Apartment Door Fire Safety Notice: Size and Placement
The fire safety notice doesn't just go in the lobby. It goes on the back of every apartment door, at a specific height and size. It's the sign tenants see every time they leave home, and the one owners forget most when apartments turn over.
The quick answer
In short: The FDNY fire safety notice goes on the inside of each apartment's main entrance door. It's 5.5 x 8.5 inches not counting the frame, and no part of it may be lower than 4 feet or higher than 5.5 feet from the floor. The rule is 3 RCNY Section 401-06.
The placement rules
- 1Inside the main entrance doorOn the inside surface, facing the tenant, of the door they use to leave the apartment.
- 2Between 4 and 5.5 feet highThe whole notice must sit in that zone, measured from the floor.
- 3Every apartmentIncluding the super's unit and any apartment the owner lives in.
Size and material
5.5 x 8.5 inches, not counting the frame. Larger is allowed for large print or extra languages.
A sheet under clear plexiglass, laminated with a firm backing, or a matte vinyl decal at least 3 mils thick.
Clear, contrasting letters, at least 10 point. English required, other languages optional.
Must match your building type. See fireproof vs non fireproof.
Need door notices for every unit? Tell us how many apartments and your building type. Order fire safety notices
When to replace them
The FDNY rule says to replace a missing or damaged apartment door notice before a new tenant moves in, or any time a tenant asks in writing. Owners can charge a reasonable replacement cost. The easiest habit is to add "check fire safety notice" to your turnover checklist, right next to testing the smoke and CO alarms.
Installing on different doors
- Metal doors.
A vinyl decal or adhesive backed plate goes on cleanly. Wipe the door first.
- Wood doors.
Small screws or strong tape both work. Avoid nails that split the panel.
- Fire rated doors.
Don't drill into a fire rated door. Use adhesive or a decal so the rating isn't affected.
What this looks like in practice
Say a 16 unit building turns over three apartments over the summer. In two of them, the old door notice was painted over during renovation. The super adds one decal per door before move in day, measures 4 feet up with a tape, and keeps the notice inside the zone. Done in minutes, and nothing for an inspector to flag.
Don't forget the lobby
The same notice also goes in a common area near the mailboxes (our lobby placement guide shows where), along with part I of the building's fire safety guide. And stairwell doors need their own red close the door sign. Our complete checklist covers how these fit with everything else.
Official sources: FDNY 3 RCNY 401-06, HPD Required Signage.
Quick answers
How high does the apartment door fire notice go?
No part of it may be lower than 4 feet or higher than 5.5 feet from the floor.
Does my own apartment need one if I live in the building?
Yes. The rule applies to each dwelling unit's main entrance door.
Can I charge tenants if they remove it?
The FDNY rule lets owners charge a reasonable cost when replacing a missing or damaged notice.
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.