Key Project Terms: Alterations: Commercial, Mixed Use Buildings - Buildings

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DOB Glossary

Acronym Glossary

Find Building Data

Construction in My Neighborhood

Forms & Applications

Research Construction Professionals

Project Guidelines

Get Job Status Updates

Check an After-Hour Variance

File a Complaint

Resolve a Summons or Violation

Register for eFiling

Use DOB NOW


Key Project Terms: Alterations - Commercial, Mixed Use Buildings

The following is a list of useful terms to use when researching additional Residential & Community Facilities information on each of the topics discussed:

Accessibility

The design and construction of buildings for accessibility and use by persons with physical disabilities, complying with the Federal ADA Standards; US Housing and Urban Development (HUD); BC Chapter 11, BC Appendices E, N and P; and/or ICC/ANSI A117.1.

Alteration

An alteration is the addition, change of use, or occupancy of a building or structure in existence and always results in a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy. Work may involve an enlargement, reduction in size of the building, or a major change to the egress, zoning use group, and/or Building Code occupancy use of a building.

Building Systems Work

The installation, modification, or upgrade of existing building systems; including plumbing, boiler, sprinkler, standpipe, fire alarm, HVAC, and fire suppression systems; if such repairs are part of the project, they must be included in the scope of work.

Certificate of Occupancy

A new or amended Certificate of Occupancy is issued for a building on completion of a project involving a change in occupancy or use, or when there are other changes that impact the existing Certificate of Occupancy. For example, where an existing building is vertically enlarged by a complete story, or if the use of a building is changed from commercial to residential, a new or amended CO is required. Reference AC 28-118.3 for more information.

The following may also be issued:

A Partial Certificate of Occupancy, for a portion of a building, depending on construction progress and safety;

Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, for a limited duration of time, because the project is not closed due to outstanding items such as final inspections and final surveys, etc., per AC 28-118.16.

Code and Zoning Determinations

Determination requests are issued to the Borough Commissioner's office for an objection raised by a plan examiner or a possible future objection for an application not yet filed (pre-determination). To submit a request for a Pre-Determination, Determination or Appeal, log into DOB NOW at nyc.gov/dobnow and select +Determinations. The fees for these requests are paid in DOB NOW.

Commercial

Per the Zoning Resolution, Commercial, as applied to a building’s use, is any retail, service or office use. Commercial can also describe the type of zoning district. Other occupancy classifications in the BC are considered commercial and are listed under Mercantile (M) or Business (B). Refer to Commercial Building Guidelines for additional information.

Community Facility

As per the Zoning Resolution, a community facility may be located in residential areas to serve, on a not-for-profit basis, the educational, emotional, mental health needs, or other similar essential services of its residents.

Conversion

Per the Zoning Resolution, a conversion is a change of use. A use is any purpose for which a building, structure, or open tract of land is designed, arranged maintained or occupied.

Development Rights

Development rights generally refer to the maximum amount of floor area permissible on a zoning lot. When the actual built floor area is less than the maximum per­mitted floor area, the difference is referred to as “unused development rights.” Unused development rights are often described as air rights.

Enlargement

Per the Zoning Resolution, an enlargement is an addition to the floor area of an existing building or zoning lot, or an expansion of a use to an area not previously used for such purpose.

Per the Building Code, an enlargement is any addition of gross floor area to a building.

Elevation in Flood Zones

Elevating a building to ensure that lowest occupied floor is above the flood levels, per FIRMS, and as described in BC Appendix G and ZR Article VI.

Institutional

Per the Building Code, an Institutional Group I occupancy includes the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, in which people are cared for or live in a supervised environment, having physical limitations because of health or age are harbored for medical treatment or other care or treatment, or in which people are detained for penal or correctional purposes.

Layout Changes

Include changes to floor layouts that add, relocate, remodel, enlarge or reduce the size of interior rooms while maintaining the same building envelope.

Manufacturing

Per the Zoning Resolution, Manufacturing as applied to the use of a building, is a building with high performance standards with objectionable influences. “Manufacturing” can also describe the type of zoning district.

Major Building

An existing building 10 or more stories or 125 ft. or more in height, or an existing building with a building footprint of 100,000 sf. or more regardless of height, or an existing building designated by the commissioner due to unique hazards associated with the construction or demolition of the structure.

Mixed Building

Per the Zoning Resolution, a mixed building is a building used partly for residential use and partly for community facility, and/or commercial use.

Mixed Use

Per the Building Code, a building with mixed occupancy would contain two or more occupancy classifications. Such occupancy classifications may or may not match the zoning use groups.

Occupancy

The purpose or activity for which a building or space is used or is designed, arranged or intended to be used.

Occupancy Classification

The use as defined in the Building Code, and is the purpose or activity for which a building or space is used or is designed, arranged or intended to be used

Partial Demolition

Maintaining the same building envelope, any construction that involves the removal, replacement or repair of load bearing and/or non-load bearing interior partitions, changes to structural elements (interior or exterior), and facade changes or other upgrades.

Privately-owned Public Space (POPS)

An amenity provided and maintained by the property owner for public use, usually in exchange for additional floor area. Located mainly in the high-density, central business districts of Manhattan, these spaces are typically in the form of an arcade or a public plaza with seating and landscaping and may be located within or outside a building.

Public Plaza

A public plaza is a privately owned open area adjacent to a building and accessible to the public. It must generally be at the level of the sidewalk it adjoins and be unobstructed to the sky except for seating and other permitted ameni­ties. In certain high-density zoning districts, a floor area bonus is available for the provision of a public plaza.

Registered Land Surveyor

A person licensed and registered to practice the profession of land surveying under the education law of the state of New York.

Remodeling/Renovation

Changes to an existing building, including the remodeling or replacing of outdated or damaged structure and materials, and the partial demolition of interior partitions. Building renovations can also include the installation or replacement of building systems, devices or equipment, materials or parts, as part of regular maintenance of the building. Renovation projects do not impact the existing means of egress, do not change the use of the building or space, and do not increase the occupant load.

Residential/Residence

Per the Building Code, Residential Group R includes the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for dwelling or sleeping purposes when not classified as Institutional Group I.

Per the Zoning Resolution, Residential, as applied to building use, is a building with one or more dwelling units or rooming units, but with exceptions. Residential can also describe the type of zoning district.

Sky Exposure Plane

A sky exposure plane is a virtual sloping plane that begins at a specified height above the street line and rises inward over the zoning lot at a ratio of vertical distance to horizontal distance set forth in district regulations. A building may not penetrate the sky exposure plane which is designed to provide light and air at street level, primarily in medium- and higher-density districts

Story

A story is a floor level in a building that is significant in both the Code and Zoning. For example, if a third story is added to a one or two family home, it could trigger additional fire protection requirements in the Code. Basements are stories, while cellars are not. An attic may be considered as a story.

Tax Lot

Tax lot is used to describe a tract of property on the City’s tax map on which property taxes are assessed.

Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)

Allows for the transfer of unused development rights from one zoning lot to another in limited circumstances, usually to promote the preservation of historic build­ings, open space or unique cultural resources; for such purposes, a TDR may be permitted where the transfer could not be accomplished through a zon­ing lot merger. In the case of a landmark building, for example, a transfer may be made by CPC special permit from the zoning lot containing the designated landmark to an adjacent zoning lot or one that is directly across a street or, for a corner lot, another corner lot on the same intersection.

Use

The purpose for which a building, structure, or space is occupied or utilized, unless otherwise indicated by the text; Use (used) shall be construed as if followed by the words ‘or is intended, arranged, or designed to be used.’

Use Group

The use as defined in the Zoning Resolution, Section ZR 12-10, and is any purpose for which a building or other structure, or an open tract of land, may be designed, arranged, intended, maintained or occupied; furthermore the use is any activity, occupation, business or operation carried on, or intended to be carried on.

Zoning

Areas of land are divided into zones within which various uses are permitted.

Zoning Lot

A zoning lot is a tract of land for which specific zoning regulations apply. A zoning lot does not have to coincide with a tax lot, and can consist of one tax lot or multiple tax lots

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