DCMS Flag FlyingThe Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for issuing the protocol for hoisting the Union Flag on UK Government buildings.
Individuals, local authorities and other organizations may fly the Union Flag whenever they wish or may chose to follow this guidance, subject to compliance with any local planning requirement.
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Following the publication of the White Paper, The Governance of Britain: Constitutional Renewal (CM 7342-1), and the Consultation Analyses Document (CM 7342-3) on 25 March 2008, the Government has decided to make permanent the temporary relaxation of the flag flying guidance which gave UK Government departments the freedom to fly the Union Flag on their buildings when they want.
In addition, the Government has decided that to celebrate the Union’s constituent parts, on the patron saints’ days of Scotland and Wales, the flags of Scotland and Wales may also be flown with the Union Flag on Whitehall Government buildings where there are two or more flag poles and if departments wish to do so.
The Protocol will be revised further to reflect these two changes shortly.
For those UK Government departments which do not wish to fly the Flag daily on their buildings, the 18 fixed days each year on which the Flag may be flown remain. For guidance on the definition of a UK Government building, please see the following protocol.
Last updated - 25 March 2008
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