Flagpole heights in Germany: usual heights and building law
Published Written by Flagpole Guides
This page is an English translation of the German original. Where the two versions differ, the German text is the original.
The height of a flagpole determines how far away the flag can be seen, which flag size suits and which forces act on the pole and foundation in the wind. There is no legal standard height in Germany. Poles of about 5 to 12 metres are common in the trade, and considerably taller ones for special locations.
Usual heights
| Use | Usual height above ground |
|---|---|
| Small garden, terrace | 5 m |
| Family home, garden | 6–7 m |
| Club, company premises, school | 7–9 m |
| Town hall, headquarters, prestigious buildings | 9–12 m |
| Special locations | considerably more, e.g. 28.5 m for the Flag of Unity in Berlin |
These figures are guide values. Plot size, building height, trees and visibility from the street all play a role in the choice. A pole that hardly rises above the roof edge or the hedge often leaves the flag hanging limp in the wind shadow.
Pole height and flag size
For the flag size, it is the visible height that counts. If the pole stands behind a 2-metre wall, only 6 metres of an 8-metre pole are visible. A rule of thumb common in the trade is that a hoisted flag in still air covers at most the upper third of the visible pole, and a portrait flag at most the upper half. The retailer Fahnenzentrum Neumeyer gives these combinations:
| Pole height | Hoisted flag (height × length) | Portrait flag (height × width) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 m | 80 × 120 cm | 200 × 80 cm |
| 6–7 m | 100 × 150 or 100 × 180 cm | 300 × 100 or 300 × 120 cm |
| 8 m | 120 × 200 cm | 400 × 100 or 400 × 150 cm |
| from 9 m | 150 × 225 or 150 × 250 cm | 500 × 120 or 500 × 150 cm |
| from 10 m | 200 × 300 cm | – |
The standard formats of the federal flag according to Protokoll Inland and a calculator are in the guide to flag sizes and the flag size calculator.
What building law says about height
Under section 61 of the Model Building Code, “masts and supports … for sirens and for flags” are exempt from the permit procedure, with no height specified. The same rule appears, for example, in Art. 57 of the Bavarian Building Code and in the building codes of Brandenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony. Exempt does not, however, mean free of rules:
- Development plan: a development plan can limit the heights of structures or exclude ancillary structures in certain areas.
- Setback areas: under section 6 MBO, setback areas apply to buildings and correspondingly to other installations that have effects like buildings. Whether a flagpole counts depends on the individual case.
- Heritage protection: on or at a listed building and in its surroundings, a heritage permit may be required.
- Stability: under section 12 MBO, every structure has to be stable. For antenna masts, the MBO requires verification by a structural engineer from 10 metres in height; this is not expressly regulated for flagpoles, but the manufacturer’s specifications are what counts.
More in the guide to flagpole installation.
Fall zone and surroundings
A pole that breaks or tips over can reach roughly as far as it is tall. Houses, carports, paths, playgrounds and neighbouring plots within this zone are then affected. Overhead lines also play a role in choosing the location. Under section 836 BGB, the possessor of the property is in principle liable for damage caused by collapsing or detaching parts if the damage results from faulty construction or inadequate maintenance. More in the guide to flagpole safety.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is a garden flagpole in Germany usually?
For gardens and family homes, 6 to 7 metres is common, and smaller plots often have 5 metres. In front of company and public buildings, 8 to 10 metres and more is usual. According to Protokoll Inland, the pole of the Flag of Unity in front of the Reichstag building is 28.5 metres high.
Is there a height limit for flagpoles without a building permit in Germany?
The Model Building Code and, for example, the Bavarian Building Code set no height limit for masts for flags; they are exempt from the permit procedure. A development plan can, however, limit heights, and the state building codes differ in detail. The building control authority of the municipality or district can give information.
Which flag size suits which pole height?
A rule of thumb common in the trade is that a hoisted flag in still air covers at most the upper third of the visible pole. There, 100 × 150 cm is often mentioned for 6 to 7 metres, 120 × 200 cm for 8 metres and 200 × 300 cm from 10 metres.
Does a flagpole have to keep a distance from the neighbouring plot?
Under section 6 of the Model Building Code, setback areas apply to buildings and to other installations that have effects like buildings. Whether this applies to a flagpole depends on the individual case and the particular state law. Regardless of this, a pole that falls over can reach roughly as far as it is tall.
Sources
This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in German:
- Musterbauordnung (MBO), §§ 6 und 61 – Bauministerkonferenz / DIBt
- Bayerische Bauordnung, Art. 57 Verfahrensfreie Bauvorhaben – Bayerische Staatskanzlei
- Arten der Beflaggung – Flagge der Einheit – Protokoll Inland der Bundesregierung
- § 836 BGB – Haftung des Grundstücksbesitzers – Bundesministerium der Justiz
- Fahnenmast-Höhe und Fahnengrößen richtig wählen – Fahnenzentrum Neumeyer (Fachhandel)
Related guides
- Flag sizesStandard formats of the German federal flag from 100 × 150 to 300 × 500 cm, banners, portrait and table flags – with the trade’s rule of thumb for pole height.
- Flagpole installationDoes a flagpole in Germany need a building permit? What building codes, development plans, heritage protection and owners’ law say, plus foundations.
- Types of flagpolesFlagpoles with external or internal halyard, outrigger and telescopic poles, flagstaffs and roof poles: the types of flagpole in Germany and their uses.
- Flag size calculatorThe calculator shows, for a given flagpole height, the matching standard format of the German federal flag, the rule-of-thumb limit and the portrait flag.
- Buying a flagpoleBuying a flagpole in Germany: what affects the price – height, material, halyard, foundation, delivery and installation – and buyers’ rights under the BGB.