You could be fined up to £2,500 for flying the England flag at your house ahead of the World Cup semi-final against Argentina. The match takes place on Wednesday night at 8pm, with Thomas Tuchel's men vying for a spot in the final on Sunday night.
Flag Display Rules and Penalties
The Labour Party government website advises that all flags must be maintained in a condition that does not impair the overall visual appearance of the site and be kept in a safe condition. Permission from the site owner is required, including the Highway Authority if the flag is on highway land.
Flags must not obscure or hinder official road, rail, waterway, or aircraft signs, nor make hazardous the use of these transport types. They must be removed carefully where required by the planning authority.
Specific Regulations for Flagpoles
Two flags on the same vertical flagpole on the roof of a building are permitted provided one is from category (a) – flags which do not need consent, such as a national flag – and that flag is flown in the superior position. Otherwise, only one flag on a vertical flagpole on the roof is allowed.
There are no restrictions on the size of the flag or any character or symbol displayed, except in controlled areas like Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Areas of Special Control, the Broads, conservation areas, or National Parks. In those areas, characters may be no more than 0.75 metres in height (0.3 metres in an Area of Special Control).
It is permitted to fly one flag (or two if one is from category (a)) on a vertical flagpole on the roof of a building and one flag (or two if one is from category (a)) on a flagpole within the grounds without consent, subject to restrictions. However, flying a flag on a projecting flagpole and on a vertical rooftop flagpole without consent is not permitted.
Fans are urged to check the regulations before displaying flags to avoid the £2,500 penalty.
