A flame retardant polymer latex coating composition comprising ring-brominated aromatic monomer units of the formula (I): ##STR7## and alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer units of the formula (II): ##STR8## in which X=1 to 4, R1 is --H or --CH3, R2 is --H or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R3 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, said ring-brominated aromatic monomer uni