Private columbaria: licence, exemption and TSOL explained

The three specified instruments

The Private Columbaria Ordinance (Cap. 630) took effect on 30 June 2017. Operating a private columbarium requires a specified instrument: a licence, an exemption or a temporary suspension of liability (TSOL). Only a licensed private columbarium may sell or newly let niches.

• Licence: may sell niches, subject to licence conditions; valid for no more than 10 years.
• Exemption: may operate lawfully, but the holder is barred from selling interment rights under s.10; valid for no longer than the remaining land lease term.
• TSOL: lets a columbarium keep operating while it applies for a licence or exemption, but it may not sell niches.

Sources: Regulation of Private Columbaria: FAQ、Register of Private Columbaria

Approval-in-principle is not a licence

On the Licensing Board's application list, approval-in-principle means the applicant still has requirements to meet and no instrument has been issued. We label these columbaria “approved in principle (no instrument issued yet)” and never as licensed.

Under the Ordinance, a columbarium that was operating before 30 June 2017 and applied for a TSOL by 29 March 2018, with the application not yet disposed of or withdrawn, does not commit an offence by operating during this grace period; it still may not sell niches.

Sources: Regulation of Private Columbaria: FAQ、List of applications for specified instruments

Before buying a private niche

• Check the columbarium holds a licence on the Licensing Board's register (or our list), and match the name, address and validity dates.
• The Licensing Board advises buying interment rights directly from the licensee.
• A licensed columbarium's sale agreement must give the buyer a 14-day cooling-off period.
• Ask about management fees, handling charges, solicitor's fees and charges for later changes. The Consumer Council found that adding or changing a name could cost over $10,000 in handling charges.

Sources: Register of Private Columbaria、Regulation of Private Columbaria: FAQ、Consumer Council (2022)

The 2025 amendments

The Private Columbaria (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 took effect on 30 May 2025. It lets eligible pre-cut-off columbaria apply for exemption and strengthens enforcement, including new offences against overselling niches and over-placing ashes.

Sources: Information for consumers、Regulation of Private Columbaria: FAQ