There are specific rules around flying an England flag from your property or vehicle

08:01, 20 Aug 2025Updated 08:02, 20 Aug 2025

St George’s and Union Jack flags tied to lamp posts around Weoley Castle(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)

The St George’s flag has become a more common view in Birmingham with campaigners raising cash to fly them in various parts of the city.

Flags have been hung in neighbourhoods across the city, including Weoley Castle and Northfield, as well as on major roads such as the A38.

Birmingham City Council issued a warning while the people behind the move have been at odds to say this is a celebration of patriotism.

Read more: Armed police descend on Birmingham village

But are you allowed to fly the Union Jack or England flag from your home or car?

When it comes to affixing flags to vehicles, there are specific rules that Brits need to be aware of to avoid any issues.

Motorists should be aware that while it is allowed to fly flags, they must not be placed in a way that could obstruct the driver’s view of the road.

It’s vital that any flag displayed does not hinder the driver’s vision through windows or rear-view mirrors, as this could pose a safety hazard.

At present, the penalty for attaching flags to your car in a way that obstructs visibility could lead to a £1,000 fine or potentially three penalty points on your driving licence.

A Government spokesperson confirmed: “There is no specific law against flying a flag from your vehicle. We would simply encourage motorists to use their common sense to ensure their vision of the road isn’t impaired, and that it doesn’t jeopardise the safety of other road users. We shouldn’t hide our national flags which are a source of pride and identity.”

The government’s official website offers detailed guidance on the legal requirements for displaying flags at any location, including private properties.

It sets out various “standard” requirements that must be met when flying flags, alongside more detailed rules.

The website states: “All flags must be:

“Subject to compliance with the standard conditions, there are 3 categories of flag:

“(a) flags which can be flown without consent of the local planning authority.

“(b) flags which do not need consent provided they comply with further restrictions (referred to as “deemed consent” in the Regulations).

“(c) flags which require consent (“express consent”).”

According to these rules, you shouldn’t require authorisation to display your England flag (or Union Jack) at your property.

It further clarifies: “The above flags or their flagpoles must not display any advertisement or subject matter additional to the design of the flag, but the Regulations now highlight that you can attach a black mourning ribbon to either the flag or flagpole where the flag cannot be flown at half mast, for example, when flying a flag on a flagpole projecting at an angle from the side of a building.”