C5-P Zoning District — New York City
C5-P is a contextual, high-density General Central Commercial District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C5-P 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 8 and the maximum commercial FAR is 8. 67 tax lots citywide carry C5-P as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C5-P
| Context | Residential FAR | Commercial FAR | Community facility FAR | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of right — narrow street | 8 | 8 | 8 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 81-021 (C5-P underlying district = C5-2); § 81-211 (basic max FAR 8.0, non-residential/mixed); § 81-241 (residential FAR 8.0; 9.6 QAH/senior); § 33-122; § 33-123; § 33-25; § 33-26; § 33-43; § 33-432; § 33-451; § 34-112 |
| As of right — wide street | 8 | 8 | 8 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 81-021 (C5-P underlying district = C5-2); § 81-211 (basic max FAR 8.0, non-residential/mixed); § 81-241 (residential FAR 8.0; 9.6 QAH/senior); § 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-P
- 18 West 56th Street7,230 sq ft lot · 13.88 built FAR · built 2014
- 17 West 54 Street25,104 sq ft lot · 7.97 built FAR · built 1937
- 10 West 55th Street10,343 sq ft lot · 13.67 built FAR · built 2024
- 33 West 56 Street10,040 sq ft lot · 8.56 built FAR · built 2008
- 57 West 55 Street11,798 sq ft lot · 9.49 built FAR · built 1962
- 13 West 56 Street5,025 sq ft lot · 10.94 built FAR · built 1999
- 20 West 55 Street4,523 sq ft lot · 16.58 built FAR · built 1987
- 23 West 55 Street4,267 sq ft lot · 12.75 built FAR · built 1966
- 25 West 54 Street8,535 sq ft lot · 8.53 built FAR · built 1939
- 45 West 54 Street7,481 sq ft lot · 8.23 built FAR · built 1948
- 39 West 55 Street5,025 sq ft lot · 8 built FAR · built 1913
- 40 West 55 Street7,531 sq ft lot · 6.06 built FAR · built 1925
C5-P — quick questions
- What is the maximum residential FAR in C5-P?
- 8, as of right — narrow street, per NYC Zoning Resolution § 81-021 (C5-P underlying district = C5-2); § 81-211 (basic max FAR 8.0, non-residential/mixed); § 81-241 (residential FAR 8.0; 9.6 QAH/senior); § 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-P?
- 8, as of right — narrow street, per NYC Zoning Resolution § 81-021 (C5-P underlying district = C5-2); § 81-211 (basic max FAR 8.0, non-residential/mixed); § 81-241 (residential FAR 8.0; 9.6 QAH/senior); § 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-P a contextual district?
- Yes. C5-P is a contextual district — its bulk rules pair floor-area ceilings with prescribed base and maximum building heights intended to mirror existing neighborhood form.
Keep learning
What do the C5-P 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.