Flagpoles for businesses in Denmark: company flags, advertising and liability

Flagpoles at businesses, hotels, shopping centres and office buildings often carry Dannebrog, company flags and foreign flags. For businesses, several sets of rules interact: the Flag Act, police permissions, the Building Act’s rules on signs and the working environment rules. This guide brings together what is specific to businesses.

Which flags can a business raise?

Company and advertising flags

According to the police and Den Store Danske, company flags are fantasy flags not covered by the ban on foreign flags. Dannebrogs-Samfundet writes that no police permission is needed for company, logo and advertising flags unless they bear significant resemblance to the flags of foreign states. Nor do they bear significant resemblance to Dannebrog, and according to Dannebrogs-Samfundet the Ministry of Justice can decide that a flag resembling Dannebrog too closely is unjustified.

Dannebrog in logos and marketing

According to Dannebrogs-Samfundet, Danish businesses producing goods of Danish origin can use the rectangular flag as a mark on products, in company logos, trademarks, on packaging and in advertising. The flag’s appearance, proportions and colours are kept, and no text or symbols are placed on the flag itself. Using the rectangular flag in logos for foreign businesses or goods of foreign origin is not permitted, according to Dannebrogs-Samfundet.

Foreign flags at hotels and businesses

According to the police, hotels, campsites, marinas, larger businesses, museums, sports grounds and border crossings can apply for permission to fly other countries’ flags for foreign guests, and the permission can be permanent. As a rule, no permission is given to fly other countries’ flags on national flag days. When several flags are flown together, the order in the guide to flag protocol applies.

The municipality and signs

Under section 6 D(2) of the Building Act, 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 from bygningsreglementet.dk mentions removing pylon signs and flagpoles at petrol stations as examples. Orders can be issued regardless of whether a building permit has been applied for. Local plans can also contain provisions on signs and advertising.

Flag avenues and own flag days

According to Dannebrogs-Samfundet, a flag avenue on a public road or a private shared road requires permission from the police and the municipality, and whoever puts up the avenue is liable for accidents with fallen poles. According to Dannebrogs-Samfundet, businesses can have their own flag days, for example for anniversaries, and many have flag regulations.

Liability and working environment

As owner, the business is responsible for the flagpole being soundly installed and maintained. When employees raise flags on tall poles or work on flagpoles on roofs and façades, the Danish Working Environment Authority’s rules on preventing falls from height apply: ladders only for short, light work, and a guard rail, scaffolding or other protection where there is a risk of falling. More in the guide to flagpole safety.

Lighting flags at night is covered in the guide to flag lighting, and the Flag Act in the guide to foreign flags in Denmark.