C2-8 Zoning District — New York City
C2-8 is a low-density Local Commercial District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C2-8 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 10 and the maximum commercial FAR is 2. 365 tax lots citywide carry C2-8 as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C2-8
| Context | Residential FAR | Commercial FAR | Community facility FAR | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of right — narrow street | 10 | 2 | 10 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-43, § 33-432, § 34-112 |
| As of right — wide street | 10 | 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 C2-8
- 551 10 Avenue17,528 sq ft lot · 32.08 built FAR · built 2013
- 505 West 37 Street59,263 sq ft lot · 13.62 built FAR · built 2007
- 1623 3 Avenue73,805 sq ft lot · 11.47 built FAR
- 1261 2 Avenue40,168 sq ft lot · 12.21 built FAR · built 1979
- 1601 3 Avenue153,080 sq ft lot · 4.35 built FAR · built 1975
- 1201 2 Avenue38,500 sq ft lot · 14.7 built FAR · built 1963
- 1767 2 Avenue74,758 sq ft lot · 10.16 built FAR · built 1973
- 475 West 40th Street15,939 sq ft lot · 21.42 built FAR · built 2023
- South Street924,750 sq ft lot · 0 built FAR
- 515 West 36 Street22,219 sq ft lot · 14.48 built FAR · built 2016
- 1749 2 Avenue49,146 sq ft lot · 14.11 built FAR · built 1975
- 340 East 64 Street35,147 sq ft lot · 11.49 built FAR · built 1965
C2-8 — quick questions
- What is the maximum residential FAR in C2-8?
- 10, 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 C2-8?
- 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 C2-8 a contextual district?
- No. C2-8 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 C2-8 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.