Flagpole heights in Austria: usual heights and building codes

Height is the most important decision for a flagpole. It determines which flag fits, how large the foundation is, what the pole costs and – depending on the federal state – whether the building authority is involved. In Austria 7 metres is the most common height.

Usual heights

According to the Salzburg maker Fahnen Gärtner, 7 metres is the most common flagpole height in Austria. Otherwise the choice depends, according to Fahnen Gärtner, on outside circumstances: the proximity of neighbouring houses, the free space available and the wind conditions.

The Austrian Armed Forces’ flag order gives a 2 × 3 metre flag on a 10-metre pole as an example.

Height and flag size

Height and flag are closely linked. The Armed Forces’ flag order gives an ideal ratio of 1:5 between flag height and pole height. The Erste Österreichische Fahnenfabrik publishes these values:

The flag size calculator works for any height.

Height limits in the building codes

Whether height matters under building law depends on the federal state:

• Carinthia: under section 2(2)(l), the Carinthian Building Code does not apply to flagpoles up to 8 m high.
• Burgenland: under section 1(2)(16), flagpoles up to 8 m high are excluded from the Burgenland Building Act.
• Tyrol and Upper Austria: the building codes do not apply to flagpoles; they set no height limit.
• Styria: flagpoles must be notified, with no height limit in the act.
• Vienna: a pole about 5 m high and firmly connected to the ground required a permit according to a 2009 ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court.

The full overview of all nine states is in the guide to flagpole installation.

Height and wind

With height, wind speed and leverage increase. A taller pole therefore needs a larger diameter, a thicker wall and a larger foundation, and it carries a larger flag, which in turn catches more wind. The permissible flag size for a given height is stated in the manufacturer’s specifications. More in the guide to flagpole safety.

Height on buildings

For roof and wall poles, the height of the building counts as well as the pole length. The Armed Forces’ flag order provides for a vertical pole on the roof of official buildings and a pole at an angle of 45 degrees on façades. With such poles, fixing to the building and work at height play a bigger role than with a ground pole. What makes a pole more expensive is described in the guide to buying a flagpole.