The Short Answer
- Most permitted NYC jobs with a construction fence need a project information panel (the “Work in Progress” sign) under Building Code 3301.9.1.
- A sidewalk shed needs a parapet panel with the address and contractor name, plus the posted shed permit.
- Safety signs go inside the site, facing workers. Street and sidewalk closures follow DOT permits and the MUTCD.
- No ads on fences or sheds. Only required signs, a blocked-storefront sign or approved art are allowed.
NYC Construction Site Sign Checklist
Not every site needs every sign. Use this list to match the signs to the work, then check the code section before you print.
| Sign | When it is needed | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Project information panel | Sites with a construction fence on a street frontage | BC 3301.9.1, 1 RCNY 3301-01 |
| Sidewalk shed parapet panel | Every sidewalk shed, one per frontage | BC 3301.9.2 |
| Posted permits | DOB work permit and shed permit, readable from the sidewalk | DOB construction signage rules |
| 311 unsafe conditions notice | Included on the project panel, English and Spanish | BC 3301.9.1.1 |
| Worker safety signs | Inside the site, for real hazards | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.200, BC 3301.9.5 |
| Sidewalk and street closure signs | Any work that closes a sidewalk or lane | DOT permit, 34 RCNY 2-05, MUTCD |
| Noise mitigation plan | Posted at the site for permitted work | NYC DEP noise code |
1. The Project Information Panel
The panel tells the public what is being built and who to call. Under DOB’s construction signage rules and BC 3301.9.1 it goes on each street-facing fence frontage, with one more at each corner when a frontage is over 150 ft. The bottom edge sits 4 ft above grade.
| Panel item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Size | 6 ft wide by 4 ft high. 55 x 36.5 in where the street frontage is under 60 ft. 2 ft 4 in x 4 ft for demolition. |
| Colors and type | White text on DOB blue (Pantone 296), sans serif letters at least 1 in high |
| Content | Rendering (not for demolition), “Work in Progress” title with the use, completion date, owner and contractor names and phone numbers, the 311 notice in English and Spanish, a copy of the primary permit |
| Material | Vinyl, plastic or aluminum, flame retardant to NFPA 701 or UL 214 |
Government-owned or funded projects add content under 1 RCNY 3301-01. Since the 2022 code, one- to three-family homes use the same panel as larger jobs. Only the title changes.
2. The Sidewalk Shed Parapet Panel
Each sidewalk shed frontage gets a parapet panel, 6 ft wide by 3 ft high, blue text on white, showing the street address, the contractor (or owner) name and “For more information, visit nyc.gov/buildings” (BC 3301.9.2). The shed permit is posted too, with the permit number, expiration date and the permit holder’s name, address and phone. Update it when the permit is renewed.
3. Permits and Contact Numbers
Keep the DOB work permit posted where it can be read from outside the fence. On Site Safety jobs, post the DOB contact numbers listed in DOB’s construction signage guidance. Check those numbers against DOB’s page before printing, since they change.
4. Worker Safety and OSHA Signs
Danger, caution and safety instruction signs follow OSHA 29 CFR 1926.200, which is based on ANSI Z535.2. They warn about real hazards (open edges, overhead work, hard hat areas, equipment), they face into the site rather than at the public (BC 3301.9.5), and they come down or get covered when the hazard is gone. A generic sign package is not a substitute for signs matched to the work.
The old DOB worker safety sign rule, 1 RCNY 3301-03, was repealed in June 2025. Site Safety Training requirements now sit in BC 3321, so check the current DOB rule before ordering SST signs.
5. Sidewalk and Street Closure Signs
Closing a sidewalk or a lane needs a NYC DOT permit (34 RCNY 2-05). The signs follow the federal MUTCD and the New York State supplement: Sidewalk Closed signs (R9-9 to R9-11a) with an arrow to the detour, Road Closed (R11-2, black on white) and orange warning diamonds from the W20 series. See barricades and scaffolding graphics for the hardware.
What Is Not Allowed on Fences and Sheds
BC 3301.9.7 bars ads, business messages and pictures on fences, sheds and scaffolds beyond the required signs.
Illuminated signs are not allowed on protective structures (BC 3301.9.8).
A store hidden behind a shed may show a temporary sign up to 4 ft tall, no larger than the sign it blocks (BC 3301.9.6).
Artwork is allowed through the City Canvas program, with Department of Cultural Affairs approval and no logos.
Common Job Site Sign Mistakes
- Printing the panel in the wrong size for a short frontage or a demolition job.
- Leaving an old contractor name or an expired shed permit on display.
- Facing OSHA signs at the sidewalk instead of into the site.
- Using a fence banner for marketing, which the code bans.
- Using non-rated vinyl where the code calls for flame-retardant material.
Signs NYC prints construction signs for general contractors and owners in all five boroughs and New Jersey, with rush turnaround from our Brooklyn shop. In New Jersey there is no statewide project panel, but the construction permit and approved plans must be kept on site (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.16), and towns such as Jersey City and Newark may add their own rules.
Send the permit, the owner and contractor details and the frontage length. We lay out the panel to DOB specs and print it in flame-retardant material.
Job Site Sign Questions, Answered
What size is the NYC Work in Progress sign?
6 ft wide by 4 ft high in most cases. 55 x 36.5 in when the street frontage is under 60 ft, and 2 ft 4 in by 4 ft for demolition.
What color is the DOB project information panel?
White text on DOB blue, Pantone 296.
Does a one-family house job need a project panel?
Yes, when the job has a construction fence on a street frontage. The 2022 code removed the simpler panel for one- to three-family homes.
Can I put my company logo on the construction fence?
Only the information the code requires. Ads and business messages on fences and sheds are banned.
What goes on a sidewalk shed sign?
The street address, the contractor or owner name and “For more information, visit nyc.gov/buildings”, on a 6 ft by 3 ft parapet panel.
Which way do OSHA signs face?
Into the site, toward workers. Signs for the public go on the outside.
Does New Jersey require a project panel?
There is no statewide panel. Keep the permit and approved plans on site and check the town’s rules.
Ask a Sign Maker
Have a question about the signs your job site needs? Send it with the permit type and a photo of the fence or shed. A project manager answers by email within one business day.
Abie S. writes for Signs NYC. Signs NYC has designed, built and installed signs and awnings in New York City since 1995, with shops in Brooklyn and Linden, NJ. About us
Sources and Further Reading
NYC DOB
- NYC DOB: Construction site signage requirements
- 2022 NYC Building Code, Chapter 33 (PDF)
- 1 RCNY 3301-01: Project information panels (PDF)
- NYC DOB: Sidewalk sheds
Safety and streets
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.200: Accident prevention signs
- FHWA MUTCD Part 6: Temporary traffic control
- New Jersey N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.16