Overview Forms & Standards Enviro. Review WRP

Step 3: Preparation of Land Use and Environmental Applications

Land Use Forms and Standards Legal Documents Environmental Review Forms

COVID-19 Update:

On April 19, Emergency Executive Order No. 108 suspended Section 11-06 of Title 62 of the Rules of the City of New York concerning POPS signage requirements to the extent such Section imposes a deadline for the submission of a complete design review package by owners of POPS that either 1.) does not have previously approved signage, or 2.) does have previously approved signage that does not include a statement that such space is open to the public and hours such space is open, and orders that such deadline is tolled for the duration of the emergency.

The City's Emergency Executive Order No. 108 related to POPS Signage expired as of July 1, 2021. Accordingly, as of July 1, 2021 the aforementioned deadlines have been reinstated and are now due on November 23, 2021.

If you have further questions related to POPS Signage please email: POPSSignage_DL@planning.nyc.gov.

Overview

In 2017, the New York City Council adopted Local Law 116 as amended by Local Law 250 (“Local Law”), requiring public space signage at all new and existing privately owned public spaces (“POPS”), as defined in the Local Law. In 2019, the Department of City Planning (“DCP”) updated the POPS logo, which now must be included on such signage.

The provision of clear, visible, and readable signage is essential to identify POPS and provide information about the POPS, such as the hours of access, required amenities, and the names of those responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the POPS.

These illustrative POPS signage samples meet the requirements of the NYC POPS Standards and Specifications linked below. Variations are permitted if the signage complies with the requirements.

Applicability

The term “privately owned public space” is defined in the Local Law as follows:

a plaza, residential plaza, urban plaza, public plaza, elevated plaza, arcade, through block arcade, through block galleria, through block connection, open air concourse, covered pedestrian space, publicly accessible space or sidewalk widening provided for in the Zoning Resolution, now or previously in effect;
such other privately owned outdoor or indoor space required to be open to the public and for which the DCP maintains a record in the privately owned public space data set accessible through the open data web portal that is linked to nyc.gov or successor website pursuant to New York City Administrative Code section 23-502; and
such other privately owned outdoor or indoor spaces required to be open to the public pursuant to any of the following actions occurring on or after January 1, 2001:
1. A decision, authorization, certification, or special permit issued by the City Planning Commission (the “Commission”);
2. A certification issued by the Chairperson of the Commission (the “Chair”);
3. A variance of the Zoning Resolution or special permit issued by the Board of Standards and Appeals; or
4. Action taken by the City Council pursuant to section 197-d of the Charter of the City of New York.
  Such term does not include any waterfront public access areas regulated pursuant to article 6 chapter 2 of the Zoning Resolution.

Such term does not include any waterfront public access areas regulated pursuant to article 6 chapter 2 of the Zoning Resolution.

Design Review Process

A new DCP rule related to signage for POPS (“POPS Rule”) was added to Title 62 of the Rules of the City of New York in January 2020 and will be effective on February 5, 2020. The POPS Rule includes instructions for posting this signage. Prior to installing signage, owners must submit to DCP a design review package for approval that includes the below components.

DCP created the document “New York City Privately Owned Public Spaces Signage Standards and Specifications” to guide property owners through the process.

Application Component	Standards	Samples/Forms
A copy of the most recently approved drawings, if any, of the privately owned public space or spaces, provided on 11x17 paper
A plan for a signage system, prepared in accordance with the Standards and Specifications	New York City Privately Owned Public Spaces Signage Standards and Specifications	Sample

Applicants may download the Privately Owned Public Spaces Signage Symbol file at DCP's Required Graphic Symbols website.

For POPS established on or after October 1, 2017, signage must include a site map, displaying the boundaries of the POPS relative to other structures on the zoning lot and adjacent streets or public ways. For further guidance on site maps, please download the DCP POPS Site Map Guidelines.

Filing with DCP

A digital copy of the complete design review package should be emailed to POPSSignage_DL@planning.nyc.gov.

At the point of submittal, a fee in the amount of $500, payable to DCP, will be charged for each privately owned public space signage design review that is not part of an application for DCP’s review of a new privately owned public space or the redesign of an existing privately owned public space pursuant to the Zoning Resolution or section 197-c of the Charter of the City of New York.

Compliance

Property owners of POPS without any previously approved signage, or with previously approved signage that does not include a statement that such space is open to the public and the hours it is open, must submit a complete package to DCP within 180 days of the effective date of the POPS Rule (which would have been by August 3, 2020, but was suspended pursuant to Emergency Executive Order No. 108, executed on April 19, 2020.).

COVID-19 Update:

The City's Emergency Executive Order No. 108 related to POPS Signage expired as of July 1, 2021. Accordingly, as of July 1, 2021 the aforementioned deadlines have been reinstated and are now due on November 23, 2021.

For more infrmation please email POPSSignage_DL@planning.nyc.gov.

All other owners must submit a package to DCP within 2 years of the effective date of the POPS Rule (by February 5, 2022, this deadline was not impacted by Emergency Executive Order No. 108). For more details, please refer to the Local Law and Title 62 of the Rules of the City of New York.

Once approved, owners will receive a copy of an approval letter from DCP, and must install approved signage within 90 days from the date of DCP approval. Owners may for good cause, in connection with construction or renovation of the POPS, request extension of the 90 day period from DCP.

Resources

Accessing Records

To obtain copies of records of prior approvals or drawings for a POPS, please submit a request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) at NYC Open Records.

Contact

For all other questions and to submit digital copies of packages, please email POPSSignage_DL@planning.nyc.gov.