C4-5A Zoning District — New York City
C4-5A is a contextual, high-density General Commercial District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C4-5A 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 4 and the maximum commercial FAR is 4. 55 tax lots citywide carry C4-5A as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C4-5A
| Context | Residential FAR | Commercial FAR | Community facility FAR | Heights | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of right | 4 | 4 | 4 | Base 40–75 ft · Max 85 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 C4-5A
- 124 East 28 Street9,973 sq ft lot · 5.83 built FAR · built 1906
- 127 East 30 Street6,441 sq ft lot · 9.85 built FAR · built 1988
- 116 East 27 Street6,584 sq ft lot · 10.66 built FAR · built 1915
- 118 East 29 Street10,517 sq ft lot · 4.34 built FAR · built 1920
- 121 East 31 Street7,989 sq ft lot · 7.3 built FAR · built 1930
- 121 East 27 Street7,958 sq ft lot · 7.54 built FAR · built 1912
- 114 East 28 Street3,950 sq ft lot · 5.72 built FAR · built 1906
- 117 East 29 Street4,938 sq ft lot · 5.4 built FAR · built 1920
- 128 East 28 Street4,246 sq ft lot · 4.67 built FAR · built 2019
- 111 East 26 Street10,287 sq ft lot · 2.49 built FAR · built 1900
- 120 East 31 Street3,802 sq ft lot · 6.22 built FAR · built 1915
- 112 East 30 Street3,950 sq ft lot · 5.3 built FAR · built 1959
C4-5A — quick questions
- What is the maximum residential FAR in C4-5A?
- 4, 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 C4-5A?
- 4, 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 C4-5A a contextual district?
- Yes. C4-5A 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 C4-5A 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.