Ever walk out of your house in Phoenix or Flagstaff, look up at the post office or a bank, and see the colors sitting halfway down the pole? It’s a somber sight. Honestly, it usually triggers that immediate internal question: Wait, what happened? In Arizona, seeing the flag at half-staff—or half-mast if you’re a sailor—isn’t just a random act of decoration. It is a strictly governed signal of collective mourning.
Right now, if you're seeing a flag half mast Arizona notification or noticing lowered flags across the Copper State, it’s because Governor Katie Hobbs has issued a formal directive. As of mid-January 2026, flags at all state buildings were specifically ordered to half-staff to honor the passing of former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Brnovich was a fixture in Arizona law for years, serving two terms as the state's top lawyer and heading the Department of Gaming.
When a figure like that passes, the Governor’s office sends out an alert that hits every state agency, from the Department of Transportation to the smallest rural office.
Why flags go down in the Grand Canyon State
It's not just big national tragedies that bring the flags down. Arizona has its own specific set of rules. Basically, the Governor has the authority to lower the flags for state officials, first responders killed in the line of duty, or members of the military who called Arizona home and died while serving.
Recently, we’ve seen these orders for people like Firefighter EMT Glenn Collins and even national figures like former Vice President Dick Cheney. The logic is simple: the flag is the soul of the state. When the state hurts, the flag drops.
But here is where people get confused. You might see the flag at half-staff at a state building but full-staff at the car dealership down the street. Why? Because the Governor's order technically only requires state-run facilities to comply. For everyone else—homeowners, private businesses, your local gym—it’s a request. It is a "tribute" you're encouraged to join, but nobody is going to give you a ticket if you don't.
The mark of Mark Brnovich
The recent lowering for Brnovich is a prime example of how this works. He wasn't just a "politician" to many; he was a prosecutor who worked on some of the state's most high-profile cases, including the long-running pursuit of justice for Vicky Lynn Hoskinson. When a person's career spans that much of Arizona’s legal history, the flag lowering acts as a final "thank you" from the public they served.
His flags were ordered down on January 14, 2026. This kind of state-level mourning often lasts for a single day or until the day of interment (the funeral).
The etiquette: How to do it right
If you’ve decided to lower your own flag at home to match the state’s status, there’s a specific "dance" you have to do. You don't just pull it halfway up and tie it off.
First, you hoist the flag briskly all the way to the very top (the peak). You hold it there for a second. Then, you slowly and ceremoniously lower it to the halfway point. When it’s time to take it down for the night, you have to hoist it back to the peak again before bringing it all the way down.
- Morning: Up to the top, then down to the middle.
- Evening: Up to the top, then all the way down.
What if your flag is attached to your house at an angle? You can't really slide that halfway down a five-foot pole. In that case, the proper way to show mourning is to attach a black crepe streamer to the top of the staff. It’s a subtle but recognized way to stay in protocol without needing a 20-foot commercial pole.
Who actually makes the call?
There are basically two people who can tell you to lower the U.S. flag: the President of the United States and the Governor of Arizona.
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The President handles national stuff. Think Memorial Day (where it's half-staff until noon only!), Peace Officers Memorial Day, or the passing of a Supreme Court Justice. The Governor handles the Arizona-specific honors. Sometimes they overlap. If a President orders a national half-staff period, the Governor almost always follows suit for the state flags too.
Sometimes people ask if the Mayor can order flags down. Technically, a Mayor can order flags on city property to be lowered, but they don't have the legal authority under the U.S. Flag Code to order the American flag lowered for everyone. Usually, they'll just coordinate with the Governor’s office to keep things consistent.
Common Misconceptions
- "It's always half-mast." Actually, "half-mast" is a naval term for ships. On land, it’s technically "half-staff." But let's be real—everyone says half-mast and we all know what you mean.
- "The flag stays down for 30 days." Only for the death of a sitting or former President. For most other officials or local heroes, it’s usually just a day or two.
- "I have to lower it if the Governor says so." Nope. If you're a private citizen, it's totally optional. It's about respect, not a mandate.
How to stay updated
If you’re the type who wants to be on top of this—maybe you manage an office building or you’re just a patriotic neighbor—you don’t have to guess. The Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) has a dedicated page for "Half Staff Notifications." You can actually sign up for an email list there.
Whenever Governor Hobbs signs a new order, an email goes out. It tells you exactly who is being honored, what date to lower the flag, and exactly when to move it back to full-staff.
Usually, the notices are pretty brief. They’ll say something like: "In honor of [Name], Governor Katie Hobbs has ordered flags at all state buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on [Date]."
Actionable steps for Arizonans
If you notice the flag half mast Arizona today and want to participate, here is your checklist:
- Verify the reason: Check the official az.gov website to make sure you aren't looking at an old flag or a localized mourning period.
- Check your hardware: If you have a telescoping pole, ensure it’s locked properly at the half-way mark so it doesn't slide down in the wind.
- Mind the timing: Most state orders are for "sunrise to sunset." If you don't have a light on your flag at night, it needs to come down anyway.
- Spread the word: If you're part of a homeowners association (HOA) or a local business group, sharing the official ADOA link helps everyone stay on the same page and prevents "flag confusion" in the neighborhood.
Whether it’s for a fallen soldier from Tucson or a long-serving statesman from Phoenix, these moments of lowered flags are some of the few times we all stop and acknowledge a shared loss. It’s a small gesture, sure, but in a fast-moving world, that bit of cloth sitting a few feet lower than usual carries a lot of weight.