C5-4 Zoning District — New York City
C5-4 is a high-density General Central Commercial District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C5-4 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. 41 tax lots citywide carry C5-4 as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C5-4
| 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 C5-4
- 350 Jay Street127,632 sq ft lot · 11.13 built FAR · built 1997
- 330 Jay Street43,749 sq ft lot · 22.35 built FAR · built 2002
- 11 Hoyt Street61,925 sq ft lot · 9.13 built FAR · built 2018
- 422 Fulton Street76,094 sq ft lot · 11.54 built FAR · built 1920
- 110 Livingston Street29,000 sq ft lot · 11.63 built FAR · built 1926
- 345 Adams Street25,056 sq ft lot · 11.89 built FAR · built 1960
- 111 Livingston Street32,542 sq ft lot · 14.11 built FAR · built 1969
- 496 Fulton Street36,664 sq ft lot · 5.55 built FAR · built 1920
- 205 State Street23,828 sq ft lot · 10.19 built FAR · built 2003
- 339 Adams Street10,400 sq ft lot · 20.39 built FAR · built 2005
- 408 Fulton Street10,827 sq ft lot · 4 built FAR · built 1937
- 474 Fulton Street9,151 sq ft lot · 3.9 built FAR · built 1920
C5-4 — quick questions
- What is the maximum residential FAR in C5-4?
- 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 C5-4?
- 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 C5-4 a contextual district?
- No. C5-4 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 C5-4 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.