C5-5 Zoning District — New York City
C5-5 is a high-density General Central Commercial District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C5-5 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. 286 tax lots citywide carry C5-5 as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C5-5
| 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 C5-5
- 1 Liberty Plaza95,348 sq ft lot · 17.73 built FAR · built 1973
- 1 Water Street111,382 sq ft lot · 16.95 built FAR · built 1969
- 28 Liberty Street112,555 sq ft lot · 19.76 built FAR · built 1964
- 60 Wall Street53,632 sq ft lot · 30.15 built FAR · built 1987
- 1 Wall Street42,178 sq ft lot · 20.99 built FAR · built 1930
- 2 Broadway72,130 sq ft lot · 21.2 built FAR · built 1958
- 120 Broadway49,614 sq ft lot · 30.07 built FAR · built 1915
- 7 Hanover Square34,699 sq ft lot · 20.46 built FAR · built 1983
- 130 Water Street48,946 sq ft lot · 20.15 built FAR · built 1961
- 140 Broadway52,636 sq ft lot · 21.68 built FAR · built 1968
- 66 Pine Street31,722 sq ft lot · 30.76 built FAR · built 1932
- 115 Broad Street54,023 sq ft lot · 19.33 built FAR · built 1969
C5-5 — quick questions
- What is the maximum residential FAR in C5-5?
- 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 C5-5?
- 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 C5-5 a contextual district?
- No. C5-5 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 C5-5 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.