How long does a cremation take in BC?

The legal steps before a cremation in BC, what can cause a delay, and our usual timeline.

Updated September 29, 2026

Families often want to know when the cremation will take place and when the ashes will be ready. In BC, the timing depends on a few legal steps that happen in order, and on the funeral provider's own schedule.

The 48-hour minimum

BC law does not allow a cremation within 48 hours after the time of death. The only exception is an order from a medical health officer under the Public Health Act. After that, the crematorium must carry out the cremation as soon as practicable, once the authorization and paperwork are in place.

What has to happen first

1. The Medical Certificate of Death. A doctor, nurse practitioner or coroner must complete it within 48 hours after the death and make it available to the funeral provider.
2. Written authorization. The person with the legal right to make the arrangements must sign a written authorization. A funeral provider can begin with authorization given by phone, but the cremation cannot take place until the written authorization is signed.
3. Registration of the death. The funeral provider sends the Medical Certificate of Death and the family's information about the person to Vital Statistics, and the death is registered.
4. The disposition permit. A disposition permit, sometimes called a burial permit, is then issued to the funeral provider. A crematorium cannot cremate without it.

The funeral provider takes care of most of these steps for you.

What can cause a delay

• The coroner. If the death must be reported to the BC Coroners Service, the coroner decides whether an autopsy or other examination is needed, and the person is not released until the coroner no longer needs them. The full investigation can take weeks or months. However, once the coroner no longer needs the person, the coroner can release them and issue an interim medical certificate, so the death can be registered before the investigation ends.
• Waiting for the medical certificate. If the doctor or nurse practitioner who cared for the person can't complete the certificate within 48 hours, or no doctor or nurse practitioner attended the person during their last illness, the coroner must be notified. Vancouver Coastal Health notes that delays may occur when the coroner is involved.
• Authorization. The cremation cannot go ahead until the right person has signed. If that person can't be reached, or relatives disagree, this step can take longer. See who can arrange a cremation in BC.
• Missing information. Registering the death needs details such as the person's full legal name, date and place of birth, Personal Health Number, Social Insurance Number, occupation and parents' names and birthplaces. Having these ready helps.
• Implants and some medical treatments. A pacemaker, defibrillator or similar battery-powered implant must be removed before cremation at our crematorium. When you make arrangements with us, we also ask about any radioactive treatment or seed implants in the past two years. Federal guidance from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission recommends extra precautions when cremating someone within set periods after some of these treatments.

Our usual timeline

Our standard time for a cremation is 7 to 9 business days. We carry out every cremation at our own crematorium in Aldergrove, and we call you when the cremated remains are ready.

If you need the cremation sooner, you can ask for a rush cremation. Our pricing page describes it as cremation within 4 days instead of the standard 7 to 9 business days, and lists the price. The legal steps above still apply, so the coroner or missing paperwork can affect either timeline.

Planning a gathering

With a direct cremation there is no service beforehand, so you can hold a memorial or celebration of life whenever you are ready. If the coroner is involved, it may be wise to wait until the person has been released before setting a date that depends on the cremation.

For the first steps after a death, see what to do when someone dies in British Columbia.

If you have a date in mind or a question about timing, call us at any hour at (604) 856-2346.