C4-3A Zoning District — New York City
C4-3A is a contextual, high-density General Commercial District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C4-3A 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. 698 tax lots citywide carry C4-3A as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C4-3A
| 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 C4-3A
- 44-19 Rockaway Beach Blvd31,926 sq ft lot · 2.53 built FAR · built 2016
- 331 Beach 35th Street37,490 sq ft lot · 2.75 built FAR · built 2023
- 445 5th Avenue13,250 sq ft lot · 131.84 built FAR · built 1920
- 1614 Madison Street21,239 sq ft lot · 3.67 built FAR · built 2015
- 45-19 Rockaway Beach Boulevard32,371 sq ft lot · 2.81 built FAR · built 2018
- 555 5 Avenue7,350 sq ft lot · 2.72 built FAR · built 1927
- 807 Manhattan Avenue18,125 sq ft lot · 3.17 built FAR · built 1908
- 55-27 Myrtle Avenue17,746 sq ft lot · 3.05 built FAR · built 1915
- 171 Calyer Street9,600 sq ft lot · 3.96 built FAR · built 2022
- 43-17 Rockaway Beach Blvd13,321 sq ft lot · 3.65 built FAR · built 2012
- 783 Lorimer Street15,000 sq ft lot · 3.28 built FAR · built 1925
- 5006 5 Avenue7,000 sq ft lot · 1.95 built FAR · built 1931
C4-3A — quick questions
- What is the maximum residential FAR in C4-3A?
- 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 C4-3A?
- 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 C4-3A a contextual district?
- Yes. C4-3A 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 C4-3A 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.