Ordinance on Funerals and Burials - Jurisdiction
Table of Provisions (8)
Statutory Text (8 Provisions)
1. The burial services are the responsibility of the municipalities. They ensure the provision of cemeteries. Several municipalities may combine for the establishment and use of a cemetery.
2. The municipalities enact burial and cemetery regulations.
3. Burials and cemeteries are subject to the supervision of the Department of Health and Social Affairs.
1. The municipalities shall ensure a dignified burial.
2. No one shall be denied a burial in a public cemetery due to religious beliefs or for other reasons.
1. Cemeteries must not endanger public health and the environment.
1. Both burial (interment of the coffined corpse in an earth grave) and cremation (cremation of the coffined corpse) are permitted forms of burial. Cremation may be followed by the interment of the ashes, either in an urn or openly.
2. Burials may only take place in cemeteries.
3. Cremations must occur in a crematorium.
4. Relatives may also personally dispose of the ashes.
1. The burial shall take place no sooner than twice 24 hours and no later than five times 24 hours after the occurrence of death.
2. Exceptions for organizational or public health reasons may be granted by the municipality, based on a medical certificate.
3. The burial may only be conducted once the body has been released for burial by the competent civil registry office based on a medical death certificate.
4. If an official investigation into the death is underway, the consent of the investigating authority is required.
1. The period of repose for a grave is at least 20 years. This is subject to official or court-ordered exhumations.
2. Upon the request of relatives, urns must be released by the municipality before the expiration of this period for removal, provided that no significant interests oppose this early release.
1. Issuance of Death Certificates for the Transportation of Corpses to and from Abroad is conducted by the competent cantonal authority.
1. The regulation enters into force upon adoption by the Cantonal Council.
2. Upon the entry into force of this regulation, the regulation on burial services dated May 31, 1929, is repealed.