Lighting the flag at night in Italy
Published Written by Flagpole Guides
This page is an English translation of the Italian original. Where the two versions differ, the Italian text is the original.
Many Italian public buildings fly the flag at night too, with a floodlight trained on the Tricolore. D.P.R. no. 121/2000 permits this on one condition only: the place is adequately lit. This guide describes the rules, the most common lighting solutions and the limits linked to light pollution.
What the rules provide
| Source | Rule |
|---|---|
| D.P.R. no. 121/2000, article 4 | Flags as a rule not raised before sunrise and lowered at sunset; flying at night permitted only if the place is adequately lit |
| D.P.R. no. 121/2000, article 4 | At polling stations, flags flown until the end of the count |
| Regional laws (for example Abruzzo, Basilicata, Piedmont, Veneto, Sicily) | Regional flag flown from 8 a.m. to sunset; after sunset only if adequately lit |
According to the State Ceremonial Office's publication on the flag, it is nonetheless desirable for flags to stay up at night, as happens on many public buildings, provided the places are lit. The general rules are in the guide to the flag rules.
Floodlights on the ground
The most common solution is a floodlight on the ground or on the façade, aimed at the flag. For a ground-mounted pole, one or more floodlights at the base are often used, positioned to light the flag as it flies in different directions. For balcony staffs, the floodlight is often fixed to the façade. LED floodlights use little energy and last a long time.
Lights at the top of the pole
There are also lights mounted at the top of the pole, below the finial, which light the flag from above. This solution limits the light spilling into the sky and needs no cables in the ground if powered by a solar panel. Lights at the top add weight and wind area, and the manufacturer states whether the pole is suitable. The parts of the pole are described in the guide to flagpole accessories.
Light pollution
Several regions have laws against light pollution, which regulate outdoor lighting to reduce the light spilling into the sky and energy use. In Lombardy, for example, the subject is governed by regional law no. 31 of 5 October 2015. These laws commonly favour lighting from above and set limits on installations aimed at the sky. The municipality can clarify which rules apply to a floodlight for the flag.
Cables and electrical installation
A mains-powered floodlight needs a cable, often buried as far as the pole. Digging can meet existing cables and pipes, as described in the guide to flagpole installation. Connecting to a building's electrical system is work for a qualified electrician, and safety is covered in the guide to flagpole safety.
On feast days
On national days the flag sometimes stays up after sunset. The condition in D.P.R. no. 121/2000 on lighting the place applies in these cases too. The occasions are described in the guide to flags on holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Can the flag stay up at night?
Under article 4 of D.P.R. no. 121/2000, flags are as a rule lowered at sunset, and flying them outdoors at night is permitted only if the place is adequately lit.
Does the State Ceremonial Office recommend flying at night?
According to the State Ceremonial Office's publication on the flag, it is desirable, as actually happens on many public buildings, for flags to stay up at night, provided the places are adequately lit.
Are there limits on upward lighting?
Several regions have laws against light pollution. In Lombardy, for example, regional law no. 31 of 5 October 2015 governs outdoor lighting to reduce light pollution and energy use. The municipality can clarify the rules that apply to a floodlight.
Sources
This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in Italian:
- D.P.R. 7 aprile 2000, n. 121 (articolo 4) – Normattiva
- La Bandiera: cenni storici e norme per l'esposizione – Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, Ufficio del Cerimoniale di Stato
- Legge regionale 5 ottobre 2015, n. 31 (illuminazione esterna e inquinamento luminoso) – Consiglio regionale della Lombardia
Related guides
- Flag rulesThe rules on using the Tricolore in Italy: who flies it, flying hours, dignity of the flag, one flag per staff, private use and protection under criminal law.
- Flagpole accessoriesThe accessories of a flagpole: finial, pulley, halyard, snap hooks, counterweight, cleat, lockable box, hinged base and rotating arm.
- Flags on holidaysThe Tricolore on Italy's national days: 25 April, 1 May, 2 June, 4 October and 4 November, the flag days and the holidays without a flag rule.
- Flagpole safetyFlagpole safety in Italy: the wind zones of the NTC 2018, weather bulletins, distances from power lines, buried cables and working at height.