OCTOBER 3, 2026 — Oakland County, Michigan, has initiated an effort to replace its decades-old flag with a new design that adheres to contemporary standards, opening the submission process to participants worldwide, reports the Oakland Press.
The current emblem, adopted in May 1970, features a maize-coloured oak tree alongside the founding year “1820” set against a green field. Local authorities acknowledge that the original banner fails to meet several key principles established by the North American Vexillological Association, specifically those discouraging the inclusion of numerals or text and emphasizing simplicity, a restrained colour palette, distinctiveness, and meaningful symbolism.
To manage the transition, the local government created the Flag Leadership and Advisory Group (F.L.A.G.) following a resolution passed in June 2025, says the county website.
Local officials express hope that the initiative will engage both design enthusiasts and the broader community while creating a visual symbol better aligned with the region’s contemporary character. “Nearly six decades have passed since the current flag was adopted,” said Commissioner Brendan Johnson and chair of F.L.A.G.
“The county has experienced tremendous growth since 1970 when the current flag debuted, and this presents an opportunity for us to look toward our next century under a new, more representative emblem. More than that too, very few of our residents even know Oakland County has a flag.”
“Flags are powerful symbols and our current flag needs updating to meet proper principles of effective design,” said Commissioner Robert Smiley, who sits on the F.L.A.G. group. “I’ve been a design professional my whole life and I’m pleased to lend my experience to help redesign our flag for future residents to enjoy.”
The advisory committee, composed of elected commissioners, administrative representatives, and regional historians, will assess all incoming proposals. The group retains the option to select a single entry or combine elements from multiple submissions, with design professionals brought in to assist during the final refining stage.
Submissions are open to the public without age or residency restrictions through January 4, 2027. However, the process requires artists to forfeit all intellectual property rights to their entries, and the county is offering no monetary compensation or financial prize for the winning design.
