounds Officer or contact burialgroundsofficer@orkney.gov.uk
For enquiries about the purchase of a lair contact the relevant Burial Clerk (found on the Burial Grounds Map) or call the Kirkwall Registration Office on 01856 886333 Most areas of Orkney are now administered centrally from the Council offices with a number of exceptions.
