C4-2A Zoning District — New York City
C4-2A is a contextual, high-density General Commercial District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C4-2A at a glance
It allows commercial uses, and generally also housing under the rules of a residential-equivalent district. As of right, the maximum residential FAR is 3 and the maximum commercial FAR is 3. 879 tax lots citywide carry C4-2A as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C4-2A
| Context | Residential FAR | Commercial FAR | Community facility FAR | Heights | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of right | 3 | 3 | 3 | Base 40–65 ft · Max 75 ft | NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 34-112, § 23-43, § 23-431, § 23-432 |
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 C4-2A
- Navy Pier Court136,822 sq ft lot · 2.48 built FAR · built 2014
- 745 64 Street54,430 sq ft lot · 2.57 built FAR · built 1953
- 36-20 Steinway Street49,412 sq ft lot · 2.98 built FAR · built 2019
- 34-11 Steinway Street28,580 sq ft lot · 3.75 built FAR · built 1990
- 22-11 31 Street29,129 sq ft lot · 2.9 built FAR · built 2022
- 701 64 Street31,750 sq ft lot · 2.96 built FAR · built 1956
- Front Street5,972,798 sq ft lot · 0 built FAR · built 1931
- 429 86 Street10,600 sq ft lot · 2.28 built FAR · built 1922
- 28-56 Steinway Street19,041 sq ft lot · 1.96 built FAR · built 1920
- 34-22 35 Street15,027 sq ft lot · 4.5 built FAR · built 2016
- Navy Pier Court34,747 sq ft lot · 2.15 built FAR · built 2014
- 31-11 Broadway20,372 sq ft lot · 1.68 built FAR · built 1949
C4-2A — quick questions
- What is the maximum residential FAR in C4-2A?
- 3, as of right, per NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 34-112, § 23-43, § 23-431, § 23-432. 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 C4-2A?
- 3, as of right, per NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 34-112, § 23-43, § 23-431, § 23-432. Site-specific overlays, special districts, and waterfront rules can modify it — run a full lookup for a specific lot.
- Is C4-2A a contextual district?
- Yes. C4-2A is a contextual district — its bulk rules pair floor-area ceilings with prescribed base and maximum building heights intended to mirror existing neighborhood form.
Keep learning
What do the C4-2A 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.