Types of flagpoles in Portugal

A flagpole can stand in the garden, on the façade or on the roof. Decreto-Lei n.º 150/87 provides for exactly these three positions: under article 9, flagpoles are placed in a place of honour on the ground, on façades or on top of buildings. This guide describes the most common types of flagpoles and where they are used.

Summary of the types

Ground-mounted pole

The ground-mounted pole is the most common type at houses, farms and public buildings. It is fixed in a concrete foundation, through a buried sleeve or a bolted base. A tilting base allows the pole to be lowered for maintenance without working at height. Ground-mounted poles also differ in their halyard: external, running along the pole, or internal, protected inside the tube. These differences are covered in the guide to flagpole mechanics.

Façade pole

A façade pole is fixed to the wall with a bracket, usually angled at about 45 degrees. It is common on terraced houses, apartment balconies and shops. According to a Portuguese supplier, the flag needs room to move without touching the wall, windows or signs, and a pole of 1.2 to 1.5 metres takes a flag of 50 × 75 or 60 × 90 cm.

In a building divided into flats (propriedade horizontal), a pole on the façade can alter the building’s architectural line. Article 1422 of the Civil Code provides that works that change the architectural line or the aesthetic appearance of the building may only be carried out with the prior authorisation of the condominium assembly, approved by two thirds of the total value of the building.

Rooftop pole

Poles on top of buildings are common on public buildings and company headquarters, where the flag can be seen from afar. The pole is fixed to the structure of the roof and is more exposed to wind than a pole in a garden. Installation involves work at height and depends on the capacity of the roof itself, subjects covered in the guide to flagpole installation.

Pole with a yard

A pole with a yard has a crossbar, like a ship’s mast, and allows several flags or signals to be flown. Decreto-Lei n.º 150/87 provides that, on poles with a yard, the national flag is flown at the top of the pole or on the right-hand side when the top is not prepared for use. The rules of position are in the guide to flag protocol.

Telescopic pole

A telescopic pole consists of tubes that slide into one another and can be put up and taken down without tools. It has no halyard, so the flag always stays at the top. It is practical for holiday homes and events, but does not allow half-mast.

One pole or several

Public buildings often have two or three poles in a row, for the national flag, the European Union flag and the flag of the region or municipality. Decreto-Lei n.º 150/87 provides that, with poles of different heights, the national flag always takes the tallest. A company with several poles is covered in the guide to flagpoles for businesses.

Choosing between the types

The choice depends on the space available, the view, the exposure to wind and the municipal rules. Material is covered in the guide to flagpole materials, height in the guide to flagpole heights and price in the guide to buying a flagpole.