Installing a Business Sign: A Step-by-Step Guide

The City’s business sign regulations reduce visual clutter and protect people from dangerously installed signs. Business signs must comply with regulations outlined in the New York City Construction Codes, the New York City Zoning Resolution and the Rules of the City of New York. Special District and Historic District regulations may also apply depending on where a sign is located. Together, these regulations dictate the permissible size, location, projection over sidewalk and illumination of a sign, as well as who may act as applicant for a sign permit and who may install or remove a sign.

There are different types of signs. This guide focuses on installing business signs, which are also referred to as accessory signs. Business signs are signs that direct attention to a business at the sign’s location.

Failure to comply with applicable sign regulations could result in the issuance of violations and the imposition of civil penalties. However, there is currently a moratorium on the issuance of business sign violations (see Local Law 28 of 2019). Under this moratorium, until January 1, 2023, DOB will not issue violations for business signs that existed on or before February 9, 2019, unless the sign is not eligible for the moratorium for reasons such as being an imminent threat to public health or safety. DOB encourages business owners to bring their business signs into compliance during this moratorium to avoid violations and the imposition of civil penalties in the future.

A permit is required to install most business signs. Follow the steps below to ensure that your business sign is properly installed.

STEP 1: Determine the Zoning District of your property, which will inform the type of sign you may install and the sign size limits.

To determine your property’s Zoning District and its applicable Zoning regulations, visit the Department of City Planning’s Zoning and Land Use Application (ZoLa). Your property’s Zoning District will inform how large any individual business sign on your property may be.

The chart below summarizes applicable Zoning regulations, broken down by Commercial and Manufacturing Zoning Districts:

SIZE REGULATIONS IN COMMERCIAL & MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS
District	Sign Type	Size of  Individual  Sign (max)	Surface Area for All Signs1 on a Zoning Lot	Surface Area for Illuminated or Fashing2 SIGNS	Height Above Curb Level (max)
C1   C2	Accessory	150sf	3 x street frontage (150sf total)	Illuminated Only: 3 x street  frontage (50sf total)	25ft
C3	Accessory	50sf	50sf (total)	Not Permitted	25ft
C5 (exc. C5-4)	Accessory	200sf	3 x street frontage (200sf total)	Not Permitted	25ft
C4  C5-4   C6     (exc. C6-5   C6-7)	Accessory	500sf	5 x street frontage (500sf total)	5 x street frontage (500sf total)	40ft
C6-5  C6-7   C7	Accessory	No Restriction	No Restriction	No Restriction	No Restriction
	Advertising
C8	Accessory	Illuminated or Flashing: 500sf Non-illuminated: 750sf	6 x street frontage	5 x street frontage	40ft Illuminated 58ft Non-illuminated or Indirectly Illuminated
	Advertising	Indirect Illumination4 500sf Non-illuminated: 750sf
M1  M2  M3	Accessory	Illuminated or Flashing:  500sf Indirect   Illumination: 750sf5 Non-illuminated: 1,200sf6	6 x street frontage	5 x street frontage	40ft Illuminated 75ft   Non-Illuminated or Indirectly Illuminated7
	Advertising	Indirect Illumination4 750sf5 Non-illuminated: 1,200sf6

STEP 2: Determine if a permit is required to install your business sign.

Permits are not required for certain signs, including signs painted directly onto a building and wall signs of not more than 6 square feet in surface area. Even where no permit is required, signs must comply with and be allowable by Zoning.

If your sign is not painted directly onto a building and is greater than 6 square feet in surface area, a permit is required.

STEP 3: Determine the type of permits required to install your business sign.

The types of permits required to install your business sign depend on the type of sign you wish to install. Required permits may include:

• A Sign Permit, for the size, content and location of the sign;
• An Alteration Type 3 Permit for the structural and installation details of the sign;
• An Electrical Permit for a sign that requires an electrical connection; or
• An Annual Illuminated Sign Permit for signs that are both illuminated and extend beyond the building line.

STEP 4: Determine if you must hire a Registered Design Professional to apply for required sign permits or if a Licensed Sign Hanger can apply for required sign permits.

A Licensed Sign Hanger may act as the applicant and installer for a sign permit for smaller business signs, those that are up to 150 square feet in surface area and up to 300 pounds in weight.

If your business sign is greater than 150 square feet in surface area or greater than 300 pounds in weight, you must hire a Registered Design Professional (a New York State licensed professional engineer or registered architect) to act as the applicant for a sign permit.

STEP 5: Hire a Licensed Sign Hanger to install your business sign.

The raising or lowering of any sign requires a Licensed Sign Hanger. See a list of Licensed Sign Hangers, including their contact information.

Additional Resources

• Zoning District & Zoning Regulations - Determine the Zoning District and applicable Zoning Regulations for your property. Visit the Department of City Planning website at www.nyc.gov/planning.
• Accessory Business Sign Webinar - View the business sign presentation which includes an overview of applicable regulations and information regarding sign installallation.
• Correcting Sign Violations - Get the necessary information to correct sign violations.

Helpful Links

• Outdoor Advertising Registration Program
• Construction Signs
• Inspecting Monopole Structures
• Sign Permit Requirements
• Sign Forms
• Sign FAQs