Where to Post Each HPD Sign in Your Lobby
You bought the signs. Now you are standing in the lobby with a drill and a box of plates, wondering where each one is supposed to go. Good question, because the right spot matters almost as much as the sign itself.
Here is the layout we suggest to every customer. It keeps inspectors happy and makes the lobby look cared for.
The quick answer
In short: Put the registration and super signs at the entrance, the inspection frame at or near the mailboxes 48 to 62 inches off the floor, and the safety notices together on one common wall. Then add floor numbers on every floor and the fire safety notice inside each apartment door.
Start with one notice wall
The easiest way to stay organized is to pick one wall near the mailboxes and make it your notice wall. Tenants know where to look, inspectors see everything in seconds, and nothing gets lost behind a door or a plant.
Where each sign goes
Street number on the front of the building, readable from the sidewalk.
Registration number sign in the entrance hall, and the superintendent sign at the building entrance.
Inspection visits frame 48 to 62 inches off the floor, at or near the mailboxes. No mailboxes in the vestibule? Use an easy to reach spot in the vestibule or entrance.
Smoke and CO, gas leak, fire safety, housing guide, plus garbage and rent stabilized if they apply. Keep the garbage notice framed or in plastic.
Boiler room key notice, second copy on the boiler room door. The first copy goes in the lobby.
Floor number sign, usually at the stairs and the elevator landing.
Fire safety notice inside each apartment entrance door.
Need the full list with prices first? Start with the complete HPD checklist.
Layout tips that look professional
- Line up the tops.
Use a level and keep the top edges in one straight line. It instantly looks planned.
- Keep it at eye level.
A good rule of thumb is to center notices around 60 inches from the floor, so everyone can read them without bending.
- Leave a spot open.
Save room for the interruption of service notice, which goes up 24 hours before planned shutoffs.
Every sign comes with mounting holes, ready to hang. Shop required signs
Before you drill
- Lay them out on the floor first.
Arrange the signs on the floor below the wall so you can see the layout before making holes.
- Fill in the details.
Make sure the registration number, super's name and phone and boiler key holder are correct before the sign goes up.
- Take a photo when you are done.
A dated picture of the finished wall is handy if you ever need to show a violation was corrected.
Mounting on brick, tile or marble
Full details are in our screws or tape guide.
On plaster or brick, screws with wall anchors hold best and are hard to pull down. On marble, tile or glass where you don't want holes, strong mounting tape works well on clean, smooth surfaces. In busy lobbies, tamper resistant screws keep signs from walking away.
Small lobby or no lobby?
Plenty of buildings only have a narrow vestibule. Stack the signs in two neat columns, and use the combined smoke, CO and gas detector notice to save space. For small houses, see HPD Signs for 3 Family Houses, which shows a full layout.
Thinking about a digital screen?
Since February 2, 2026, five notices can be shown on a screen: bedbugs, smoke and CO, garbage, heat sensors and interruption of service. It's all or nothing, letters must be at least a quarter inch and bold, the screen must be well lit, and notices need English and Spanish. Everything else stays on the wall.
Quick answers
Can I keep the signs in a locked glass case?
Yes, a bulletin case is a neat option, as long as every notice is easy to see and read.
Does the frame have to be right at the mailboxes?
At or near them, 48 to 62 inches off the floor. If there are no mailboxes in the vestibule, use another easy to reach spot in the vestibule or entrance.
Can I post notices in the elevator?
Floor numbers belong at each landing. Keep the main notices on your lobby wall where everyone passes.
Not sure what your building needs?
Send us your address and number of apartments. We will tell you exactly which signs to order.
General information based on the NYC HPD Required Signage page as of November 2026. Not legal advice. HPD Signs NYC is not affiliated with the City of New York or HPD. Prices may change. Check nyc.gov/hpd for the latest rules.