Superintendent Sign Rules: What Must Be on It
The superintendent sign is the one tenants actually use. When the heat goes out at 10 PM or a pipe leaks, this is the sign they walk up to. That's why HPD cares about it, and why it's the first sign that goes out of date.
Here's exactly what must be on it, where it goes and how to keep it current.
What the law requires
In short: Buildings with 3 or more apartments must post a sign at the building entrance with the name, address, apartment number and phone number of the super, janitor or housekeeper. The rule is HMC Section 27-2053.
HPD's wording uses "janitor," but it means whoever takes care of the building day to day. In a big building that's a live-in super. In a small building it might be a handyman, a management company or the owner.
The 4 things on every super sign
- 1NameThe person responsible for building services.
- 2AddressWhere they can be found, whether that's in the building or nearby.
- 3Apartment numberIf they live in the building, which unit.
- 4Phone numberA number that actually gets answered, including after hours.
We print your super's details on a clean metal sign. Order the superintendent sign, $45
Where to post it
At the building entrance, where people see it on the way in. Most owners mount it in the vestibule next to the registration number sign. The registration sign also lists super info, so keeping both together means one quick update when things change.
Do small buildings need a live-in super?
Not always. In general, NYC requires buildings with 9 or more apartments to provide janitorial service. A janitor who lives in the building or within 200 feet is required when 13 or more families live there and the owner does not. Smaller buildings can arrange janitorial services another way, like a super who covers several buildings or the owner handling it.
Either way, the sign is still required. If you are your own super, put your own name and number on it. We cover that in HPD Signs for 3 Family Houses.
When to update it
Any time the super, their apartment or their phone number changes, the sign needs to change too. This is one of the most common sign violations we see, simply because owners forget. A few habits help:
- Order the new sign the day you hire.
Make it part of onboarding a new super, right next to handing over keys.
- Update the boiler key notice too.
If the super holds the boiler room key, the boiler room key notice needs the new name as well.
- Use a number that rolls over.
A management office line that forwards after hours means fewer sign changes.
What this looks like in practice
Picture a building in Washington Heights where tenants keep calling a number that goes nowhere. The sign lists the super's old cell phone from three years ago. Nobody notices until a tenant calls 311 about no hot water and says they couldn't reach anyone. The fix is one new sign and five minutes to mount, but it would have been much easier before the complaint.
A simple routine prevents this: every January, walk each building with the checklist and call the number on every super sign. If it doesn't ring through, update the sign that week.
Super sign vs registration sign
They both mention the super, so people ask if one can replace the other. They are two separate requirements. The registration number sign shows the HPD number, address and super info together. The super sign focuses on who to call for building services and must be at the entrance. Most owners simply mount both side by side and update them at the same time.
Common mistakes
The big ones: a phone number that goes to voicemail every time, a super who left two years ago, a handwritten note taped over the old name, and a sign posted inside the lobby where nobody sees it from the door. Each one makes it harder for tenants to get help, which is exactly what inspectors look for.
Quick answers
Can the sign list a management company instead of a person?
The law asks for the janitor or housekeeper's details. If a company provides those services, list the contact who responds and a phone that gets answered.
Can I be my own super?
Yes, many small building owners are. Post your own name, address and phone number.
Does the super sign need to be in Spanish?
HPD doesn't require Spanish for this sign, but many owners add it in buildings where tenants speak Spanish.
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.