What started as what one side purports is a patriotic gesture has now become a full-blown legal battle. The City of Greenville, North Carolina, has officially filed a lawsuit against Camping World over a massive American flag flying high above its dealership. Now it’s Greenville’s Camping World flag suit.
The dispute centers around the size of the flag and its 130-foot pole, both of which exceed the city’s zoning code limits. The flag itself measures a whopping 3,200 square feet, pushing the size of a basketball court. According to Greenville officials, city ordinances cap flagpole height significantly lower, and Camping World’s display has been out of compliance since it first went up in October 2023.
Gloves are off—Greenville’s Camping World flag suit
Now, the legal gloves are off. On June 4, Greenville filed a civil suit in Pitt County Superior Court, asking for a court order to remove the flag and demanding payment of more than $10,000 in unpaid civil penalties. Officials say the company has only paid about $650 to date. The fine is continuing to accrue at the rate of $250 per day, excluding weekends and some holidays, until the matter is resolved. [A copy of the Complaint is included in this article from wcti12.com.]
For some in the community, Camping World’s flags are more than decoration. They’re icons. Travelers often use them as navigation points or simply appreciate their bold display of patriotism while crisscrossing the country. The company has made these flags a trademark at many of its locations, and the one in Greenville is no exception.
Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis has been unflinching. “The flag isn’t coming down,” he said previously—positioning the issue not as a zoning debate but a matter of principle and freedom. To some, the lawsuit feels like overreach by city government. But not everyone agrees.
Greenville officials argue that this isn’t about patriotism—it’s about following the same rules that apply to everyone else.
Greenville’s Camping World flag suit—a long road to court
The city first issued a violation notice to Camping World on October 31, 2023. Since then, the company hasn’t challenged the ruling, nor has it brought the site into compliance. The tension came to a head in March 2024, when the City Council voted 4-2 not only to deny a proposed ordinance change that would have made the large flag legal, but also to move forward with legal action.
Councilmembers Les Robinson and Monica Daniels were the two dissenting votes—both opposing the lawsuit. The rest of the council, however, argued that consistent code enforcement was at stake.
What’s next?
The case is now in the hands of the courts. Greenville is asking for an injunction—essentially a court order—to remove or modify the display and collect the unpaid fines. The city has also left the door open for addressing any other related code violations at the site.
As the case moves forward, RVers, travelers, and free speech advocates alike will be watching.
MORE CAMPING WORLD FLAG POSTS
• Camping World closes dealership after flag dispute
• Camping World CEO’s defiance leads to legal battle: Civil suit filed
• Camping World fines piling up for giant flag
• North Carolina panel slaps Lemonis over giant Camping World flag
• Council caves to Lemonis’ demands over Camping World flag display
RVT1212b
Good for the city. Rules apply to all, not some.
I haven’t been able to find it but was the zoning rule in place before they started building?
There was a situation near me where a fruit stand flew a huge USA flag, but were outside the city. Well, the city wanted the sales tax revenues from all the non-food items they sold and annexed them. Then filed suit claiming the fruit stand needed to reduce the size of the flag, per zoning codes!
I’m flagging this site for updates.
That sounds appropriate, Kelly. And it’ll be interesting to see who gets the checkered flag on the final lap, whenever that might be.🏁 Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane
If, by any chance, Lemonis wins, it’s just going to allow more and more of this type of action in other towns and cities and not just by CW.
Zoning rules are in place for a reason, whether it’s to protect the public or to keep unwanted or dangerous situations at bay.
I wonder how many people would want a Camping World or any large business built in their residential area, just because a company wants to?
Lemonis and his people signed an agreement knowing all the stipulations and regulations, and should be forced to stand by it.
This is not a Patriotic gesture, it’s an Ego trip.
“I wonder how many people would want a Camping World or any large business built in their residential area, just because a company wants to?”
That is completely different from flying a flag. Sorry to say, but that is a really silly comparison.
If he were truly a patriot he would have read 4 U.S. Code Chapter 1 Section 8.
(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.
This isn’t about patriotism or free speech. Either of those could be accomplished while following the laws of Greenville.
He is using it as a means of advertising, whether he intended to or not isn’t something we can debate but it is clear it is now a form of advertisement.
I hope he is ordered to follow zoning laws and put his flag and flag pole in compliance. Oh, and pay the fines like any good, patriotic citizen would do.
I had posted in the first article about the patriotic part. If he really wants to show his Patriotism, he could just display multiple, smaller, flags around the tops of the buildings.
Thank you for the update, Russ and Tina! You go, Greenville!! 🙂 I think Eric Blair/George Orwell described Lemonis’ attitude very well: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal.” Have a great weekend and safe travels!
More money for the local lawyers and a chance for some council member to have their hurt feelings addressed. I am sure the local folks have no problem with this, why should anyone else.
Except for the fines, he probably doesn’t pay the lawyers. They’re probably on his payroll or insurance pays the lawyers.
So if CW can openly and willfully violate city codes, and some residents are OK with that, then I wonder if I could move in next door to them with some hogs in a pen? Or maybe play loud music all night long in my yard? After all, why should Marcus be able to violate city codes and no one else can?
By this point, Lemonis and his schtick have simply become tiresome. His giant flags are nothing but stunts to get himself free publicity. I hope Greenville nails him.
I believe that Camping World is using the American flag as a form of advertising. I don’t see how any reasonable person could determine otherwise. Also, the local laws regarding pole and flag size were created for a reason. Camping World is not in compliance and should have to pay.
Not just pay, but follow the rules!
What about the giant flags at NFL games or NASCAR races? Showing patriotism is not a one size fits all proposition. I’m no Lemonis fan by any stretch but unless there is a safety reason (airport, etc) then it’s all semantics.
What giant flags at NFL games or Nascar races? The ones spread out on the field? Pretty sure NFL stadiums and race tracks comply with local ordinances.
Nowhere have I seen that this is a public safety issue. This is a government who has randomly assigned a rule in their jurisdiction based on feelings and nothing else. There are plenty other cities and towns where this wouldn’t be an issue.
I have no dog in this fight but the optics suggest to me CW is using the flag akin to how a business uses those flailing tube air dancers; to draw attention.
If CW chose to use something like a giant helium filled Snoopy balloon, I wonder how many people would defend Lemonis’s disregard for the community ordinances.
I think if CW wanted the city’s ordinance to change, he should have taken them to court PRIOR to putting up his flag and pole, not after. By doing it this way, he is in the wrong – not them. Their ordinance may or may not have a valid reason, but if you want it changed, go about it legally.
Just another example of the ultra-wealthy believing themselves to be above the law, and following the now established pattern of the offender-in-chief to act first (usually in the middle of the night to hide the work) then claim “patriotism” as the defense. This is always followed by threatening to bankrupt the city who has less legal fee tolerance to fight.
Oh, but I bet the city gladly accepts all the revenue they make off Camping World. If CW is so wealthy, maybe they should move outside the city and fly their flag. I am sure the city would love to lose the revenue.
The flag issue only became an issue after Marcus Lemoinis made the ill advised comment in 2017 in opposition to President Trump denounced all side in the tragic Charlottesville incident. Lemoinis made the statement to the effect, if you voted for Donald Trump your business is not welcome here ! Folks took it to heart, and stocks plummeted, they even resorted to renaming some locations to the name of a recently acquired company, in order to boost sales!
Camping WORLD recently closed it’s Marion, NC store, and Campground without WARNING ! Employees and Customers arrived to find a notice on the door stating This Location is Permanently Closed !
Worse than Camping WORLD shutting out Employees, and Customers out at the Marion, NC location, without WARNING, there were many Hurricane Helene Survivors, still living in campers, at the Camping WORLD Campground Rally Park at the Marion location, but Camping WORLD was merciful to them, and gave them a WEEK TO VACATE THE PROPERTY !
I’LL get out of RVING before I ever spend another dime at CAMPING WORLD ! ! !
Honestly of all the problems in this world and they are fighting over the flag being too big – really? I can think of a few other things to waste my time on