M1-5B Zoning District — New York City
M1-5B is a contextual, low-density Light Manufacturing District (High Performance) (NYC Zoning Resolution § 11-122) in New York City.
M1-5B at a glance
It allows industrial and commercial uses; new residences are generally excluded. Under the as of right — narrow street rules, the maximum commercial FAR is 5. 22 tax lots citywide carry M1-5B as their primary zoning designation.
Bulk rules for M1-5B
| Context | Commercial FAR | Community facility FAR | Manufacturing FAR | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of right — narrow street | 5 | 6.5 | 5 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 43-12 (M1-5B base bulk = M1-5 per § 11-25); § 43-17; § 42-315 |
| As of right — wide street | 5 | 6.5 | 5 | NYC Zoning Resolution § 43-12 (M1-5B base bulk = M1-5 per § 11-25); § 43-17; § 42-315 |
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 manufacturing districts
Manufacturing districts allow industrial and many commercial uses; new residences are generally excluded. Manufacturing bulk is governed by § 43- 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 M1-5B
- 10 Sullivan Street8,188 sq ft lot · 7.35 built FAR · built 2014
- 55 Sullivan Street14,020 sq ft lot · 4.48 built FAR · built 2009
- 527 Broome Street2,400 sq ft lot · 8.82 built FAR · built 1897
- 521 Broome Street2,420 sq ft lot · 7 built FAR · built 1910
- 116 Avenue of the Americas4,735 sq ft lot · 5.92 built FAR · built 1907
- 59 Thompson Street4,000 sq ft lot · 3.98 built FAR · built 1905
- 110 Avenue of the Americas3,678 sq ft lot · 4.91 built FAR · built 1903
- 57 Thompson Street3,750 sq ft lot · 4.04 built FAR · built 1905
- 71 Sullivan Street2,500 sq ft lot · 4.65 built FAR · built 1897
- 61 Sullivan Street1,680 sq ft lot · 3.26 built FAR · built 1869
- 519 Broome Street1,210 sq ft lot · 4.3 built FAR · built 1890
- 63 Thompson Street3,733 sq ft lot · 4.11 built FAR · built 1905
M1-5B — quick questions
- What is the maximum commercial FAR in M1-5B?
- 5, as of right — narrow street, per NYC Zoning Resolution § 43-12 (M1-5B base bulk = M1-5 per § 11-25); § 43-17; § 42-315. Site-specific overlays, special districts, and waterfront rules can modify it — run a full lookup for a specific lot.
- Is M1-5B a contextual district?
- Yes. M1-5B is a contextual district — its bulk rules pair floor-area ceilings with prescribed base and maximum building heights intended to mirror existing neighborhood form.
- How many tax lots are zoned M1-5B?
- 22 tax lots citywide carry M1-5B as their primary zoning designation, per NYC municipal records as of 2026-10-20.
Keep learning
What do the M1-5B 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.