What are the rules for displaying the American flag?

  • From your porch, place the union (blue section) at the peak of the staff.
  • Against a wall or on a window, place the union (blue section) at the top left corner.
  • On your vehicle, clamp the staff to the right front fender.
  • With another flag, place the U.S. flag to your left when crossed.


Can you fly the American flag at night without a light?

Traditional guidelines call for displaying the flag in public only from sunrise to sunset. However, the flag may be displayed at all times if it's illuminated during darkness.

What are the rules for displaying an American flag at your house?

Should you chose to display a flag in your home against a wall follow these rules. First, it needs to lie flat against the wall. Next, whether hung vertically or horizontally, the union must be in the uppermost and to the flag's own right corner. Which means, it is to the observer's left.


What are the do's and don'ts of an American flag?

The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery. It should never be displayed upside down unless trying to convey a sign of distress or great danger. The flag should never touch anything beneath it; this includes water, merchandise and even the floor.

What are the three rules about flying the American flag?

The flag should never be displayed with the union (stars) down, unless as a signal of dire distress. The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.


The US Flag Code: The Rules of US Flag Display



What are five things not allowed under the Flag Code?

The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

What are the only two flags that can be flown above the U.S. flag?

Yes, there are actually two flags that can be placed above the U.S. American Flag. The Church Pennant during church services for the personnel of the Navy and No other flag may be flown above The United States flag except at the United Nations Headquarters. The UN flag may be placed above flags of all member nations.

Are you supposed to take flag down in rain?

The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed.


Can I leave my flag up all the time?

The Flag Code states it is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flag staffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

What are the 5 rules of flag design?

The Five Principles are:
  • Keep It Simple. The flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory.
  • Use Meaningful Symbolism. The flag's images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.
  • Use 2 or 3 Basic Colors. ...
  • No Lettering or Seals. ...
  • Be Distinctive or Be Related.


What side of the house should the American flag be on?

So where do you hang the flag? Coming out the front of the house, the flag should be on the right of the door. If you come down the steps and face it from the curb, the flag will be on your left. The flag should only fly from dawn to dusk and at night only if you light it.


Can you hang a flag in your backyard?

Leave a light on

Traditionally, the flag is to be displayed outdoors only from sunrise to sunset, but it can stay there 24 hours a day if it's properly illuminated. To meet this requirement, try solar lights that charge throughout the day and shine bright at night, or a garden spotlight set on a timer.

Can I fly an American flag in my backyard?

It's a well-worn cliche from the 1950s – “Run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes.” Today, you can have your own American flagpole to show your patriotism and give both guests and passersby a U.S. flag to salute, respect, and admire right on your own property.

Do you have to burn a flag if it touches the ground?

Does the flag have to be destroyed if it touches the ground? Answer: Care should be exercised in the handling of the flag, to protect it from becoming soiled or damaged. However, you are not required to destroy the flag if it touches the ground.


What time should the flag be taken down?

It shall be flown from sunrise to sunset irrespective of weather conditions. The flag may be flown on such a building at night also, but this should be only on very special occasions. The National flag shall always be hoisted briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously.

Is it OK to wash an American flag?

These are just some of the rules from the United States Flag Code. Thankfully, there are no rules against washing your American flag. If you're getting your flag ready to hang for the 4th of July and notice it's looking a little dirty, it's completely okay to wash it before putting it out.

Do you retire a flag by burning it?

The United States Flag Code, Title 4, Section 8k states-“The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”


Why do you take a flag down at night?

According to the US Flag Code, all American flags should be displayed from sunrise to sunset every day. Lowering the flag at night is an ultimate sign of respect for Old Glory. But like many rules, there is an exception. You can keep your flag flying 24-hours if it is properly illuminated during all hours of darkness.

Can you bury a flag to retire it?

Retiring a Flag by Burying It

You should fold the flag in the ceremonial triangle, place in a strong wooden box, and bury a few feet in the ground. Similar to burning the flag, make sure to handle it with care and consider its meaning as you bury it.

Can the flag be flown at night?

The Flag may be flown on such a building at night also but this should be only on very special occasions. 3.7 The Flag shall always be hoisted briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously.


What does the backwards flag mean?

When assaulting forward, the star field is always to the front as the red and white stripes flow to the back in the breeze. Today, the reverse flag is worn on the right sleeve of military uniforms and symbolizes the courage and respect of the soldiers who serve.

What to do if flag touches ground?

While the code states, "The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise," there's no rule saying that a flag that slips has to immediately be burned.

Can I fly any flag I want?

Other flags being displayed may be the same size and flown at the same height, but never higher nor larger than the American flag. To the right of the U.S. flag would be any state flag(s) in alphabetical order, then corporate or organization flags.


What is the only state with a flag with no edges?

Ohio is the only one of the 50 states to use a nonrectangular flag. Its designer, John Eisenmann, may have been inspired by the swallow-tailed shape of a guidon that was carried by the U.S. cavalry.

Can another flag fly on the same pole as the American flag?

N.B.: You may never place two national flags on a single pole, as they must be at the same height and the approximate same size. N.B.: You may never place a company or advertisement flag on the same pole as the US flag. In military use, no more than two flags may be on a single pole.