Knowledge Centre · 05
Burial, cemeteries & memorial rules
Each council sets its own cemetery fees and memorial rules. We guide families through them, and check the regulations for any memorial we create. The official sources are below.
Quick answer
Burial and memorial fees, and the rules for memorials, are set by each local council and churchyard. Your funeral director checks the rules for your chosen cemetery, and can craft a new memorial — or clean and restore an existing one — to comply.
What happens, step by step
Choose burial and a cemetery
We help you choose a cemetery and, where needed, arrange the purchase of a grave.
Understand the fees
Burial and memorial fees are set by each council. The links below show current charges.
Check the memorial rules
Every cemetery and churchyard has rules on memorial size, material and lettering. We check these for you before any work begins.
Care for an existing memorial
We also clean, restore and add inscriptions to memorials already in place — see our memorial services.
Resources & official links
Belfast City Council
Burial & memorial fees
Current burial and memorial fees for Belfast's cemeteries.
Belfast City Council
Cemetery rules (PDF)
The rules and regulations for Belfast City Council cemeteries.
Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council
Cemeteries
Cemetery information and services for the borough.
Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council
Cemetery rules & regulations (PDF)
Cemetery rules and regulations (July 2025).
Ards & North Down Borough Council
Cemetery procedures, rules & regulations (PDF)
The 2025–2026 cemetery procedures and memorial rules booklet.
Derry City & Strabane District Council
Burial charges
Burial charges for the council's cemeteries.
Mid Ulster District Council
Cemetery fees
Cemetery fees and registration services for Mid Ulster.
Newry, Mourne & Down District Council
Cemetery rules & regulations (PDF)
Rules for the control of public cemeteries in the district.
Fermanagh & Omagh District Council
Cemetery rules & regulations (PDF)
Cemetery rules and regulations (June 2023).
David Crymble & Sons
Memorial estimate tool
Build an indicative estimate for a headstone or memorial, then request a full quotation.
David Crymble & Sons
Memorial gallery
Browse memorials for inspiration and read our cleaning & renovation services.
Need help now?
If someone has died or you are unsure what to do next, David Crymble & Sons Funeral Directors are available 24 hours a day. We can guide you step by step — whether the death has happened at home, in hospital, in a care home, or elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Who sets cemetery fees and memorial rules?
Each local council sets its own fees and regulations, and churchyards have their own rules. We confirm the rules that apply to your chosen cemetery.
Can I put any memorial I like on a grave?
Not always — cemeteries restrict size, material and sometimes colour. We make sure any memorial we create meets the local regulations.
Do you maintain or restore old memorials?
Yes. We offer cleaning, re-lettering, re-levelling and full restoration. It is easier and cheaper to preserve a memorial than to restore one.
How soon can a headstone be placed on a new grave?
A new grave usually needs time to settle before a memorial is fixed — often several months. We will advise on timing for your cemetery.
Do I have to use your masons for a memorial?
No, but as Memorial Masons we craft memorials ourselves, check the cemetery rules for you, and can also clean or restore an existing one.
Related guides
Last reviewed: June 2026 · Reviewed by: David Crymble & Sons
Sources: official guidance from NI Direct, HSC NI, MoneyHelper, Marie Curie, Cruse and the relevant councils, where applicable.
This page is for general guidance only. Requirements can change, so please check with the relevant official organisation or contact David Crymble & Sons for help.