C5-1 Zoning District — New York City
C5-1 is a high-density General Central Commercial District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C5-1 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 4. 271 tax lots citywide carry C5-1 as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C5-1
| Context | Residential FAR | Commercial FAR | Community facility FAR | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of right — narrow street | 10 | 4 | 10 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-43, § 33-432, § 34-112 |
| As of right — wide street | 10 | 4 | 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 C5-1
- 217 West 57th Street55,862 sq ft lot · 15.73 built FAR · built 2013
- 160 Central Park South41,437 sq ft lot · 12.01 built FAR · built 1930
- 220 Central Park South27,604 sq ft lot · 14.37 built FAR · built 2015
- 520 Park Avenue6,024 sq ft lot · 30.98 built FAR · built 2015
- 981 Madison Avenue18,803 sq ft lot · 15.64 built FAR · built 1930
- 200 Central Park South32,635 sq ft lot · 17.29 built FAR · built 1963
- 797 5 Avenue27,113 sq ft lot · 19.02 built FAR · built 1930
- 540 Park Avenue24,903 sq ft lot · 10.78 built FAR · built 1962
- 33 East 70 Street30,125 sq ft lot · 9.96 built FAR · built 1929
- 691 Madison Avenue4,841 sq ft lot · 4.89 built FAR · built 1928
- 1150 Madison Avenue44,953 sq ft lot · 10.51 built FAR · built 1923
- 106 Central Park South17,924 sq ft lot · 19.48 built FAR · built 1930
C5-1 — quick questions
- What is the maximum residential FAR in C5-1?
- 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 C5-1?
- 4, 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 C5-1 a contextual district?
- No. C5-1 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 C5-1 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.