Permits & development · 10/14/2026
City Planning to take over building street numbers from Borough Presidents
The Department of City Planning proposed rules to take over assigning street numbers to buildings from the Borough Presidents on January 1, 2027, under a 2025 Charter change. The rules set application requirements and fees, display standards and limits on vanity addresses. HPD would enforce them for residential buildings and DOB for non-residential buildings.
CPublished by The City RecordRead the original ↗
What happened
The Department of City Planning (DCP) has proposed new rules on how buildings get their street numbers. The notice ran in The City Record on October 14, 2026. The rules carry out Charter changes that New York City voters approved on November 4, 2025.
Borough Presidents have historically assigned street numbers. Under the Charter, the Director of City Planning takes over that job on January 1, 2027. DCP's proposal adds a new Chapter 16 to Title 62 of the Rules of the City of New York. It covers applications for street number assignment and verification, display requirements, vanity addresses, and enforcement. A change to Chapter 3 would set non-returnable application fees. Government agencies would not pay them. The notice does not list the fee amounts. Once adopted, the final rules would replace Borough President street number rules as of January 1, 2027.
The display rules closely follow current Borough President rules and city codes. Numbers must be at least five inches tall and in Arabic numerals. Enforcement would not change. DOB would enforce the rules, including for non-residential buildings. HPD would enforce them for residential buildings. DCP says it understands HPD would treat a violation as a Class B hazardous violation, and owners who do not comply would face a civil penalty. The Fire Department also enforces street number requirements under the Fire Code.
Vanity addresses, such as an out-of-sequence number, a different street name, or a place name, would stay at the Director's discretion. Factors include historical context, how close the building is to the requested street or place, and effects on mail delivery and emergency services. To use a different street name, the tax lot must have frontage on that street. A public hearing is set for 10:00 a.m. on November 17, 2026, at 120 Broadway.
Key facts
- Agency
- NYC Department of City Planning (DCP)
- Hearing
- 10:00 a.m., November 17, 2026, City Planning Commission Hearing Room, 120 Broadway, Lower Concourse. Remote testimony by video or phone also allowed.
- Comment deadline
- November 17, 2026. Mail must be postmarked by that date.
- How to comment
- Email [email protected], fax 212-720-3303, mail, the NYC rules website, or speak at the hearing for up to three minutes.
- Accommodation requests
- By November 4, 2026, at [email protected] or 212-720-3366
- DCP takes over numbering
- January 1, 2027
- Number size
- At least five inches tall, in Arabic numerals
- HPD violation class
- DCP understands HPD would treat a violation as Class B hazardous
What it means
Landlords
From January 1, 2027, you would apply to DCP, not your Borough President, for a new street number or a verification, and pay a non-returnable fee. Residential buildings that do not display numbers correctly could get an HPD Class B hazardous violation and a civil penalty.
Buyers and owners
Anyone planning a new building or a vanity address would apply to DCP. For a vanity address on a different street, the tax lot must have frontage on that street, and the Director decides each request.
Tenants and voucher holders
The display rules largely match current requirements, so most buildings should see little change. Clear, visible numbers help with mail delivery and emergency services.
The highlights
- Public hearing Nov. 17, 2026 at 10 a.m. at 120 Broadway; comments due that day.
- HPD would treat a violation of these rules as a Class B hazardous violation.
- Street numbers must be at least 5 inches tall and shown in Arabic numerals.
Why it matters Landlords
Residential owners whose street numbers do not meet the rules could face an HPD Class B violation and civil penalties.
What to do: Send comments to [email protected] by November 17, 2026.
Not known yet
- The dollar amounts of the street number assignment and verification fees
- The size of civil penalties for violations
- Whether buildings with existing numbers will need to verify or reapply
- How applications pending with Borough Presidents will be handled after January 1, 2027
Background
New York City agencies change their rules through the process in Section 1043 of the City Charter. An agency publishes the proposed rule in The City Record, takes public comment and holds a hearing, then publishes a final version that may differ from the proposal. HPD enforces the Housing Maintenance Code in residential buildings. It sorts violations into Class A (non-hazardous), Class B (hazardous) and Class C (immediately hazardous). Owners must correct each violation within a set period and certify the correction to HPD.
Summary written by Bulwark from the The City Record’s announcement. The original story is at a856-cityrecord.nyc.gov. This is general information, not legal advice.
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