[Opinionated Blowhard]

This was handled the wrong way by the city and they should cut this guy a break but if you need a permit to put up a flag poll, then you need to get the permit.

[G Larry]

Send the city a copy of your DD-214 and tell them:

“THIS is my ‘building permit’!”
“What have YOU done to earn your Freedom?”

[rhoda_penmark]

Ignoring local regulations and then crying “persecution just because I am patriotic” is really no different than what the liberal whiners do.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

[luvbach1]

His neighbor is a “Progressive.” Just a guess.

[kingu]

...building permits for flag poles.. Blegh, I can even vaguely understand the reason why there’d be a requirement, if it wasn’t anchored correctly, you’re sticking a missile in your front yard come the next hurricane.

[grobdriver]

Because Schaffer rents the house he would have to pay a contractor nearly $1,000 to put in a flagpole.

Gotta be more to this story.

What, he wanted to fly a flag on the house and the city said he had to install a flag pole?
He had already put up a flagpole and failed to get a permit for it?
Sucky reporting (by the station) when one is left with questions - and the source had nothing more.

[FlingWingFlyer]

A “building permit” to put up a flagpole. ROTFLMAO!!! What do you need if you want to put a shed in your backyard? A grazing permit? What a bunch of low tier public servant buffoons.

[longtermmemmory]

florida has a specific US flag display exemption law. It depends on the length of the flagpole etc.: 720.304 Right of owners to peaceably assemble; display of flag; SLAPP suits prohibited.— (1) All common areas and recreational facilities serving any homeowners’ association shall be available to parcel owners in the homeowners’ association served thereby and their invited guests for the use intended for such common areas and recreational facilities. The entity or entities responsible for the operation of the common areas and recreational facilities may adopt reasonable rules and regulations pertaining to the use of such common areas and recreational facilities. No entity or entities shall unreasonably restrict any parcel owner’s right to peaceably assemble or right to invite public officers or candidates for public office to appear and speak in common areas and recreational facilities. (2)(a) Any homeowner may display one portable, removable United States flag or official flag of the State of Florida in a respectful manner, and one portable, removable official flag, in a respectful manner, not larger than 41/2 feet by 6 feet, which represents the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or a POW-MIA flag, regardless of any covenants, restrictions, bylaws, rules, or requirements of the association. (b) Any homeowner may erect a freestanding flagpole no more than 20 feet high on any portion of the homeowner’s real property, regardless of any covenants, restrictions, bylaws, rules, or requirements of the association, if the flagpole does not obstruct sightlines at intersections and is not erected within or upon an easement. The homeowner may further display in a respectful manner from that flagpole, regardless of any covenants, restrictions, bylaws, rules, or requirements of the association, one official United States flag, not larger than 41/2 feet by 6 feet, and may additionally display one official flag of the State of Florida or the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, or a POW-MIA flag. Such additional flag must be equal in size to or smaller than the United States flag. The flagpole and display are subject to all building codes, zoning setbacks, and other applicable governmental regulations, including, but not limited to, noise and lighting ordinances in the county or municipality in which the flagpole is erected and all setback and locational criteria contained in the governing documents. (c) This subsection applies to all community development districts and homeowners’ associations, regardless of whether such homeowners’ associations are authorized to impose assessments that may become a lien on the parcel. (3) Any owner prevented from exercising rights guaranteed by subsection (1) or subsection (2) may bring an action in the appropriate court of the county in which the alleged infringement occurred, and, upon favorable adjudication, the court shall enjoin the enforcement of any provision contained in any homeowners’ association document or rule that operates to deprive the owner of such rights.

[longtermmemmory]

florida has a specific US flag display exemption law. It depends on the length of the flagpole etc.:


720.304 Right of owners to peaceably assemble; display of flag; SLAPP suits prohibited.—
(1) All common areas and recreational facilities serving any homeowners’ association shall be available to parcel owners in the homeowners’ association served thereby and their invited guests for the use intended for such common areas and recreational facilities. The entity or entities responsible for the operation of the common areas and recreational facilities may adopt reasonable rules and regulations pertaining to the use of such common areas and recreational facilities. No entity or entities shall unreasonably restrict any parcel owner’s right to peaceably assemble or right to invite public officers or candidates for public office to appear and speak in common areas and recreational facilities.

(2)(a) Any homeowner may display one portable, removable United States flag or official flag of the State of Florida in a respectful manner, and one portable, removable official flag, in a respectful manner, not larger than 41/2 feet by 6 feet, which represents the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or a POW-MIA flag, regardless of any covenants, restrictions, bylaws, rules, or requirements of the association.

(b) Any homeowner may erect a freestanding flagpole no more than 20 feet high on any portion of the homeowner’s real property, regardless of any covenants, restrictions, bylaws, rules, or requirements of the association, if the flagpole does not obstruct sightlines at intersections and is not erected within or upon an easement. The homeowner may further display in a respectful manner from that flagpole, regardless of any covenants, restrictions, bylaws, rules, or requirements of the association, one official United States flag, not larger than 41/2 feet by 6 feet, and may additionally display one official flag of the State of Florida or the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, or a POW-MIA flag. Such additional flag must be equal in size to or smaller than the United States flag. The flagpole and display are subject to all building codes, zoning setbacks, and other applicable governmental regulations, including, but not limited to, noise and lighting ordinances in the county or municipality in which the flagpole is erected and all setback and locational criteria contained in the governing documents.

(c) This subsection applies to all community development districts and homeowners’ associations, regardless of whether such homeowners’ associations are authorized to impose assessments that may become a lien on the parcel.

(3) Any owner prevented from exercising rights guaranteed by subsection (1) or subsection (2) may bring an action in the appropriate court of the county in which the alleged infringement occurred, and, upon favorable adjudication, the court shall enjoin the enforcement of any provision contained in any homeowners’ association document or rule that operates to deprive the owner of such rights.....

====snip====

[stuartcr]

This isn’t about the flag, it’s about the flagpole

[I Drive Too Fast]

I would ask the owner of the house for permission to paint the outside as an American Flag. It would probably annoy the neighbor more.

[Wanderer99]

Maybe he was supposed to fly the Obama logo instead?

[longfellow]

Wow it’s a good thing the japs on iwo didn’t ask for the building permit. F the neighbor and F the town. I am sending this Marine one of our famous suction pup marine corps mascot dog.

[Texas Fossil]

I emailed the Mayor and his councilmen politely shaming them.

Guess we will see if they “fix” this.

[plain talk]

$1,000 for a flagpole? How large is it? Should not cost that much.

[forgotten man]

Even in California it is illegal for a homeowners association to ban the American flag.

[plain talk]

$1,000 for a flagpole? Why? Should not cost that much.

[Candor7]

Any bets that the complainant voted for Obama....twice?

[Rebelbase]

Misleading headline.