Flagpole planning permission
Updated: October 2026
A 20 ft kit looks like a normal amazon.co.uk buy, at about £60. In England that full height can be what needs consent. Flagpole planning permission, in the Planning Portal’s ordinary case, is one garden pole up to 4.6 metres without an application. A full 20 ft kit is about 6.1 metres, so it can sit outside that sentence. This page is that rule, the cases it does not cover, and how the four nations differ. The [flagpole comparison](/hub/flags/flagpole) ranks the poles. Prices appear here only to show which kits can exceed 4.6 metres. This is not legal advice.
A 20 ft kit looks like a normal amazon.co.uk buy, at about £60. In England that full height can be what needs consent.
A 20 ft kit looks like a normal amazon.co.uk buy, at about £60. In England that full height can be what needs consent. Flagpole planning permission, in the Planning Portal’s ordinary case, is one garden pole up to 4.6 metres without an application. A full 20 ft kit is about 6.1 metres, so it can sit outside that sentence. This page is that rule, the cases it does not cover, and how the four nations differ. The flagpole comparison ranks the poles. Prices appear here only to show which kits can exceed 4.6 metres. This is not legal advice.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Stated height | Mount | Halyard | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Thanaddo Thanaddo 20 ft sectional flagpole | 20 ft | In-ground sleeve | Yes | 9.2 | about £59.99 | View offer |
| Alternative |  NQ NQ 20 ft (6 m) sectional flagpole | 8–20 ft | In-ground sleeve | Yes | 8.4 | about £59.99 | View offer |
| Preis-Tipp |  NQ NQ 5 ft wall-mounted flagpole | 5 ft | Wall bracket | No | 8.0 | about £21.95 | View offer |
On this page
One garden flagpole up to 4.6 metres
The Planning Portal says one flagpole up to 4.6 metres high in the garden does not need an application. Higher than that, or a conservation area, or a listed building, needs consent. GOV.UK’s guide for England says a flagpole in the grounds may not exceed 4.6 metres above ground level. That is about 15 ft 1 in.
Thanaddo and the NQ 20 ft kit are about £59.99, and iElyiEsy is about £69.99. Each is a full 20 ft kit, about 6.1 metres. NQ states 8 ft to 20 ft. The lower settings can sit under 4.6 metres, and the full setting does not. A 5 ft or 6 ft wall pole is under 4.6 metres on height alone and can still be a problem on a listed building. When a maker FAQ says a permanent flagpole always needs permission, that contradicts the Portal’s ordinary case. Follow the Portal.
When that allowance does not apply
The allowance stops when the pole is taller, the house is listed, or the site is a conservation area. GOV.UK also points at National Parks, National Landscapes, the Broads and areas of special control. If you are in one of those, ask the local planning authority.
The flag and the pole are not the same consent. In England the Union Flag needs no consent when it stays safe, tidy, flown with the owner’s permission and clear of traffic signs. A projecting flag is capped at 2 square metres. A wall bracket is not the same case as a sleeve. Plugs against a sleeve are on wall flagpole or garden flagpole. Up to two flagpoles may stand in the grounds, but only one if another flag is already flying from the building.
Two flags, and the Union Flag on top
Since 24 June 2021, two qualifying flags may share one pole. If one flag is the Union Flag, it is flown on top. Thanaddo and the NQ 20 ft kit include a Union flag and an England flag, so the Union Flag is the upper one. iElyiEsy includes one British flag. A second flag you supply still needs the Union Flag uppermost if it is one of the pair.
A black mourning ribbon is allowed where the flag cannot fly at half-mast. How you tie it, and the 45-degree limit, is on how to fly the Union Flag. The 2021 change does not raise the 4.6 metre line.
England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
The Portal sentence is England. Wales is grouped with England for Union Flag flying on GOV.UK’s designated-days page. Do not assume a Welsh council has nothing further to say about a tall pole.
Scotland sits outside English advertisement control. The pole can still be development. Northern Ireland government buildings follow the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, which is not a private-garden height allowance. The Republic of Ireland is outside this page. In an ordinary English garden, one pole at or under 4.6 metres is the Portal’s case for no application. A full 20 ft kit is about 6.1 metres, and you should ask.
Common questions
Do I need planning permission for a flagpole in my garden?
In the ordinary English case, no, if it is one flagpole up to 4.6 metres. You need consent if it is higher, if the house is listed, or if you are in a conservation area. Scotland does not inherit the English advertisement regulations, and the pole there can still be development.
How tall can a garden flagpole be without an application?
Up to 4.6 metres above ground level, for one pole in the grounds, in the English guide. That is about 15 ft 1 in. A flag in the grounds has no size limit in that guide. A projecting flag is capped at 2 square metres. A wall bracket may be that projecting case.
Is a 20 ft flagpole over 4.6 metres?
Yes. Twenty feet is about 6.1 metres, and 4.6 metres is about 15 ft 1 in. Thanaddo, the NQ 20 ft kit and iElyiEsy are full 20 ft kits here. NQ also states 8 ft to 20 ft, so a shorter assembly can sit under the line and the full setting cannot.
Can I fly two flags on one pole?
In England, since 24 June 2021, two qualifying flags may share a pole. If one is the Union Flag, it goes on top. A second flag does not change the 4.6 metre limit. Where you cannot half-mast, a black mourning ribbon is allowed.
Do the English rules apply in Scotland?
Do not apply them as if they did. Scotland is outside English advertisement control, and the pole can still be development. Wales is grouped with England for Union Flag flying, and a tall pole can still be a question for the council. Northern Ireland’s Flags Regulations are for government buildings.
What if my house is listed or in a conservation area?
Ask the local planning authority before the pole goes up. The Portal names both as cases that need consent, including where a shorter pole would otherwise be within 4.6 metres. A 6 ft wall bracket can still be the wrong thing to fix to a listed facade.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources listed in the research digest. Listing prices, stars, and review counts are from amazon.co.uk on 19 October 2026.
- GOV.UK — Flying flags: a plain English guide (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Planning Portal — Can I put a flagpole in my garden, and how tall can it be? (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, Schedule 3 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK — Designated days for Union Flag flying (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Flag Institute — British flag protocol (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- College of Arms — Union Flag FAQs (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE — HSG47 Avoiding danger from underground services (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- LSBUD — Line search before you dig (retrieved 19 October 2026)