Operating a crematorium
Field of activity No. 21 under the Trade Licensing Act.
What you need: Expertise plus a state authorisation — a concession from the trade licensing office.
- Koncesovaná živnost
- Field No. 21
- See conditions below
- 7 activity examples
Operating a crematorium is a licensed (concession) trade (Annex No. 3 to the Trade Licensing Act) for the cremation of human remains and ashes. A concession granted by the Trade Licensing Office in administrative proceedings is required to do business; an opinion from the regional public health authority is a condition. The authorisation arises only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final, not upon submission of the application.
Professional qualification under Section 13(2) of Act No. 256/2001 Coll., on Funeral Services, and Annex No. 3 to the Trade Licensing Act, one of the options:
Option 1: complete secondary, complete secondary vocational, higher vocational or university education + successful completion of specialised professional training + 3 years of experience in the field of operating a crematorium.
Option 2: basic education + successful completion of specialised professional training + 10 years of experience in the field of operating a crematorium.
The concession is granted in administrative proceedings; a condition for granting it is the opinion of the regional public health authority (the relevant state administration body) under Section 13(3) of Act No. 256/2001 Coll., on Funeral Services.
Medical fitness and liability insurance are not required.
The professional qualification may also be met through a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act. The responsible representative must meet both the general and professional qualification conditions and may perform this function for no more than four entrepreneurs.
Examples of activities
- Cremating human remains (bodies of the deceased) in the cremation chamber of a crematorium
- Cremating human ashes (exhumed or non-cremated remains)
- Operating and attending cremation furnaces and related technological equipment
- Receiving, registering and temporarily storing human remains and ashes until cremation
- Placing ashes into urns and handing them over to those arranging the funeral
- Keeping the prescribed records of cremated remains and ashes
- Ensuring the operation of the crematorium in compliance with hygiene and emission requirements
What this trade is and what it is for
The trade Operating a crematorium is a licensed (concession) trade classified in Annex No. 3 to the Trade Licensing Act. It entitles the entrepreneur to operate a crematorium, that is a facility intended for the cremation of human remains and human ashes. It is a regulated activity in the field of funeral services which, in addition to the Trade Licensing Act, is governed by Act No. 256/2001 Coll., on Funeral Services.
Operating a crematorium is among the most sensitive business activities, as it concerns the dignified treatment of human remains and has a direct impact on public health and hygiene. The state therefore requires a concession – a permit on which the Trade Licensing Office decides in administrative proceedings, and additionally on the basis of an opinion from the regional public health authority.
What falls under this trade (and what does not)
The trade covers in particular:
- cremating human remains (bodies of the deceased) and human ashes,
- operating and attending cremation furnaces and related technological equipment,
- receiving, registering and temporarily storing remains until cremation,
- placing ashes into urns and handing them over to those arranging the funeral,
- keeping the prescribed records of cremation.
This trade does not include operating a funeral service (arranging funerals, transporting the deceased, ceremonies) – that is a separate licensed (concession) trade, Operating a funeral service. Likewise, operating a public burial ground (a cemetery) is a distinct activity with its own regime. Operating a crematorium is therefore narrowly defined as the cremation itself and the immediately related tasks.
Legal conditions for obtaining it
The applicant must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. For licensed (concession) trades, a clean criminal record is always required (Section 6). The particulars of the application for a concession, the assessment of reliability and the decision on granting the concession are governed by Sections 7, 8 and 27 of the Trade Licensing Act.
The applicant must also demonstrate professional qualification under Annex No. 3 to the Trade Licensing Act, which refers to Section 13(2) of Act No. 256/2001 Coll., on Funeral Services. One of the options can be met:
| Education | Additional condition | Experience in the field |
|---|---|---|
| complete secondary / complete secondary vocational / higher vocational / university | specialised professional training | 3 years |
| basic | specialised professional training | 10 years |
In all cases, successful completion of specialised professional training and the required length of experience in the field of operating a crematorium are necessary.
If the entrepreneur does not meet the professional qualification themselves, they may secure it through a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act, who must meet both the professional qualification and the general conditions. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.
A specific feature of this trade is that the granting of the concession requires the opinion of the regional public health authority as the relevant state administration body (Section 13(3) of Act No. 256/2001 Coll.). Medical fitness and liability insurance are not required for this trade.
How to notify or obtain the trade step by step
This trade is not notified – you apply for a concession. The procedure:
- Complete the Unified Registration Form (JRF) – for a concession the application-for-concession form is used.
- Submit the application to any municipal Trade Licensing Office (central registration point), electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at Czech POINT.
- Provide documents on your professional qualification (education, specialised training, experience) and, where applicable, on the appointment of a responsible representative.
- Pay the administrative fee of CZK 1,000 for receiving the application for a concession (on first entry into business); for an application for a further concession the fee is CZK 500.
- The Trade Licensing Office requests the opinion of the regional public health authority and decides on the application in administrative proceedings.
The Trade Licensing Office decides on granting the concession usually within 30 days. The trade authorisation arises only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final – not upon submission of the application. A detailed universal guide can be found at /jak-zalozit-zivnost.
Documents and fees
- Application for a concession (Unified Registration Form).
- A document proving the professional qualification – education, specialised professional training and experience in the field.
- An extract from the Criminal Records Register is obtained by the office itself (proof of a clean criminal record under Section 6).
- Where applicable, documents on the appointment of a responsible representative (Section 11).
- Opinion of the regional public health authority – requested by the Trade Licensing Office during the proceedings.
- Administrative fee: CZK 1,000 for the first application for a concession, CZK 500 for an application for a further concession.
Frequently asked questions
Is a trade notification enough to operate a crematorium?
No. This is a licensed (concession) trade for which a notification is not sufficient. You must submit an application for a concession and await the Trade Licensing Office's decision in administrative proceedings.
When can I start doing business?
From the day the decision granting the concession becomes final. Unlike notifiable trades, the authorisation here does not arise upon submission of the application.
Why is the public health authority's opinion required?
Operating a crematorium has an impact on public health and hygiene. Act No. 256/2001 Coll., on Funeral Services, therefore lays down in Section 13(3) that the granting of the concession requires the opinion of the regional public health authority as the relevant state administration body.
I do not have the required experience or education. What next?
You can secure the professional qualification through a responsible representative (Section 11) who meets the required conditions. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs. We recommend consulting your specific situation with the Trade Licensing Office.
Which is the competent authority for this trade?
The Ministry of Industry and Trade, Na Františku 32, 110 15 Prague 1 – Staré Město.