Borough Guide: Common Building Types in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx
Every borough has its own mix of buildings, and each type comes with its own sign questions. A Park Slope brownstone, a Jackson Heights garden apartment and a Grand Concourse elevator building all need different things. Here's a quick tour, with what to watch for in each.
The quick answer
In short: The building type, not the borough, decides your signs. But each borough has common types: brownstones and walk ups in Brooklyn, 2 family homes and garden apartments in Queens, prewar elevator buildings in the Bronx. Know your type, then follow the checklist.
Brooklyn
Brownstones, row houses and prewar walk ups line much of the borough. Many brownstones are 2 or 3 family homes, so the line between "a few notices" and "the full set" matters. See 3 family houses and 1 and 2 family homes. Older walk ups often have boiler rooms, so the boiler key notice comes up a lot, and many are combustible construction. See how to tell.
Queens
Queens has many attached and semi detached 2 family homes, plus garden apartments and co-op complexes. Basement apartments are a common question, since an added unit can change a 2 family into a 3 family. Co-ops should read required signs for co-ops and condos.
The Bronx
Prewar five and six story elevator buildings, especially along the Grand Concourse, are a big part of the Bronx. These usually need floor signs at the stairs and elevators, the elevator fire emergency sign on each floor, close the door signs on every stair door, and in many cases the rent stabilized notice.
Manhattan
Everything from tenement walk ups to new towers. Larger buildings may consider a lobby screen under the digital signage rule, but the gas leak notice and most other signs still stay on the wall.
Staten Island
Mostly detached and 2 family homes, plus small walk ups. Many owners rent part of their home, so the gas leak notice with each lease and HPD registration if the owner doesn't live there are the big items.
We serve all 5 boroughs, with free shipping over $200 and free pickup at our Brooklyn factory. See areas we serve
Signs by building type
Gas leak notice to tenants, alarms, street number, registration if not owner occupied.
The full core set, scaled down. See our package guide.
Core set plus boiler key, garbage and floor signs on every floor.
Everything above, plus the elevator fire emergency sign on each floor.
What this looks like in practice
Picture a management company with buildings in all five boroughs. A Staten Island 2 family gets a gas leak notice and registration. A Bushwick walk up gets the full set with boiler key notices. A Bronx elevator building gets elevator landing signs, close the door signs and a rent stabilized notice. Same company, three very different orders.
Official sources: HPD Required Signage, HPD Online (check your building type and class).
Quick answers
Do HPD sign rules differ by borough?
No. The rules are citywide. What differs is the mix of building types in each borough.
Does a Brooklyn brownstone need HPD signs?
It depends on the number of apartments. With 3 or more, yes, the full set applies.
Do you deliver to every borough?
Yes, all 5 boroughs, with free shipping over $200. See what signs cost.
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.