About Zoning Text

Overview

Each article contains a number of chapters and each chapter contains many sections, each with a four-, five- or six-digit number. The digits before a hyphen indicate the article and chapter; the digits following the hyphen indicate the section number. For example, Section 123-62 references Article XII, Chapter 3, Section 62.

There is a brief period between the date the City Council adopts an amendment and the date that it is added to this online version of the Resolution.

The date at the top of each section is the date on which that section was added or last amended by the City Planning Commission and made effective by the City Council. The title page of each online chapter also lists the effective date of the most recently added or amended section in the chapter. In addition, the Zoning Amendment Index lists all zoning text amendments since 1993, along with the effective date, ULURP number, and the new or modified section numbers.  These dates and lists are important for researching the history of each zoning section.

Definition of Terms

All words defined in the Resolution are surrounded by pound signs (#) on the web (or italicized in the print version) and the definitions are set forth in Article I, Chapter 2, or within the chapters where the definitions apply.

Applicability to Zoning Districts

Most sections have a list, either just below the section title or referenced in the section itself, to the zoning districts to which that section applies. If the districts listed have an alphabetical or numerical extension, R3A or C5-3 for example, the text applies only to those specific districts. If the district listed has no extension, C5 for example, the text applies to all commercial districts with a C5 designation (C5-1, C5-1A, C5-2, C5-2.5, C5-2A, C5-3, C5-3.5, C5-4, C5-5 and C5P). When no districts are listed, the regulations apply to all districts covered by the article (all residence districts in Article II for example).

Required Graphic Symbols

The Zoning Resolution contains several references to graphic symbols provided in digital files on the Department of City Planning website.

Appendices

There are ten appendices to the Zoning Resolution which provide supplemental information to the text of the 14 Articles:

• APPENDIX A – An Index of Uses specifies the Use Group, the zoning districts in which the use is allowed, the parking requirement category and whether a special permit is required for the use. The index is intended for quick reference and should not be used as a substitute for the Resolution
• APPENDIX B – An Index of Special Purpose Districts lists the letters that designate the district on the zoning map, applicable chapters and zoning map(s), CP/ULURP numbers and City Planning Commission and City Council enactment dates. Special districts that have been eliminated or replaced are also listed
• APPENDIX C - TABLE 1 – City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) Environmental Requirements
• APPENDIX C - TABLE 2 – City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) Restrictive Declarations
• APPENDIX D – A table of Restrictive Declarations indicating requirements applicable to identified tax lots associated with an adopted zoning map amendment
• APPENDIX E – Design Requirements for Plazas, Residential Plazas and Urban Plazas developed prior to October 17, 2007
• APPENDIX F – Inclusionary Housing designated areas:  A series of maps showing the boundaries of IH designated areas, listed by borough and community district
• APPENDIX G – Quantities of Radioactive Material
• APPENDIX H – Designation of Arterial Highways
• APPENDIX I – Transit Zone
• APPENDIX J – Designated Areas Within Manufacturing Districts