Flag protocol in Switzerland: order and arrangement of flags

There is no Swiss law on arranging several flags. In practice, the reference is the Swiss Armed Forces’ flag regulations (Regulation 51.340), to which the Federal Council’s instructions for federal buildings also refer: where several poles exist, flags are flown according to the regulations; the instructions still cite chapter 5 of the 2007 edition, which is chapter 6 in the current edition. The regulations describe the order of flags, the place of honour on two to four poles, rows of flags and hanging flags. All positions are given as seen by the viewer.

The order of flags

When only Swiss flags are flown, the flag regulations always set this order:

1. Confederation
2. Canton
3. Office or district
4. Commune
5. Other flags, for example school, command, association or company

In cantons with regional flags, the regional flag takes third place in the region concerned, for example the Bernese Oberland in the Canton of Bern, the Chablais in Vaud or the Freiamt in Aargau.

Basic rules for poles

The flag regulations set out some general rules:

• Swiss flags flying side by side (Confederation, cantons, communes) are the same size.
• When the square Swiss flag flies with foreign national flags, all have the same height; they differ in length.
• Where there is only one pole, only one’s own flag flies, never a second one at the same time.
• With two or more poles, the Swiss flag is always flown.
• Almost all public buildings have three poles, for the Swiss, cantonal and communal flags. Even if only one flag is needed, the regulations have the other poles flagged as well, because empty poles next to a flagged one look unsightly.
• If there are more flags than poles, the lowest-ranking flags are left out depending on the occasion; from five poles, a row of flags is possible.

Two poles

The higher-ranking flag is on the left – the place of honour. Between two flags of equal rank, the place of honour goes to the guest.

Three poles

The highest-ranking flag flies in the middle, the second on the left, the lowest-ranking on the right. If only Swiss flags are flown, the Swiss flag is in the middle. The same principle applies to five, seven and any odd number of poles.

If an event is held under the auspices of an international organisation such as the Red Cross or the UN, its flag takes the middle as a courtesy. If the organisation only has a building or an observer role in Switzerland, it is placed on the right instead.

Four poles

With an even number of poles, the place of honour is in the middle on the right. The second flag is in the middle on the left, the third on the far right, the fourth on the far left. This also applies to six and any even number of poles.

If a canton hosts the President of the Confederation, Switzerland can take the place of honour with the host canton beside it. With foreign guests, the guest country takes the place of honour to the left of Switzerland as host.

Cantonal flags and foreign flags

When several cantonal flags are flown, the order of Article 1 of the Federal Constitution applies: Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Fribourg, Solothurn, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, St. Gallen, Graubünden, Aargau, Thurgau, Ticino, Vaud, Valais, Neuchâtel, Geneva and Jura. The order applies even if not all cantons are represented.

Foreign national flags beside the Swiss flag are placed in the alphabetical order of the local official language. In Geneva the order follows the French country names, in Zurich the German ones. For major occasions, the Protocol of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs or the military protocol may set a different order. More in the guide to foreign flags in Switzerland.

Rows of flags

For long rows with all cantonal flags, the flag regulations show several patterns: the Swiss flag stands at the entrance or in the centre, and the cantonal flags follow in the order of the Constitution, either consecutively or alternating right and left. The Jura, as the last canton, is always furthest from the entrance or centre.

Hanging flags

Where flags do not fly from poles but hang from a rope or a wall, the flag regulations provide for hanging flags wherever possible. Swiss flags are hung as one would hang the corresponding coat of arms. Heraldic courtesy applies: flags to the left of the Swiss flag are turned towards it, that is hung reversed. The only exception is the flag of the Canton of Vaud. Foreign flags are hung as on the pole, unless there are special flags for vertical hanging.