C5-3 Zoning District — New York City
C5-3 is a high-density General Central Commercial District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C5-3 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 15. 554 tax lots citywide carry C5-3 as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C5-3
| Context | Residential FAR | Commercial FAR | Community facility FAR | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of right — narrow street | 10 | 15 | 15 | 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 | 15 | 15 | 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 C5-3
- 761 5 Avenue84,350 sq ft lot · 21.63 built FAR · built 1968
- 270 Park Avenue80,333 sq ft lot · 25.53 built FAR · built 2021
- 51 East 42 Street44,048 sq ft lot · 38.1 built FAR · built 2017
- 338 5 Avenue91,351 sq ft lot · 30.79 built FAR · built 1931
- 1285 Avenue of the Americas80,333 sq ft lot · 20.09 built FAR · built 1961
- 245 Park Avenue81,336 sq ft lot · 19.51 built FAR · built 1966
- 11 Madison Avenue83,937 sq ft lot · 19.42 built FAR · built 1932
- 277 Park Avenue162,672 sq ft lot · 7.81 built FAR · built 1963
- 1301 Avenue of the Americas74,631 sq ft lot · 19.86 built FAR · built 1965
- 1 Madison Avenue77,577 sq ft lot · 15.9 built FAR · built 1932
- 300 Madison Avenue45,839 sq ft lot · 24.92 built FAR · built 2002
- 512 Madison Avenue43,532 sq ft lot · 23.32 built FAR · built 1982
C5-3 — quick questions
- What is the maximum residential FAR in C5-3?
- 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 C5-3?
- 15, 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 C5-3 a contextual district?
- No. C5-3 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 C5-3 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 2026-10-05.