Flagday

Flag rules · LV

Flag rules in Latvia

Latvian law requires flag-flying at buildings of public and private-law legal persons and at residential buildings on specified celebration and mourning days. Election-day duties apply to polling stations. Private flag-flying is also permitted for family celebrations and other occasions, with due respect for the flag.

09:00hoist no later than
21:00lower no earlier than

When the flag must and may be flown

  • On 1 and 4 May, 21 August, 11 November and 18 November, the flag must be flown at public buildings, buildings of private-law legal persons and residential buildings.
  • The same building categories are covered on the statutory mourning days of 25 March, 14 and 17 June, 4 July and the first Sunday in December.
  • The flag may also be flown for national, local, family and other celebrations.

Official source

Hoisting and lowering

  • Where the flag is not permanently flown, it must be hoisted no later than 09:00 and lowered no earlier than 21:00 on statutory days.
  • For a celebration or ceremony, it may be hoisted when the event starts and lowered when it ends.
  • Permanent display must keep the flag clearly visible and dignified.

Official source

Mourning

  • On a façade staff, mourning is marked by a black ribbon above the flag.
  • The ribbon is one twentieth of the flag's width and as long as that width.
  • On a freestanding pole, hoist the flag to the top and then lower it to half-mast without a ribbon; before lowering it fully, return it to the top.
  • If several flags are displayed, only the Latvian flag receives the mourning treatment.

Official source

Elections and neighbouring flags

  • On election days, the Latvian flag is flown at polling stations; this duty applies to those sites and is not a general requirement for every public building.
  • On 16 and 24 February respectively, the Lithuanian and Estonian flags accompany the Latvian flag only at the Holy Spirit Tower of Riga Castle, the main Saeima building and the Cabinet building.

Official source

Placement and precedence

  • Place the flag where it is clearly visible and does not touch the building, ground, trees or other objects.
  • Multiple flags must be equally wide and their poles equally high.
  • On a façade, the Latvian flag is on the left as viewed facing the façade when paired with one other flag; with three or more flags it takes the place of honour under the regulation's order.

Official source

Pennant, condition and responsibility

  • A Latvian pennant may be flown, but it does not replace the national flag on a mandatory flag day, is not used on a façade staff and is not placed in mourning.
  • The flag must be clean, unstained and undamaged; a worn flag is disposed of discreetly.
  • Sanctions distinguish between types of violation and responsible persons: the law should not be read as automatically fining every private omission to display a flag.

Official source