The Short Answer
- Every multiple dwelling with one or more rent stabilized units must post the notice (HMC 27-2104, added by Local Law 86 of 2025, in effect since January 26, 2026).
- It must show the building address, the HPD registration number and HPD's statement that the building has rent stabilized units, with DHCR contact details.
- Post it in the common area, where tenants and visitors see it, usually the entrance lobby.
- English and Spanish are required. HPD offers the notice in nine more languages for buildings that want them.
Who Must Post the Notice
The rule covers multiple dwellings (three or more apartments) that have at least one unit subject to the Rent Stabilization Law of 1969. It does not matter how many units are stabilized: one is enough.
A 20-unit building where 3 apartments are rent stabilized. A co-op or condo where some rented units are still stabilized.
A building with no stabilized units at all, such as a new market-rate building or one where every unit has left stabilization.
Buildings in a tax benefit program (such as 421-a or J-51) often have stabilized units. Check the DHCR registration before deciding.
The notice tells tenants that stabilized units exist and how to check whether their own apartment is registered. It does not list which apartments are stabilized.
What the Notice Must Say
- HPD's statement that the building contains one or more units subject to the Rent Stabilization Law of 1969.
- DHCR contact details so tenants can check whether their apartment is registered: 718-264-3800 or hcr.ny.gov.
- A note that owners must register stabilized units with DHCR every year.
- The building address and the HPD property registration number.
Use HPD's own wording from its model notice. We set the official text, add your address and registration number, and send a proof before printing.
Where the Notice Goes
The law says the common area. In practice, the best spot is the entrance lobby at eye level, near the other HPD notices and the mailboxes, where every tenant passes each day.
| Spot | Works well | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance lobby wall | Yes, the most common choice | Behind a door that stays open |
| Next to the mailboxes | Yes, tenants stop there daily | Above the mailboxes, too high to read |
| Vestibule between doors | Yes, if lit and dry | A spot exposed to rain or direct sun |
| Lobby notice board | Yes, as a decal or framed panel | Paper pinned among flyers |
Languages
English and Spanish are required. HPD also publishes the notice in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Russian and Urdu. Buildings with many tenants who speak one of these languages can add a third version. We can set two languages on one sign or make a matching second panel.
Size and Material
HPD does not set a size for this notice. Its general rule is that notices must be large enough to be readily seen in public areas. Most owners match the rest of their HPD set:
| Material | Look | Life |
|---|---|---|
| Brushed aluminum | Silver with black print | Many years indoors |
| White rigid plastic | White with black text | Long life indoors, lower cost |
| Framed print | Printed notice under a clear cover | Easy to update if the registration number changes |
| Matte vinyl decal | Applied to an existing lobby board | Good for boards with room left |
8.5 x 11 in is a common size: big enough to read the statement in both languages and the same size as the other lobby notices.
Common Mistakes
Tears, fades and goes missing. Inspectors see it, and so do tenants.
The HPD registration number is part of the required content, not optional.
Spanish is required. A single-language notice is incomplete.
Need the rest of the set too? See the full HPD signs checklist, the new gas detector notice and every sign on our HPD signs page.
Send the building address and the HPD registration number. We send a proof with HPD's wording in English and Spanish.
Who must post the rent stabilization notice in NYC?
Owners of multiple dwellings with one or more apartments subject to the Rent Stabilization Law of 1969 (HMC 27-2104, Local Law 86 of 2025).
What must the rent stabilization sign say?
HPD's statement that the building has rent stabilized units, DHCR contact details, the building address and the HPD property registration number, in English and Spanish.
Where do I post the rent stabilized notice?
In the building's common area, usually the entrance lobby near the other HPD notices and the mailboxes.
Is there a required size for the notice?
HPD does not set one. Notices must be large enough to be readily seen. 8.5 x 11 in matches most lobby notices.
Does the notice list which apartments are stabilized?
No. It says the building has stabilized units and tells tenants how to check their own apartment with DHCR.
Ask a Sign Maker
Have a question about the rent stabilized notice for your building? Send it with your building address. A project manager answers by email within one business day.
Abie B. 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