Flag Status

Flag Standards

Standards and Specifications on the Manufacture and Display of the State Flag of Utah and Historic State Flag

The Lieutenant Governor has created standards and specifications for the manufacture and display of the state flag of Utah and historic state flag as required by Utah Code 63G-1-501 and 63G-1-503.

Definitions
1. “Flags” means the state flag of Utah as described in 63G-1-501 and the historic state flag as described in 63G-1-503.
Manufacture of the State Flags
1. The flags should be of the design and manufactured in accordance with the specifications stated
  in Utah code 63G-1-501(1) and 63G-1-503(1) respectively, and shall be consistent with the images
  provided in 63G-1-501(3) and 63G-1-503(2), respectively.
Display of the State Flags
1. Time and Occasions for Display
  In addition to the display provisions outlined in Utah Code 63G-1-501, 63G-1-503, and Executive Order 2023-04, the state flags should be displayed in accordance with the following:
  1. The flags should be raised briskly and be lowered slowly and ceremoniously.
  2. The flags should be displayed on state holidays and on historic and special occasions. Historic and special occasions may be declared by the President of the United States or the Utah Governor. Under Utah Code section 63G-1-301, state holidays include:
    1. every Sunday, except as provided in Subsection (1)(e);
    2. January 1, called New Year's Day;
    3. the third Monday of January, called Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day;
    4. the third Monday of February, called Washington and Lincoln Day;
    5. the last Monday of May, called Memorial Day;
    6. on the day described in Subsection (1)(f), Juneteenth National Freedom Day;
    7. July 4, called Independence Day;
    8. July 24, called Pioneer Day;
    9. the first Monday of September, called Labor Day;
    10. the second Monday of October, called Columbus Day;
    11. November 11, called Veterans Day;
    12. the fourth Thursday of November, called Thanksgiving Day;
    13. December 25, called Christmas; and
    14. all days which may be set apart by the President of the United States, or the governor of this state by proclamation as days of fast or thanksgiving.
  3. The flags should not be displayed outdoors earlier than sunrise, nor later than sunset.
    1. When a patriotic effect is desired, however, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if directly illuminated during hours of darkness.
  4. The flags should not be displayed during inclement weather, unless an all-weather flag is displayed.
  5. The flags should be displayed on all occasions when the state is officially and publicly represented, and on or near the main administration building of every state property during working hours, including:
    1. State departments or agencies supported in whole or in part by public funds;
    2. State, county, and municipal buildings;
    3. State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency headquarters;
    4. Courthouses;
    5. State park or historic site administrative buildings, located on park property and open to the general public;
    6. Local school districts; and
    7. Upon the grounds or upon the administration building of every public university, college, high school, middle school/junior high school, and elementary school within the state.
  6. The flags, consistent with 63G-1-704 (H.B. 77 effective May 7, 2025), displayed on government property and/or by a government entity as described in 63A-5b-901 may not be displayed with alterations in color, symbols, or appearance.
2. Position and Manner of Display
  1. The flags displayed on all occasions when the state is officially and publicly represented, and on or near the main administration building of every state property must be lowered to half-staff upon order by the Governor. All private citizens, businesses and other organizations may participate in this recognition, as well.
    1. Consistent with 4 U.S.C. 1 §7(m), the flags, when flown at half-staff, should be first raised to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.
  2. The flags should be dipped as a mark of honor to the U.S. Flag, or to the national anthem if the U.S. Flag is not being displayed.
  3. The flags may be dipped as a matter of courtesy to the flag of another nation or to its national anthem if the flag is not being displayed.
  4. When the flags are dipped, care must be taken that it does not touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
  5. When the state flag of Utah, as described in 63G-1-501, and U.S. Flag, as described in 4 U.S.C. 1, are displayed together on a flag staff or pole, the state flag of Utah should be beneath the U.S. Flag.
  6. In accordance with 63G-1-503(6)(c), when displaying the historic state flag on public grounds in any location where the state flag of Utah, as described in 63G-1-501, is also displayed, the governmental entity responsible for the display of the flags shall ensure that the historic state flag is displayed beneath the state flag of Utah.
  7. When the state flag of Utah, as described in 63G-1-501, and the U.S. Flag, as described in 4 U.S.C. 1, are displayed together, the state flag of Utah should be approximately the same size as, but never larger than, the U.S. Flag and displayed to the left of the U.S. Flag.
  8. When the historic state flag, as described in 63G-1-503, and the state flag of Utah, as described in 63G-1-501, are displayed together, the historic state flag should be approximately the same size as, but never larger than, the state flag of Utah and displayed to the left of the state flag of Utah.
  9. The flags should not be carried flat or horizontally but always aloft and free, as they are carried in a parade.
  10. When the flags are displayed on a float in a parade, they should always be attached securely to a staff so they can fly freely.
Abuse of a Flag
1. Abuse of the state flag of Utah, as described in 63G-1-501, and/or historic state flag, as described in 63G-1-503, is prohibited under Utah Code 76-9-601 and is punishable as a class B misdemeanor.