Basic Rules for Flying the Flag at Half-Staff

City Hall Flag Half-staff

​As the City agency responsible for maintaining municipal buildings, DGS performs the duty of raising, lowering, and replacing the flags as appropriate. Per the US Flag Code, one should mark solemn occassions by flying the US flag at half-staff. The following rules have been adapted from the code for general use and include rules for local and state flags:

  1. The Maryland flag should be flown at half-staff whenever the U.S. flag is so flown. The Baltimore City Flag should be flown at half-staff whenever the Maryland flag is so flown.
  2. When flown at half-staff, any flag should be hoisted briskly to the peak for an instant and then lowered slowly to half-staff. Before being lowered for the day, the flag should again be raised to the peak.
  3. When the U.S. flag and the Maryland flag are flown together at half-staff, whether from adjacent staffs or from a single staff, the U.S. flag is raised first and lowered last. When flown from a single staff with one halyard, the Maryland flag is secured to the halyard immediately below the U.S. flag and accompanies it as the U.S. flag is raised to the peak and lowered to half-staff.
  4. The US Flag shall remain at half-staff for the period prescribed by the President or the US Flag Code (in cases of the death of certain federal officials). The Maryland flag shall remain at half-staff for the period prescribed by the Governor or his authorized representative.
  5. Those who wish to be notified automatically by email when the President or Governor orders the flag lowered should follow the link below to visit the State of Maryland website and enter their email address on the right side of the page. http://sos.maryland.gov/Pages/Services/Flag-Status.aspx
  6. The Maryland flag and/or Baltimore City Flag should be flown at half-staff when so ordered by Baltimore City government officials on all property under their jurisdiction.
  7. On Memorial Day, the U.S. flag and Maryland flag are displayed at half-staff until noon only; then they are hoisted to the top of the staff.
  8. For more information visit http://sos.maryland.gov/Pages/Services/Flag-Protocol.aspx