Required Signs for Co-op and Condo Buildings
A common question from co-op and condo boards: do HPD sign rules apply to us? Owner occupied buildings sometimes assume they're exempt. For the lobby signs, they're not. Here's what applies, and the few places co-ops and condos are treated differently.
The quick answer
In short: Co-ops and condos with 3 or more apartments are multiple dwellings, so the same lobby signs apply: registration, super, inspection frame, safety notices and floor numbers. The board registers the building with HPD, the smoking policy goes in the bylaws or rules, and a few unit level rules exclude owner occupied units.
What's the same as rentals
- 1The core 8 lobby signsRegistration, super, inspection frame, smoke and CO, gas leak, fire safety, housing guide and floor numbers. See the checklist.
- 2FDNY fire safety noticesIn the lobby and inside every apartment door, matching the building type. See fireproof vs non fireproof.
- 3Close the door signsOn every stairwell door. See Local Law 115.
- 4Window guardsIn 3+ unit buildings where a child 10 or under lives. See window guard rules.
What's different for co-ops and condos
The board registers the building with HPD, not each unit owner. See HPD registration.
The board adds the smoking policy to the bylaws or rules. See Local Law 147.
Owner occupied co-op or condo units used as a primary home are excluded from the stove knob cover rule.
Units rented out by owners still bring tenant notices into play, like the gas leak notice with each lease.
Boards and managing agents can order a matching set for the whole building. See custom lobby signs
Who handles what
In most buildings, the board and managing agent handle common area signs, registration and building wide notices. Unit owners who rent out apartments handle tenant facing notices for their unit, like the gas leak notice with the lease. Clear roles in the house rules prevent things from falling between the cracks.
Lobby design without breaking rules
Co-op and condo lobbies are often renovated and designed. Required signs can match: custom colors, frames and building names are fine, as long as the required wording, sizes and placement stay the same. See custom HPD signs.
What this looks like in practice
Picture a 40 unit Upper West Side co-op whose board assumed owner occupied buildings didn't need HPD signs. A walk through finds no inspection frame, no floor numbers on half the floors and no close the door signs. The managing agent orders a matching black and gold set, the super installs it over a weekend, and the board adds the smoking policy and sign checks to the house rules.
Official sources: HPD: Register Your Property, HPD stove knob cover rules, NYC smoking policy law.
Quick answers
Do co-ops need HPD signs?
Yes. Co-ops with 3 or more apartments are multiple dwellings and need the same lobby signs as rentals.
Who registers a co-op or condo with HPD?
The board registers on behalf of the building, not each unit owner.
Do condos need a smoking policy?
Yes. The board adds it to the bylaws or rules under Local Law 147 of 2017.
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.