C1-8 Zoning District — New York City
C1-8 is a low-density Local Commercial District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C1-8 at a glance
It allows commercial uses, and generally also housing under the rules of a residential-equivalent district. Under the as of right — narrow street rules, the maximum residential FAR is 7.52 and the maximum commercial FAR is 2. 13 tax lots citywide carry C1-8 as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C1-8
| Context | Residential FAR | Commercial FAR | Community facility FAR | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of right — narrow street | 7.52 | 2 | 10 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-43, § 33-432, § 34-112 |
| As of right — wide street | 7.52 | 2 | 10 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-43, § 33-432, § 34-112 |
Values from the NYC Zoning Resolution, verified 2026-10-06; site-specific overlays, special districts, and waterfront rules can modify them — run a full lookup for a specific lot.
About commercial districts
Commercial districts allow retail, office, and service uses, and most also allow housing under the rules of a residential-equivalent district. Commercial bulk is governed by § 33- of the NYC Zoning Resolution.
Contextual districts pair their floor-area ceilings with prescribed base and maximum building heights so new buildings mirror existing neighborhood form; non-contextual districts govern the envelope through more general height and setback rules, such as sky exposure planes. Commercial districts also allow residences under the rules of a residential-equivalent district, while manufacturing districts generally exclude new residences. Overlays and special purpose districts can modify any of this on a specific lot.
Example lots zoned C1-8
- 301 First Avenue13,186 sq ft lot · 13.18 built FAR · built 1969
- 295 1 Avenue15,456 sq ft lot · 6.36 built FAR · built 1963
- 400 West 58 Street10,041 sq ft lot · 4.86 built FAR · built 1957
- 405 West 57 Street8,611 sq ft lot · 5.09 built FAR · built 1940
- 530 2 Avenue5,875 sq ft lot · 4.84 built FAR · built 1964
- 401 West 57 Street4,690 sq ft lot · 4.32 built FAR · built 1890
- 869 9 Avenue12,542 sq ft lot · 5.73 built FAR · built 1881
- 363 West 57 Street2,000 sq ft lot · 4.65 built FAR · built 1920
- 302 East 30 Street2,123 sq ft lot · 2.01 built FAR · built 1900
- 540 2 Avenue1,515 sq ft lot · 3 built FAR · built 1910
- 538 2 Avenue1,515 sq ft lot · 2.01 built FAR · built 1910
C1-8 — quick questions
- What is the maximum residential FAR in C1-8?
- 7.52, as of right — narrow street, per NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-43, § 33-432, § 34-112. Site-specific overlays, special districts, and waterfront rules can modify it — run a full lookup for a specific lot.
- What is the maximum commercial FAR in C1-8?
- 2, as of right — narrow street, per NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-43, § 33-432, § 34-112. Site-specific overlays, special districts, and waterfront rules can modify it — run a full lookup for a specific lot.
- Is C1-8 a contextual district?
- No. C1-8 is not a contextual district; its building envelope is governed by the district's general height and setback rules rather than a prescribed contextual envelope.
Keep learning
What do the C1-8 rules mean for a specific lot?
PearlAudit resolves the governing zoning for any NYC tax lot — district, overlays, special districts — and cites the Zoning Resolution section behind every rule claim.
District data: NYC municipal records (Department of City Planning) and the NYC Zoning Resolution. See our sources and methodology. Parcel data as of 2026-10-20.