C5-2 Zoning District — New York City
C5-2 is a high-density General Central Commercial District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C5-2 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 10. 364 tax lots citywide carry C5-2 as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C5-2
| Context | Residential FAR | Commercial FAR | Community facility FAR | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of right — narrow street | 10 | 10 | 10 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-43, § 33-432, § 33-451, § 34-112 |
| As of right — wide street | 10 | 10 | 10 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-43, § 33-432, § 33-451, § 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 C5-2
- 151 East 58 Street84,348 sq ft lot · 13.08 built FAR · built 2001
- 1097 Broadway51,642 sq ft lot · 13.65 built FAR · built 1909
- 285 5 Avenue36,575 sq ft lot · 15.14 built FAR · built 1920
- 220 East 42 Street70,112 sq ft lot · 12.95 built FAR · built 1928
- 845 United Nations Plaza37,050 sq ft lot · 19.26 built FAR · built 2000
- 666 1 Avenue193,528 sq ft lot · 0 built FAR
- 685 First Avenue32,364 sq ft lot · 21.21 built FAR · built 2016
- 355 5 Avenue82,950 sq ft lot · 10.67 built FAR · built 1913
- 2 Park Avenue40,487 sq ft lot · 21.06 built FAR · built 1928
- 743 Lexington Avenue84,350 sq ft lot · 9.95 built FAR · built 1868
- 150 East 58 Street28,491 sq ft lot · 20.02 built FAR · built 1968
- 7 East 28 Street21,181 sq ft lot · 19.24 built FAR · built 1998
C5-2 — quick questions
- What is the maximum residential FAR in C5-2?
- 10, as of right — narrow street, per NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-43, § 33-432, § 33-451, § 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 C5-2?
- 10, as of right — narrow street, per NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-43, § 33-432, § 33-451, § 34-112. Site-specific overlays, special districts, and waterfront rules can modify it — run a full lookup for a specific lot.
- Is C5-2 a contextual district?
- No. C5-2 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 C5-2 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.