• DOB Sign or Structural Permit: A DOB Permit is essential for affixing a Sign or Awning to a wall, and separate permits are necessary for additional structures supporting the sign, such as concrete foundations with steel poles, roof structures, banner structures, etc.
• Electrical/Illuminated Sign Tag Permit: This permit is mandatory for electrical inspection during sign fabrication and the final connection of an illuminated sign, conducted by a master licensed electrician.
•  Landmark Permit: The Landmark Commission oversees all historical buildings in NYC and issues three types of permits:
• Minor work: Doesn’t require a DOB permit and won’t impact the building’s architectural integrity, such as painted signs or signs smaller than six square feet, approved at a staff level.
• No effect: Requires a DOB permit but won’t alter the building’s architectural details, approved at a staff level.
• Appropriateness: Used when architectural changes are proposed, necessitating public review by the Landmarks and Preservation Commission. Even after Landmark Approval, DOB structural, Sign, or Electrical Permits might still be necessary

Construction Code §28-105.1 requires Department permits for SIGN displays and installations.

A Sign permit must be filed for the copy, text or image to be displayed.  This is filed through DOB NOW: Build. If the sign is attached to a structure and not directly placed on the wall or façade of a building, then an Alteration permit (ALT) for the structure must be filed with the Department office for the borough in which the sign is located.

SIGN: A “sign” is any writing (including letter, word or numeral), pictorial representation (including illustration or decoration), emblem (including device, symbol or trademark), flag, (including banner or pennant) or any other figure of similar character, that:

• (a)       is a structure or any part thereof, or is attached to, painted on, or in any other manner represented on a building or other structure;
• (b)       is used to announce, direct attention to or advertise; and
• (c)       is visible from outside a building. A sign shall include writing, representation or other figures of similar character, within a building, only when illuminated and located in a window.
• However, non-illuminated signs containing solely non-commercial copy with a total surface area not exceeding 12 square feet on any zoning lot, including memorial tablets or signs displayed for the direction the public, shall not be subject to the provisions of this Resolution.

Almost every sign requires sign permits except

• 28-105.4.5 A sign permit shall not be required where the sign is: 

1. Painted directly on the exterior wall surface of a building or on the surface of a fence;
2. 2. A non-illuminated flat wall sign of not more than 6 six square feet (0.56 m2 ) in area; 
3. Erected by employees of a city agency, including traffic and other similar signs; 
4. A ground sign offering the sale or rental of the premises on which it is erected, provided the sign does not exceed 12 square feet (1.1 m2 ) in area; 
5. Temporary Banners and Graphics erected during construction work and related thereto; 
6. Temporary for special decorative display use for holidays, public demonstrations, or the promotion of civic, welfare or charitable purposes, except that signs that utilize streets or cross streets shall be subject to the requirements of the department of transportation; or 
7. Temporary signs and Banners offering the sale or rental of real property when erected on the premises offered for sale or rent

Banners over 75 sq. with a structure to support/attach the temp banner requires a structural permit for the attachment system.

• Wall signs projecting more than 12 inches beyond the street line, except on C6-5, C6-7, C7 Districts
• Projecting signs, projecting more than 10 feet beyond the street line  (except on C6-5, C6-7, C7 Districts) or closer to the curb line than 2 feet. no  part  of a projecting sign should be  less  than  10  feet  above  the  ground or sidewalk level.

• H103.1Location restrictions: Signs shall not be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape or any window or door or opening used as a means of egress or so as to prevent free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof. A sign shall not be attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape or exterior stair, nor be placed in such manner as to interfere with any opening required for natural light or natural ventilation.
• H103.2 Fire Department access. Signs erected to cover doors or windows required by Section 501.3.2 for Fire Department access to existing buildings shall be provided with access panels to such openings.
• Ground /Pole sign projecting over the property line

Any Illuminated proposed sign requiring an electrical connection must have a separate work permit to install it. This permit is filed by a licensed electrician through DOB NOW: Build.

Except cord-connected signs with an attachment plug.

In short, every time you need to do Electric work, except cord-connected sign designed with an attachment plug.

ELECTRICAL WORK: The installation, alteration, maintenance, or repair of electric wires and wiring apparatus and other appliances used or to be used for the transmission of electricity for electric light, heat, power, signaling, communication, alarm or data transmission

NYC requires ALL illuminated signs be inspected by a NYC Electrical Inspector and the city offers 2 types of inspections, SHOP INSPECTION and FIELD INSPECTIONS.

Electrical Shop Inspection:

This Inspection is performed PRIOR to installation at our Bronx warehouse Located at 1177 east 178th st Bronx NY to have your sign Inspected by a city inspector at our shop, Inspector focuses only on the sign, making sure its properly manufactured, it has UL labels, draining holes, disconnect switches, and proper grounding.

and If everything is good, the sign gets an inspection labeled, and no other inspection is needed in the future.

Field Inspection

Once sign is installed & final connection is complete. We get an appointment with Dept of Buildings, this is a thorough inspection, where they check the sign and the power feed from breaker panel to the sign to make sure circuit is dedicated among many other things.

Field inspections are very time consuming, we must arrive at least 1 hour prior to inspection to set up the truck or lift and have sign open before inspector arrives. the inspection can take 1 hour or more depending on how many signs, If the sign is high or hard to reach, then specialty equipment may also be required and added to the inspection quote.

Additionally, if we fail the inspection or it gets canceled due to the weather, or any other unrelated issue, the project will be subject to a re-inspection fee to go back and complete the inspection.

Therefore, when choosing field inspection, we suggest performing a pre-inspection visit to the site to verify that the store is open, we have access to the electrical room, make sure breaker panel is up to code, and all the electrical work onsite is compliant to avoid failure during actual inspection.

• Signs must be UL Compliant and bear proper UL and Manufacturing sticker (not Handwritten sticker).
• Sign must have draining holes 
• The electrical room and breaker panel. must be accessible, we must know where all the connections are, and the breaker box and breaker number that controls the sign.
• Signs must have a Disconnect Switch, including for remote channel letters. 

If a larger or special bucket truck or lift is required to reach the sign during a Field Inspection, it will be discussed with customer and billed extra.