Oakland County is asking the public to submit designs for a new county flag. In June 2025, the county Board passed a resolution creating the Flag Leadership and Advisory Group (F.L.A.G.) to steer the flag redesign. After months spent researching and planning, the Board and F.L.A.G. members decided they’re ready to collect design concepts from anyone interested in flags and the county.
The existing flag shows a maize-colored tree on a green background with “1820” printed on it. Officials adopted it in May 1970. It breaks modern rules about keeping things simple, using meaningful symbols, sticking to a limited color palette, avoiding text or seals, and being distinctive.
“Nearly six decades have passed since the current flag was adopted,” said Commissioner Brendan Johnson (D-Rochester Hills) and chair of F.L.A.G. “The county has experienced tremendous growth since 1970 when the current flag debuted, and this presents an opportunity for us to look toward our next century under a new, more representative emblem. More than that too, very few of our residents even know Oakland County has a flag,” according to the Oakland County Times.
Commissioner Robert Smiley (R-Wixom), who sits on the F.L.A.G. committee, emphasized the importance of proper design principles. “Flags are powerful symbols and our current flag needs updating to meet proper principles of effective design,” said Smiley, according to The Oakland Press. “I’ve been a design professional my whole life and I’m pleased to lend my experience to help redesign our flag for future residents to enjoy.”
Advisory group members will review every submission. They might select one design or pull pieces from multiple entries. Flag design experts will evaluate and help with the final phase of the new Oakland County flag for free.
F.L.A.G. members want original ideas: no artificial intelligence or stock images allowed. Anyone can submit a design, no matter where they live or how old they are. Winners won’t get money, and artists must surrender intellectual property rights to their designs.
The submission window opened this week. It closes at 5 p.m. on Jan. 4, 2027.