C8-3 Zoning District — New York City
C8-3 is a mixed-density General Service District (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
C8-3 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 commercial FAR is 2. 306 tax lots citywide carry C8-3 as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for C8-3
| Context | Commercial FAR | Community facility FAR | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| As of right — narrow street | 2 | 6.5 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-283, § 33-43, § 33-432 |
| As of right — wide street | 2 | 6.5 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-283, § 33-43, § 33-432 |
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 C8-3
- 721 Esplanade Gdns Plaza129,690 sq ft lot · 3.02 built FAR · built 2011
- 200 East 161 Street397,425 sq ft lot · 1.1 built FAR · built 1990
- 2420 Amsterdam Avenue32,925 sq ft lot · 7.47 built FAR · built 2019
- 300 West Kingsbridge Rd221,516 sq ft lot · 0.71 built FAR · built 2003
- 45 River Avenue198,000 sq ft lot · 2.81 built FAR · built 1975
- 581 Austin Place67,388 sq ft lot · 1.95 built FAR · built 2023
- 122 West 146 Street27,337 sq ft lot · 4.16 built FAR · built 2015
- 40 West 225 Street111,084 sq ft lot · 0.6 built FAR · built 2002
- 2926 Fredrick Douglass Bl39,964 sq ft lot · 2.75 built FAR · built 2021
- 820 Concourse Village W13,405 sq ft lot · 6.77 built FAR · built 2011
- 5188 Broadway45,281 sq ft lot · 1.25 built FAR · built 2016
- 119 West 145 Street17,486 sq ft lot · 5.65 built FAR · built 2020
C8-3 — quick questions
- What is the maximum commercial FAR in C8-3?
- 2, as of right — narrow street, per NYC Zoning Resolution § 33-122, § 33-123, § 33-25, § 33-26, § 33-283, § 33-43, § 33-432. Site-specific overlays, special districts, and waterfront rules can modify it — run a full lookup for a specific lot.
- Is C8-3 a contextual district?
- No. C8-3 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.
- How many tax lots are zoned C8-3?
- 306 tax lots citywide carry C8-3 as their primary zoning designation, per NYC municipal records as of 2026-10-20.
Keep learning
What do the C8-3 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 2026-10-20.