The Government has confirmed which flags households need permission to fly
England flags (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
The Government has outlined which flags households are allowed to display without seeking approval. This guidance comes as St George’s and Union flags have been appearing throughout various regions of the country including in the North East.
Many residents may be questioning whether they can hoist any flag of their choosing or if specific regulations must be observed. The Government website specifies which flags can be displayed without authorisation – and states it “wants to see more flags flown, particularly the Union flag”, reports Birmingham Live.
It comes as the exact rules for flying a flag from your car or home were shared.
It has compiled a comprehensive list of all the flags which people don’t need approval to display. It explains that any flag which does not feature on the lists below “requires express consent from the local planning authority before it can be flown.”
The complete list of flags that DO NOT require consent are:
Any country’s national flag, civil ensign or civil air ensign.
The flag of the Commonwealth, the United Nations or any other international organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member.
A flag of any island, county, district, borough, burgh, parish, city, town or village within the United Kingdom.
The flag of the Black Country, East Anglia, Wessex, any Part of Lincolnshire, any Riding of Yorkshire or any historic county within the United Kingdom.
The flag of Saint David.
The flag of Saint Patrick.
The flag of any administrative area within any country outside the United Kingdom.
Any flag of His Majesty’s forces.
The Armed Forces Day flag
There are also other flags that can be flown, provided they adhere to certain restrictions:
house flag – flag is allowed to display the name, emblem, device or trademark of the company (or person) occupying the building, or can refer to a specific event of limited duration that is taking place in the building from which the flag is flown
any sports club (but cannot include sponsorship logos)
the Rainbow flag (six horizontal equal stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet).
specified award schemes – Eco-Schools, Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and Investors in People
the NHS flag
certain environmental awards.