The issue of displaying flags in homeowner’s yard was resolved at the District 8 board meeting this week. The little American flag, State flag, military flags and responder flags are permitted and protected by State law to be placed and displayed anywhere on a homeowner’s property.
This issue arose when Community Standards received a complaint about a small-removable American flag displayed in the Village of Tamarind Grove. A Village official came out and told the owner to remove the little flag. And, reluctantly he did.
The homeowner asked me, as his Board representative, to look into this. And, I did.
I found that under Florida law, citizens are permitted and protected to display the American and other official flags at their homes. I presented this legal information to Community Standards and they took it under advisement and later issued a statement.
“After reviewing Florida Statute 720.304, Staff have determined that the small ground-inserted flag in question should now be viewed as a portable and removable flag display. As such, it will not constitute a (deed) violation….The District will recognize the statutory protections afforded to homeowners….”
This legal protection for flag displays applies to all residents in all Districts throughout The Villages.
Happily, this good law prevailed. And homeowners can proudly display year round two (small) portable, removable flags in a respectful manner, as well as flags on an approved flagpole or a flag attached to your home. (For more information, contact Architectural Review Board.)
I must commend Community Standards for their good judgement on this controversial issue. Here, we had a happy ending. I hope there are more to come.
Wayne Anderson of the Village of Tamarind Grove is a supervisor in Community Development District 8.