The concession: a right of use, not ownership
Under Romanian Law 102/2014 on cemeteries and funeral services, a burial plot cannot be bought or sold. What the family receives is a concession — a contractual right to use a defined piece of cemetery land for a fixed number of years. The land remains the property of the cemetery administration (or the local authority that manages it).
Practical consequences: you cannot sell the plot to a third party. You can transmit it within the family by inheritance, and you can renew it at the end of each concession term. If the concession lapses and the administration withdraws it — after legal notice and a grace period — the plot reverts to the cemetery.
Monuments, borders, and any built elements on the plot require prior approval from the cemetery administration. This protects the visual coherence of the cemetery and is not negotiable.
Passing the plot within the family
A concession is transmissible by inheritance. When the concession holder dies, the right passes to the legal heirs named in the succession certificate, or to whoever the holder designated in a notarized document during their lifetime.
To update the concession holder's name at the cemetery administration, heirs must present the death certificate, a succession certificate (eliberat de notar — issued by a notary), and the original concession document. The cemetery then issues a new concession in the heir's name.
For families in the diaspora: this entire process can be handled by proxy. A simple notarized power of attorney, apostilled if issued abroad, authorizes a representative in Romania — us or a notary's clerk — to appear at the cemetery administration on the family's behalf. We draft the power of attorney template; the family signs it at a Romanian consulate or at a local notary in their country of residence.
Indicative concession prices — 2026
Prices below are set by individual cemetery administrations and change periodically. The figures are indicative; always verify with the specific cemetery before budgeting.
| Location | Price range | Standard duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bucharest — central cemeteries (Bellu, Reînvierea, Sfanta Vineri) | 20,000-30,000 RON | 7 or 25 years |
| Bucharest — other cemeteries | 15,000-30,000 RON | 7 or 25 years |
| Major cities (Cluj, Iasi, Timisoara, Constanta) | 10,000-20,000 RON | 10-25 years |
| Medium cities (Brasov, Sibiu, Bacau) | 7,000-15,000 RON | 10-25 years |
| Small towns and villages | 3,000-8,000 RON | 7-15 years |
| Crypt (Bucharest, construction included) | indicatively 30,000-60,000 RON | 25 years |
| Columbarium niche (urn burial) | 2,000-8,000 RON | 25-49 years |
Columbarium — urn burial without a traditional plot
A columbarium is a wall of individual niches, each holding one or two urns. It is the standard solution after cremation when the family does not want to bury the urn in a traditional plot or keep it at home. Browse our funeral urns collection for the full range of options.
In Bucharest, columbarium niches are available at the Vitan-Bârzesti crematorium and at several cemeteries. Niche concession runs 25-49 years and is renewable. A small plaque with the name, dates, and a brief inscription is placed over the niche.
Cost: 2,000-8,000 RON for the niche concession plus 300-800 RON for the plaque. We coordinate the niche selection and plaque engraving as part of our cremation follow-up service.
Checking an existing family plot — what to look for
If a relative was buried in Romania, there is likely an existing family concession. Check by visiting or calling the cemetery administration with the deceased's name and approximate burial year. If the concession document is lost, the administration can look up the record from their register. Our burial or cremation guide compares the full cost picture if you are choosing between options.
An existing plot can be reused after 7 years from the last burial, per sanitary norms. For urn burials in an existing plot there is usually no waiting period — placement is done with the cemetery administration's approval. Reuse costs only the opening and closing fee set by the cemetery, not a new concession.
Maintenance and annual fees
- Annual cemetery maintenance fee: from tens to a few hundred RON per year, depending on the cemetery (covers water access, security, path upkeep)
- This fee does NOT renew the concession — it is a separate charge
- Private cemeteries may charge higher annual fees (300-500 RON)
- Monument inspection recommended every spring and autumn — cracks or settlement can worsen quickly
- We offer an annual maintenance service for families who cannot visit regularly, covering cleaning, flower replacement at major Orthodox holidays, and condition reports with photographs
