Did you Know you Can Customize Required Restaurant Signs?

What Signs Are Required for Restaurants?

Every new business owner, particularly of a restaurant, should be aware of the required signage to post within their establishment. Much of this required signage is offered by the city in which the restaurant or business is located, but some business owners are choosing to go above and beyond in order to draw in the right customer.

In New York City specifically, the following signs are required for each area of an eatery or bar.

Signs Required for Worker Area:

• Minimum wage
• Fair labor standards act
• Benefits and hours
• Wage deductions
• Tips and taxation
• Unemployment insurance
• Workers’ compensation
• Occupational safety
• Right to know workplace hazards
• Equal opportunity
• Pregnancy rights
• Anti-discrimination
• Employment of ex-criminals
• Veterans benefits
• Disability benefits
• Polygraph protection act notice
• Employee voting leave

Signs for Businesses Employing Minors:

• Permitted working hours for minors

Signs for Waste Areas:

• Recycling instructions
• Private carter information and schedule

Signs for Social Distancing & Hygiene

Your business needs to do its part during the COVID-19 pandemic. Signs and floor decals are important for reminding customers and employees to follow proper social distancing and hygiene guidelines.

You should also make sure your business follows any local occupancy restrictions.

• Social distancing floor decals
• Hand washing signs
• Mask reminder signs
• Maximum occupancy signs

Though these types of signs and certificates can be obtained for free, many upscale and trendy spots are choosing to customize them. Rather than having a standard sign or poster framed on the wall, some restaurant owners are spending extra money to commission illustrations and art that will stand out.

One such establishment is Sauvage in Brooklyn, New York. Co-founder Joshua Boissy said "If you’re trying to stand out in a city with 9 million people you have to find your own way to do that. That’s one of the ways we do that." Most of the time, required signage is generic and hidden in hallways but when these signs are customized they can be displayed as part of the restaurant scheme.

Although standing out in New York City is much more of a challenge than in smaller cities, every business owner is looking for ways to bring in the right customer and keep them coming back. Why not use custom signs and posters to satisfy inspection requirements? As long as restaurant owners follow the rules and include the correct text and visuals, custom compliant signage can be used to complement a restaurant or bar setting, rather than simply meet basic requirements.

Custom signage is available in many sizes, types and materials. Depending on the restaurant or bar aesthetics, business owners can customize brass, vinyl, aluminum or plastic.

Before customizing signs for your eatery or business, make sure you check the local requirements of your city to ensure you include the correct message and visual on each sign.

Helpful Resources:

• Required Labor Posters State Guide
• Dept. of Labor: Workplace Posters