Digital Signs

Effective date: February 2, 2026

Proposed Rule Full Text
HPD-Proposed-Rule-Amendments-regarding-Digital-Signs.pdf

Adopted Rule Full Text
Final-Rule-Amendments-Regarding-Digital-Signs.pdf

Adopted rule summary:

Notice of Adoption

Notice of Adoption of amendments to rules relating to use of a digital sign in the common area of a residential building to advise occupants of certain requirements of the Housing Maintenance Code.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the authority vested in the Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development by sections 1043 and 1802 of the New York City Charter and Administrative Code section 27-2090, and in accordance with the requirements of New York City Charter section 1043, that the Department promulgates amendments to sections 25-101 and 25-201 of Chapter 25 of Title 28 of the Rules of the City of New York, section 46-01 of Chapter 46 of Title 28 of the Rules of the City of New York, section 56-03 of Chapter 56 of the Rules of the City of New York and section 59-01 of Chapter 59 of Title 28 of the Rules of the City of New York relating to the option to use a digital sign instead of posting a printed sign in the common area of a residential building to advise occupants of certain requirements of the Housing Maintenance Code. On July 17, 2025, HPD held a public hearing on the proposed rule amendments. Three (3) comments were received.

Statement of Basis and Purpose

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (“HPD”) is adopting the following amendments to provide building owners with the option of installing digital signage to fulfill five notice requirements set forth in Title 28 of the Rules of the City of New York (“Title 28”) and the Housing Maintenance Code. HPD adopts these amendments because digital signage can be a more efficient means of conveying important information to occupants and guests by engaging occupants to view information easily and efficiently.

HPD amends the following chapters of Title 28 to allow owners to post a digital sign rather than printed signs to comply with signage requirements:

• Chapter 25, subchapter H: Owner's Right to Access to Dwelling Units or Rooms in Multiple Dwellings and Requirements for Notification. This subchapter details the requirement that building owners provide written notice in a prominent place within the public part of a building whenever the owner is required to make a repair that may result in the interruption of essential services for more than two hours.

• Chapter 25, subchapter R: Collection, Retention and Disposal of Garbage, Rubbish and Refuse in Multiple Dwellings. This subchapter details the owner’s responsibility to provide sufficient and appropriate receptacles on premises for the collection of trash generated by the occupants of the premises. Subchapter R also requires that the owner notify all occupants regarding the location of the receptacles and the hours of collection.

• Chapter 46: [[]Housing Information Guide for Tenants and Owners[]]. This Chapter requires the owner of every multiple dwelling to post a notice in the area to which mail is delivered advising occupants in both English and Spanish of the availability of the HPD-published housing information guide, the “ABCs of Housing,” which is available on HPD’s website or by calling 311.

• Chapter 56: Internet Capable Temperature Reporting Devices. This chapter requires the owner of every multiple dwelling that is selected for the installation of one Internet Capable Temperature Reporting Device in each dwelling unit within the selected multiple dwelling to post a notice in the common area of the multiple dwelling regarding the requirements of chapter 56 and of Administrative Code section 27-2033.1.

• Chapter 59: Bedbug Infestation. This chapter requires the owner of a multiple dwelling to provide notice of the property’s bedbug infestation history for the previous year and provide a notice with information about the prevention, detection, and removal of bedbug infestations. Such notices must be provided to each tenant upon commencement of a new lease and with each renewal or by posting in a prominent public location within such multiple dwelling.
Digital signs permitted by these amendments are required to comply with requirements regarding font size and type, placement, lighting, accessibility, and language in order to ensure legibility. If a building owner chooses to use digital signage, such owner must use digital signage for all of the notices affected by this Rule.

This Rule contains cross references to sections of Title 28 as amended by another rule, relating to the installation and maintenance of natural gas detecting devices, which HPD is promulgating at the same time as this rule.

HPD received three comments regarding this rule. One comment recommended the rules provide language allowing the rotation of digital signs. A second comment expressed concern that digital signs would not be displayed for a sufficient amount of time. HPD determined that the proposed language in 28 RCNY §12-01(f)(7), in the companion rule referenced above, to “display the content as required by this section in a manner that is reasonable for viewing and comprehension, which may be accomplished through the simultaneous display of all required notices with the ability to click to enlarge such notices …” was sufficient to address these concerns and further changes were not needed. The third comment suggested more specific guidance on how to install a digital sign. HPD determined that the proposed rule should be limited to the content and specifications on what was displayed, rather than instruct the industry on the specifics of the installation process. Accordingly, HPD determined that no changes were needed.