Flagpole heights in Denmark: common heights and local plans
Published Written by Flagpole Guides
This page is an English translation of the Danish original. Where the two versions differ, the Danish text is the original.
The height of the flagpole determines how visible the flag is, how large it can be and how much the pole dominates the garden and the neighbourhood. In Denmark there is no national rule on height, but Bolius and Dannebrogs-Samfundet describe a practice, and local plans can contain provisions. This guide brings together the common heights and what can limit them.
Common heights
| Property | Common height according to Bolius |
|---|---|
| Detached house in a residential area | 7–10 metres |
| House on a larger plot | Up to 12 metres |
| Smallest models in Bolius’ price overview | 3 metres |
According to Bolius, a flagpole of 7, 8 or 10 metres suits most suburban gardens.
Height in relation to the house
The sources agree that the flagpole rises above the house, so the flag can be seen from the road:
- Bolius: The pole rises well above the roof and most of the planting. One and a half to two metres above the roof ridge is mentioned as suitable.
- Dannebrogs-Samfundet: A flagpole is normally 2 to 3 metres taller than the tallest building, and the height of the house, the size of the plot and the surroundings are part of the consideration.
Dannebrogs-Samfundet’s table of flag sizes has a column for building heights: a 6-metre building goes with an 8-metre flagpole, and a 10-metre building with a 13-metre pole.
Neighbours
According to Bolius, it is fine for the flagpole to be taller than the house and some of the planting, but it is good practice that it is not so visible that it disturbs the neighbours. That applies to both its height and its position on the plot. Out of common courtesy, the pole stands five metres inside the boundary according to Bolius, and Dannebrogs-Samfundet mentions the same distance.
Local plans and easements
The Building Regulations do not mention flagpoles. According to the guidance on section 6 D of the Building Act, however, the Act’s concept of building also covers fixed structures such as a flagpole, and under that provision the municipality can set requirements for the external design of buildings when building work requires a permit. According to Bolius and Dannebrogs-Samfundet, a local plan or an easement can contain requirements for flagpoles. More in the guide to flagpole installation.
Height and flag size
The taller the pole, the larger the flag. According to Dannebrogs-Samfundet, the flag’s height is about one fifth of a free-standing pole’s length: about 1.6 metres on an 8-metre pole and about 2 metres on a 10-metre pole. A larger flag puts more load on the pole in the wind, and it is the manufacturer that states which flag size the pole is designed for. The sizes are shown in the flag size calculator and in the guide to flag sizes.
The types are described in the guide to types of flagpoles, and the price of tall and short poles in the guide to buying a flagpole.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is a typical flagpole at a Danish detached house?
According to Bolius, a flagpole of between 7 and 10 metres is normal for an ordinary detached house in a residential area, while houses on larger plots can have a flagpole of up to 12 metres.
How much taller than the house is the flagpole?
Bolius mentions one and a half to two metres above the roof ridge as a suitable height. Dannebrogs-Samfundet writes that a flagpole is normally 2 to 3 metres taller than the tallest building, so the flag is visible.
Is there a maximum height for flagpoles?
There is no national height limit for flagpoles in the Building Regulations. A local plan or a registered easement can contain provisions on height and position, and the municipality can give information for the individual property.
Can neighbours complain about a tall flagpole?
According to Bolius, it is fine for the flagpole to be taller than the house and some of the planting, but it is good practice that it is not so visible that it disturbs the neighbours, in terms of both height and position. Out of common courtesy, it stands five metres inside the boundary, according to Bolius.
Sources
This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in Danish:
- Hvor høj skal flagstangen være? – Bolius
- Flagstænger og flagregler – Bolius
- Sådan bruges Dannebrog, 2nd edition (2019), pp. 18–20 – Dannebrogs-Samfundet (formerly Danmarks-Samfundet)
- Bekendtgørelse om bygningsreglement 2018 (BR18) – Retsinformation
- Vejledning om byggelovens § 6 D – Bygningsreglementet.dk
Related guides
- Flag sizesDanish flag sizes: Dannebrog’s 28:37 proportions and Dannebrogs-Samfundet’s table of flags, pennants and standers for flagpoles from 2 to 20 metres.
- Flagpole installationFlagpole installation in Denmark: the Building Act, local plans and easements, coastal protection, distance to the boundary, foundation and position.
- Types of flagpolesTypes of flagpoles in Denmark: free-standing poles with a base or tilting bracket, external and internal halyards, poles on buildings and flag avenues.
- Flag size calculatorFlag size calculator for Dannebrog: flag, pennant and stander sizes for flagpoles from 2 to 20 metres, from Dannebrogs-Samfundet’s table and the one-fifth rule.
- Buying a flagpoleBuying a flagpole in Denmark: what affects the price – height, material, halyard, base, delivery and installation – and buyers’ rights under Danish law.