What we build
The highest-value sign on most Manhattan storefronts
A flat fascia sign only works for someone standing across the street. A blade sign works for the person already on your sidewalk, thirty feet away, walking toward you. On a dense block with awnings, scaffolding, and delivery traffic, it is usually the only sign a pedestrian actually sees.
- Non-illuminated blade signs
- Routed aluminum, HDU, or dimensional acrylic panels on a decorative bracket. The usual choice in landmark districts, where the Landmarks Preservation Commission generally prefers unlit projecting signs.
- Halo-lit blade signs
- Reverse-lit lettering on a projecting panel, so the glow reads at night without an internally lit box. Popular on masonry facades in the West Village, Tribeca, and along Ladies' Mile.
- Double-sided lit cabinets
- Sealed aluminum blade cabinets with push-through acrylic faces and LED illumination — the strongest pedestrian read on a busy avenue frontage where lighting is permitted.
- Bracket & scroll work
- Custom fabricated steel brackets, powder-coated or blackened, engineered for the wall type — brick, limestone, terracotta, or a steel storefront frame.
NYC reality check
What governs a projecting sign in New York
- A projecting blade sign attached to the street wall needs a DOB sign permit filed by a licensed sign hanger — we file as contractor of record.
- Projection over the sidewalk and required clearance above grade are limited by the NYC Zoning Resolution and Building Code — we size to the district before fabricating.
- Landmark districts require LPC approval before DOB will issue a permit; bracket design and finish are reviewed alongside the sign face.
- Illuminated projecting signs are restricted in residential districts and limited in C1/C2 commercial overlays.
- Anchoring is engineered to the wall assembly, so the landlord's structural review and COI requirements are satisfied on the first submission.
Filing it yourself? Start with our guide to NYC sign permits, then the borough-by-borough regulation breakdown.
Process
Survey to sign-off
- 01
Frontage survey
We measure the fascia and pier width, photograph the facade, and pull zoning plus landmark status for the address.
- 02
Shop drawings
Scaled elevation, projection dimension, clearance, and bracket detail — ready for the landlord and DOB.
- 03
Permits
DOB sign application, LPC filing where the district requires it, and DOT permits when the install crosses the walkway.
- 04
Fabrication
Panel, letters, brackets, and LED system built and finished in our Manhattan shop.
- 05
Install & sign-off
Union-certified crew with lift or scaffold access, night work on busy corridors, and final DOB sign-off.
FAQ
Blade sign questions we get weekly
- How far can a blade sign project over the sidewalk in NYC?
- Projection and required clearance above the sidewalk are set by the zoning district and the Building Code, and a permitted projecting sign is typically limited to a modest projection with generous clearance above grade. We confirm the exact allowance for your address during the survey and detail the sign to it, so nothing has to be rebuilt after the DOB review.
- Do I need a permit for a blade sign?
- Yes. Any sign attached to the building's street wall — including a projecting blade sign — requires a DOB sign permit filed by a licensed sign hanger. In a landmark district you also need Landmarks approval before DOB will issue.
- How much does a blade sign cost in New York?
- Cost tracks size, whether it's illuminated, the bracket design, and the access needed to install. Send frontage dimensions and a photo of the storefront and we'll return a written quote, usually within one business day.
- Can a blade sign be installed in a landmark district?
- Yes, and it's often the sign type Landmarks likes best. Expect an unlit or halo-lit panel with a period-appropriate bracket, reviewed by LPC before the DOB filing.
- How long does a blade sign project take?
- Roughly 4–8 weeks. Fabrication is 2–3 weeks; permitting drives the rest — a straightforward DOB filing runs 2–4 weeks and a landmark review adds more.
- Do you install blade signs outside Manhattan?
- Yes — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Our shop and office are at 315 7th Ave in Manhattan.