Flagpole installation in Denmark: permits, foundation and position

A flagpole is one of the few structures in the garden that the Building Regulations do not mention at all. That does not mean everything is unrestricted. Local plans, easements, coastal protection, neighbour relations and the articles of owners’ and cooperative housing associations can matter, and the foundation is dimensioned for the pole and the wind. This guide brings together the rules and what installation typically involves.

The Building Act and the Building Regulations

Section 5 of the Building Regulations (BR18) lists the building work that can be carried out without applying for a building permit, for example carports, sheds and greenhouses up to 50 m² and garden fireplaces. Flagpoles are not mentioned – neither there nor anywhere else in the Building Regulations.

The guidance on section 6 D of the Building Act from bygningsreglementet.dk does, however, mention the flagpole directly:

• The Act’s concept of building covers not only buildings but also other fixed structures and installations, for example a boundary wall, pergola, terrace, flagpole or antenna.
• Under section 6 D(2), the municipality can issue an order or a prohibition where signs, lighting installations and the like are a nuisance or disfigure the surroundings. The guidance mentions removing flagpoles at petrol stations as an example.

Whether a specific flagpole requires a permit is therefore a question the municipality can answer.

Local plans and easements

According to Bolius, there are no rules on where on the plot the flagpole stands, unless the local plan sets requirements. Registered easements can also contain provisions on flagpoles, especially in development areas with shared declarations.

By the coast

According to the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, the coastal protection line as a rule covers the shore and the area up to 300 metres behind it, in summer-house areas 100 metres or less. Protected coastal areas are prohibited zones where, as a rule, the existing state may not be changed, for example by building or putting up fences. Flagpoles are not mentioned directly on the agency’s page, and an application for a dispensation is assessed case by case.

Distance to the boundary and neighbours

Out of common courtesy, the flagpole stands five metres inside the boundary according to Bolius, and Dannebrogs-Samfundet mentions at least 5 metres. According to Bolius, it is also good practice that the pole is not so visible that it disturbs the neighbours. A pole that falls over, or a flag line that slaps at night, can lead to complaints from neighbours, and many people talk to their neighbours before the pole goes up.

Owners’ and cooperative housing associations

A shared flagpole in an owners’ or cooperative housing association is a decision for the community, and the association’s articles and house rules can contain provisions. For flagpoles on balconies and façades, the association can have its own rules.

Foundation and position

• Base and foundation: According to Bolius, most flagpoles are fixed to a foot or base of concrete or wood that is dug into the ground, possibly with a foundation. The dimensions are given in the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
• Room to lower the pole: Dannebrogs-Samfundet and Bolius mention that there is room for the pole to be lowered when it is sanded, painted or cleaned.
• Distance to trees and buildings: According to Dannebrogs-Samfundet, the pole rises well above the roof of the house and most of the planting, so the flag is visible.
• Cables in the ground: Before digging, it is common to find out where cables and pipes run.

The height is described in the guide to flagpole heights, wind load and working at height in the guide to flagpole safety, and collecting the pole in the guide to flagpole transport.