Rules & Licenses · New York City
Street Banners Need DOT Approval Before They Brand a Corridor
BIDs, local groups, and event organizers should treat street banners as a DOT permit process, not a decoration decision.
Published June 24, 2026 · Last verified June 24, 2026
A banner over or along a Manhattan street may look like neighborhood branding, but DOT treats it as a permit. The official Street Banner Program allows approved banners to be installed on streetlights citywide.
The banners may promote public events, cultural exhibits, civic work, and neighborhood identity. Business Improvement Districts and Local Development Corporations may also use them to promote their districts.
Start with the permit portal, not the printer. Applicants can file, upload papers and artwork, list the banner count and locations, and track the review.
Before filing, settle the event or civic purpose, artwork, banner count, and streetlight sites. Keep the artwork, location list, form, and DOT messages together.