England fans risk £2,500 fine if they flout St George's Cross flag rules
England supporters are being urged to check the rules before proudly flying the St George's Cross outside their homes, or risk a whopping £2,500 fine.
With the Lionesses storming into the Women's Euro 2025 final this Sunday against Spain, excitement is reaching fever pitch. But while the nation gets ready to cheer on the team, there's a little-known planning law that could turn celebrations into a costly nightmare.
If you're planning to fly an England flag during the big match, the government has mostly relaxed the rules, but there's a major catch. While you're allowed to fly flags from your rooftop, including England, Scotland, Wales, the NHS, LGBT Pride, and even Commonwealth country flags, the trouble starts when the flag is flown from a pole sticking out from the side of your house.
In that case, size really does matter. Flags projecting from anywhere other than the roof must not exceed 2 square metres in size. If you go bigger than that, you're breaking the law.
If you live in a protected area like an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), then you might need special consent just to put the flag up at all. And if you don't comply, you could be slapped with a fine of up to £2,500, and potentially face daily penalties until the flag is taken down.
To stay on the right side of the law, follow these top tips - roof-mounted flagpoles are your safest bet as no size limit applies here, unless you're in an AONB. Side-mounted poles, from windows or balconies, should be under 2m², otherwise you are at risk of getting reported. People are also allowed to fly two flags from the same pole, but one must be a national flag and placed on top.
According to the official guidance, all flags must be in good condition and safely displayed, on private property with the owner's permission, not blocking official signs or creating transport hazard, and taken down if ordered by the planning authority.
Flags which don't need permission include UK national flags (in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), flags of the Commonwealth, UN or any UK-member international organisation, regional and local flags (e.g. Yorkshire, Wessex, Black Country), His Majesty's forces and Armed Forces Day flags, and Pride and NHS flags when flown correctly.
So, before you deck out your home in red and white to support the Lionesses, make sure you know the rules, or you could be left footing a hefty legal bill instead of celebrating a win.
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