Touching the Ground

• The rule that most Americans are probably familiar with is the guideline that the flag should never touch the ground, and that applies to residential flag displays as well. In all settings, allowing the U.S. flag to touch the ground is a sign of disrespect, according to ushistory.org, the website of the Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia. Likewise, residential flags should never be tipped or lowered in deference to an individual or flown upside down unless it is a signal of "extreme distress," according to usflag.org.
  
  

Instructions on times of mourning

• Residential flag displays follow the same rules as public displays. Individuals should lower their flag to half mast in response to a presidential or gubernatorial proclamation or upon receiving news of the death of a president, vice president or former president or vice president, according to allabouttheflag.tripod.com. Many residential flag poles cannot be lowered. In this case, a black streamer the length of the flag should be attached right below the spearhead so that it flies above the flag itself, according to gettysburgflag.com
  
  

When to fly the flag

• Residential flags should be flown from sunrise to sunset and only during times of decent weather, according to americanflagstore.com. Residential flags can be flown at night if they are properly illuminated, according to the website.
  
  

Placement

• Not all residential flags can be flown on flag poles. If displaying a flag on a wall or in a window, the union (blue part) should be top left from the observers point of view, according to americanflagstore.com. No flags should be placed above the American flag, according to the americanflagstore. Should two different flags be displayed on crossed staffs, such as a table setting or decoration, the American flag is to its right (observers left), and its staff should be on top of the other flag, according to americanflagstore.com
  
  

Flag size

• Most residential flags are either 3 feet by 5 feet or 4 feet by 6 feet, according to oldgloryflag.com. The flag pole determines the appropriate size for a residential flag. The length of the flag should be one quarter of the size of the pole, according to oldgloryflag.com.