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OK. Flag time.

The argument many many many people have been making along this stupid flag journey, alongside the fact that the country is full (It’s nowhere near full), is that there are a number of people who ‘come here, and don’t follow our laws’. I agree that anyone breaking the law should face the same sanctions as anyone living here as a permeant resident, and deported if neccessary. Rape, theft, and whatever else has no part in any society, so I agree. Follow the laws of the land you’re in. It’s the same way that over the years I’ve always respected the customs and laws of the countries I’ve visited, from the trivial to the severe.

Which brings me onto flags (Again. Sorry). I’ve always said that so long as you’re not deliberately trying to intice people, hang what you want out of your window. Could be a flag, a pair of boxer shorts, or Michael Jackson’s kid (Actually, not the last one). When it comes to public land however, it’s a different story. People keep on saying ‘It’s our land, we can choose to do what we want with it’, but there’s a teeny tiny catch.

Whilst nowhere near as extensive as the US Flag Code (Which many Americans conveniently forget when they adorn every part of their body with a flag of some sort), there is guidance on the use of UK Flags. It’s written by HM Government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which essentially deals with lots of boring things, one being Planning, which I have an Undergraduate and Postgraduate degree in. Now whilst guidance, it would be a material consideration in the event of any dispute in planning terms, the same way the good ol’ National Planning Policy Framework, Planning Practice Guidance, Area Action Plans (Unless formally adopted) and so on. It’s been concisely written, and you can view it at the link here. I’ve also got a PDF of the page available, because Gov.UK have a horrible tendency to change things and not leave an archive trail.

To save the boring reading, here’s a summary:

• In England, the flying of flags is treated as advertisements for the purposes of the planning regime to ensure the flags do not impact on safety or amenity. Some flags require formal consent (permission) from the local planning authority, whereas others like the Union Flag do not. The detailed controls over flag flying are set out in detailed regulations.
• [All Flags Must] have the permission of the owner of the site on which they are displayed (this includes the Highway Authority if the sign is to be placed on highway land).
• [All Flags Must] not obscure, or hinder the interpretation of official road, rail, waterway or aircraft signs, or otherwise make hazardous the use of these types of transport.
• [All Flags Must] be removed carefully where so required by the planning authority.

So although national flags, the UN Flag, (In my case) The Black Country Flag and so on CAN be flown, they have to be on private property, unless you’ve got permission from the Highways Authority, whom to put it politely will take about 8 weeks to even bother getting back to you, let alone granting permission. Highways’ Planning departments are known for being SLOOOOOOOWWWWWWW. Let’s pretend that you are granted permission (And this have to be flag to flag, not a blanket yes), you still have to follow the following in the all flags must catagory:

• [All Flags Must] be maintained in a condition that does not impair the overall visual appearance of the site
• [All Flags Must] be kept in a safe condition

This in effect means that you the person applying for flag loving must also maintain these flags, and make sure they don’t fall off, get wrapped around a car’s tyre / windshield wipers whilst driving which causes them to hit the nearest bollard. But, let’s imagine that you will be a good citizen, and follow the above, there’s one more point:

• The above flags [Those that subject to the above overarching points do not need consent]or their flagpoles must not display any advertisement or subject matter additional to the design of the flag

That means all those free flags you picked up during the Women’s World Cup, with Carlsberg (A Danish beer, but Viking >> England is close enough), signs on them? Sorry, not allowed.

I hope that this information serves all the lovely LAW ABIDING Daily Mail loving (The newspaper who supported Mosley and the Blackshirts), GB News obsessed (Run by Russians) immigrant hating (Unless you want to pick up an onion bhaji on your way to a nationalist demo) humans. If you require any assistance with applying for permission with Highways Authority, I’d be glad to help, but just to warn you in advance, I don’t have a white skin tone, even though I can speak and write in full sentences.

And don’t forget, you want people to follow the laws of this country, that includes you.

Peace, Rage And Love xx

Last Updated on 19th September 2025 by Wil Vincent