CITY SEAL AND FLAG

Ann Arbor City Code tit. I, ch. 9

in effect

Ann Arbor City Code § 1:240A Definitions.

1:240A. - Definitions. (1) City seal means the official seal of the City of Ann Arbor, which was re-adopted by Resolution R-340-7-74 (7/29/74), or any prior official seal, including any cut, facsimile, reproduction, incorporation, likeness, or derivation thereof, which consists of a circular seal consisting of 2 concentric circles with the image of a burr oak tree in the center of the inner circle with the wording "Founded 1824" and "Incorporated 1851" within said circle, circumferentially written and centered over and under the burr oak tree respectively, and with the wording "City of Ann Arbor" and "Michigan" within the annulus, circumferentially written and centered over and under the burr oak tree respectively, and the face of which is substantially as set forth below. [image omitted; see the official code] (2) City flag means the official flag, or any prior official flag, of the City of Ann Arbor, including any cut, facsimile, reproduction, incorporation, likeness, or derivation thereof. The official flag of the City of Ann Arbor is substantially as set forth in the following image and description: [image omitted; see the official code] The official flag of the City of Ann Arbor includes the following elements: The flag consists of a field of green above a field of blue, bisected into equal parts by a horizontal white stripe. The white stripe is approximately 1/10 of the width of the flag (span of the flag parallel to the flagpole). The flag contains an emblem consisting of a burr oak tree set in a white circle. The burr oak tree consists of green foliage and a blue trunk, both colors being the same as the background fields. The diameter of the emblem is approximately 75% of the width of the flag. In the vertical axis, the emblem is centered on the horizontal white stripe. In the horizontal axis, on a flag with a ratio of 3 to 5, the emblem is centered on a point approximately ⅓ of the width from the hoist side (the side nearest the flagpole). (Ord. No. 18-17, § 1, 7-2-18; Ord. No. 24-26, § 1, 10-21-24)

Ann Arbor City Code § 1:240B Custodian.

1:240B. - Custodian. The City Clerk or his or her designee is the custodian of the city seal and city flag.

Ann Arbor City Code § 1:240C Use of city seal and city flag for official use.

1:240C. - Use of city seal and city flag for official use. (1) The city seal and city flag are the exclusive property of the City of Ann Arbor. (2) The city seal may be used by city employees and elected or appointed city officials in connection with the performance of official city business or city sanctioned events, including but not limited to, placement of the city seal on city vehicles, equipment, stationery, the city flag, city websites, handouts for city training sessions, city brochures, city presentations, city uniforms and city issued articles of clothing, city news releases, programs and bulletins, city-sponsored events, and city memorabilia used to promote the city. (3) The City Clerk and his or her designee is authorized to use the city seal on any ordinance, resolution or other instrument approved by the city council or executed by the Mayor, or other city officials, and to use the city seal to authenticate official documents in the conduct of official city business. (4) The city flag may be flown or otherwise displayed by elected or appointed city officials, and by city employees in connection with official city meetings, functions, and events. (Ord. No. 18-17, § 1, 7-2-18)

Ann Arbor City Code § 1:240D Other approved uses.

1:240D. - Other approved uses. The city seal or city flag may be used in any other way that is constitutionally- or otherwise legally-protected. (Ord. No. 18-17, § 1, 7-2-18; Ord. No. 19-02, § 1, 1-22-19)

Ann Arbor City Code § 1:240E Prohibited uses.

1:240E. - Prohibited uses. Except as otherwise expressly allowed in this chapter, no person may knowingly: (1) Display the city flag or city seal in, or in connection with, any advertisement, poster, circular, book, pamphlet, website, web application, or other publication, public meeting, play, motion picture, telecast, or other production, or on any building, monument, or stationery, for the purpose of obtaining anything of value by confusing, deceiving or misleading anyone into a false impression of city action, support, approval, official sanction, sponsorship, or endorsement; or (2) Sell, or purchase for resale, any article that displays the city seal or city flag in a manner that gives the false impression of city action, support, approval, official sanction, sponsorship, or endorsement. (Ord. No. 18-17, § 1, 7-2-18; Ord. No. 19-02, § 1, 1-22-19)

Ann Arbor City Code § 1:240F Offense and remedies.

1:240F. - Offense and remedies. Each violation of any provision of this chapter shall be a civil infraction, punishable by a civil fine of not more than $10,000.00, and shall entitle the city to have it enjoined. (Ord. No. 18-17, § 1, 7-2-18; Ord. No. 19-02, § 1, 1-22-19)

Ann Arbor City Code § 1:240G Severability and conflicts.

1:240G. - Severability and conflicts. If any part or portion of this chapter is, for any reason, held or found to be unlawful or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, then such part or portion shall be deemed separate, distinct and independent parts or portions and, to the fullest extent lawful, such holding or finding shall not affect the validity of the remaining parts or portions of this chapter. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed. (Ord. No. 18-17, § 1, 7-2-18)

Source: City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mi/ann_arbor/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIAD_CH9CISEFLFetched: 11/8/2026