Flag protocol

A flag protocol is a set of rules and regulations for the display of flags within a country, including national, subnational, and foreign flags. Generally, flag protocols call for the national flag to be the most prominent flag, flown highest and to its own right and for the flag to never touch the ground. Enforcement of flag protocols vary by nation, with some countries using flag protocols as recommendations and guidelines, while some countries enforce the violations of flag protocol with civil or criminal penalties.

General guidelines

The following guidelines are generally used between all countries.

Position of honor

Typically the national flag of the country in which it is being displayed is given the position of honor. Following the national flags, flags of sub-federal divisions typically follow and then other flags such as for armed forces or personal flags.
In the case of foreign nations, the host country receives highest precedence, and other national flags are displayed in alphabetical order. This position of highest precedence is at the same height as other national flags; no nation's flag should be displayed higher than that of another nation in times of peace.
The position of honor is centered or to the flag's own right. When carried in single file, the flag of honor leads.
When two poles are crossed, the position of honor is the flag that ends on the left side from the point of view of an observer. In a semicircle, the position of honor is the center. If a full circle is used outside an entrance, the position of honor is directly over the entrance. If used to line the walls of a room, the flag should be placed directly opposite the entrance. When placed with a podium or at a place of worship, the flag should hang directly behind or on a pole to the right of the speaker, from the point of view of the flag.
On a vehicle the flag should be put on a window or affixed securely to the front of the chassis, on the nearside of the vehicle, i.e. the one opposite the driver. On a vehicle where a visiting Head of State or Government is sharing a car with the host Head of State or Government, the host's flag takes the nearside position, the guest's flag on the offside.

Hanging

When flown horizontally, as from a flag pole, the flag should be oriented so that the canton is closest to the top of the pole. If hung against a wall, the canton should be placed in the upper-left corner from the point of view of the observer.
When hung vertically, flags should be rotated so the canton is again closest to the top of the pole. If the flag is displayed against a wall, the canton should again appear in the upper-left corner, which requires that the flag be both rotated and "flipped" from its horizontal orientation.

On a helicopter

Sometimes in a ceremonial flypast, a flag is flown from a weighted rope dangling from beneath a helicopter.

By country

Australia

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet issues non-binding protocols for flying the national flag and other Australian flags. Any person may fly the flag; although the department advises that "the flag should be treated with the respect and dignity it deserves as the nation’s most important national symbol". However, there is no legislation enforcing these protocols or otherwise prohibiting the desecration of the flag.

Belgium

Flag protocol in Belgium is governed by a strict order of precedence defined by federal and regional decrees :

The Belgian National Flag
The Flag of the Community or Region
The European Flag
The Provincial Flag
The Municipal Flag

The position is determined by standing with one's back to the building, depending on the number of flags: 1-2, 2-1-3, 3-1-2-4 and 5-3-1-2-4. Some institutions prefer the four-pole configuration, as it places the Belgian flag and the Regional flag in the two central positions, which avois having the regional flag relegated to the "side" of a single central national flag.

Brazil

The Brazilian flag can be waved or flown in different directions.

Brunei

Members of the royal family and the nobility each have their own flags. The Standard of the Sultan must be flown only over Istana Nurul Iman. Only the Standard of the Sultan, the Crown Prince, the 'Viziers' and 'Cheterias' will be flown every day at their respective residence. Other personal royal flags of the Pengirans and personal flags of the non-royal nobles will only be flown during a ceremonial period announced by the Prime Minister's Office such as Sultan's Birthday, Royal Wedding and National Day. The public generally will fly the national flag during these periods. As in many other countries, Bruneians consider it taboo for the flag to touch the ground.

Canada

There are established rules for flying the National flag of Canada. For example "The National Flag will always be flown on its own flagpole...It is improper to fly the National Flag with another flag, of any type, on the same flagpole." As well as adhering to the position of honour guidelines.
With the rise of synthetic fabrics, Canada has recently revised its guidelines on the disposal of the national flag.

Flags made of natural fibres should be burned in a dignified manner, privately, without ceremony or public attention being drawn to the destruction of the material.
Flags made of synthetic material should not be burned due to environmental damage and potential fire hazard. They should be respectfully torn into strips, with each element of the flag reduced to a single colour, so that the remaining pieces do not resemble a flag. The individual pieces should then be placed in a bag for disposal – the shreds of fabric should not be reused or fashioned into anything.
France

When a French vessel meets another French ship, it is to lower and raise its ensign as a greeting. A merchant ship meeting a ship of the French Navy will greet three times.

India

The flag of India has a very distinctive protocol. It is governed by the Flag Code of India, 2002; the Emblems and Names Act, 1950; and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
Insults to the national flag result in up to three years of imprisonment as punishment, or a fine, or both.
Official regulation states that the flag must never touch the ground or water, or be used as a drapery in any form.
Disposal of damaged flags is also covered by the flag code. Damaged or soiled flags may not be cast aside or disrespectfully destroyed; they have to be destroyed as a whole and in private, preferably by burning or by any other method consistent with the dignity of the flag.

Italy

Obligation to exhibit

The law, implementing Article 12 of the Constitution and following of Italy's membership of the European Union, lays down the general provisions governing the use and display of the flag of the Italian Republic and the flag of European Union. In particular, in public buildings the flag of the Italian Republic, the flag of the European Union and the portrait of the president of the Italian Republic must be displayed in the offices of the most important Italian institutional offices:

a) members of the Council of Ministers and Undersecretaries of State;
b) managers in charge of general directorates or equivalent postal services in the central administrations of the State as well as managers in charge of peripheral offices of the State having a territorial constituency no smaller than the province;
c) holders of the highest institutional office of public bodies of national dimension, and holders of the managerial offices corresponding to those referred to in letter b);
d) holders of the highest institutional office of the independent authorities;
e) managers of judicial offices;
f) heads of diplomatic representations, consular offices and Italian cultural institutes abroad. For honorary consuls the exhibition is optional.

The flag of Italy must also be displayed outside all schools of all levels, outside university complexes, outside the buildings that host the voting operations, outside the prefectures, police headquarters, palaces of justice and outside the central post offices.
The flag of Italy must also be displayed on all public offices on the Tricolour Day, the Anniversary of the Lateran Treaty, the Anniversary of the Liberation, the Labour Day, the Europe Day, the Feast of the Italian Republic, the commemoration of the Four days of Naples, the feast of the patron saint of Italy, United Nations Day and National Unity and Armed Forces Day.
When displayed alongside other flags, the flag of Italy takes the position of honour; it is raised first and lowered last. Other national flags should be arranged in alphabetical order. Where two flags appear together, the national flag should be placed to the right ; in a display of three flags in line, the national flag occupies the central position. The European flag is also flown from government buildings on a daily basis. In the presence of a foreign visitor belonging to a member state, this takes precedence over the Italian flag. As a sign of mourning, flags flown externally shall be lowered to half-mast; two black ribbons may be attached to those otherwise displayed.

Exposure mode

The tricolor is often accompanied by the flag of the European Union and the banners of local authorities. In the case of two flags displayed, the national flag must be placed on the right, while if the flags are in an odd number, the tricolor must be hoisted in the centre. This last provision is no longer applicable in the event that the flag of another country belonging to the European Union is displayed: in this circumstance the Italian flag gives up the central place to the EU flag.
As a rule, no more than one flag can be applied to each flagpole. An exception is the presidential standard, which is hoisted on the Torrino del Quirinale, under the tricolour, when the third pole is occupied by the flag of a host country. If there are three flagpoles available but only two flags to be displayed, the central flagpole must be left free and the order of importance of the flags must be respected.
For example, flags displayed on public buildings must appear, from the outside, in the following orders:

, daily;
, on United Nations Day;
, in the presence of a host country ;
, in the presence of a host country ;
, in the regional, provincial and municipal headquarters with three flagpoles;
, in the regional, provincial and municipal headquarters with four flagpoles;
, in regional, provincial and municipal headquarters in the presence of a host country;
, in regional, provincial and municipal headquarters in the presence of a host country.

The law also regulates their dimensions: without prejudice to the proportions of 2:3, which must always be respected, the tricolor flags displayed inside the buildings must be 100x150 cm large, with the pole 250 cm long, while those that fly outside must be 2x3 m or 3x4.5 m, with the pole 4 or 8 m high depending on whether it is installed on a balcony respectively or on the ground. In the case of the presence of flags of other states, such as on the occasion of official visits by foreign personalities, the foreign banners must not be larger than the tricolour.
The tricolour flags displayed must always be in excellent condition, fully extended and must never touch water or land. In no case can figures and writings be written or printed on the cloth. Furthermore, the Italian flag can never be used as a simple drapery or as a fabric in common use.
In the event of public mourning the banner can be raised at half-mast and two strips of black velvet can be affixed to the cloth; the latter are instead mandatory when the tricolour participates in funeral ceremonies. In public ceremonies, the tricolour must always parade first.