Zoning: Districts Guide - Special Purpose Districts - Citywide - DCP

Department of City Planning


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About Zoning Districts
Residence Districts
Commercial Districts
Manufacturing Districts
Special Purpose Districts
Rules for Special Areas

About Zoning Districts

Residence Districts

Commercial Districts

Manufacturing Districts

Special Purpose Districts

Rules for Special Areas


Special Purpose Districts: Citywide

Overview
Citywide
Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Queens
Staten Island

SPECIAL COASTAL RISK DISTRICT

Zoning Resolution Chapter:
137-00

Maps: see below

Effective Date: see below

The Special Coastal Risk District (CR) was created in 2017 to address coastal areas that are currently at exceptional risk from flooding and may face greater risk in the future. The Special Districts places limits on new development in these highly vulnerable areas and, in certain instances, to protect sensitive natural areas and ensure that new development is consistent with open space and infrastructure plans.

The Special Coastal Risk Districts are mapped in the following neighborhoods:

CR-1::
Broad Channel, Queens

Maps: 24b, 24d, 30a, 30c

Effective Date: 6/21/2017

CR-2:
Hamilton Beach, Queens

Map: 18b

Effective Date:6/21/2017

CR-3:
Buyout Areas, Staten Island

Maps: 27d, 34a

Effective Date: 9/7/2017

CR-4:
Buyout Areas, Brooklyn

Map: 29a

Effective Date: 5/12/21

SPECIAL ENHANCED COMMERCIAL DISTRICT

Zoning Resolution Chapter:
132-00

Maps: see below

Effective Date: see below

The purpose of the Special Enhanced Commercial District (EC) is to promote and maintain a lively and engaging pedestrian experience along commercial avenues.

The Special Enhanced Commercial District is mapped in the following areas:

EC-1:
Fourth Avenue, Park Slope and South Park Slope, Brooklyn

Maps: 16c, 16d

Effective Date: 11/29/2011

EC-2:
Columbus Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue, Upper West Side Manhattan

Maps: 8c, 5d

Effective Date: 6/28/2012

EC-3:
Broadway, Upper West Side, Manhattan

Maps: 8c, 5d

Effective Date: 6/28/2012

EC-4:
Broadway, Bedford-Stuyvesant

Maps: 13b, 17a

Effective Date: 10/11/2012

EC-5:
Ocean Hill and East New York, Brooklyn

Map: 17c

Effective Date: 4/20/2016

EC-6:
East New York, Brooklyn

Map: 17c

Effective Date: 4/20/2016

SPECIAL LIMITED COMMERCIAL DISTRICT

Zoning Resolution Chapter:
83-00

Maps: 12c

Effective Date: 10/9/69

The Special Limited Commercial District (LC)
attempts to preserve the character of commercial
areas within historic districts by permitting only
those commercial uses compatible with the historic
district, and by mandating that all commercial uses
be in completely enclosed buildings. In addition,
limitations are placed on the size and illumination
of signs. There is one such special district mapped
in Greenwich Village.

SPECIAL MIXED USE DISTRICTS

Zoning Resolution Chapter:
123-00

Maps: see below

Effective Date: see below

The Special Mixed Use District (MX) was established in 1997 to encourage investment in, and enhance the vitality of, existing neighborhoods with mixed residential and industrial uses in close proximity and create expanded opportunities for new mixed use communities. New residential and non-residential uses (commercial, community facility and light industrial) can be developed as-of-right and be located side-by-side or within the same building. Pairing an M1 district with an R3 through R10 district (e.g. M1-2/R6) ensures a balanced variety of uses.

Residential uses are generally subject to the bulk controls of the governing residence district; commercial, industrial and community facility uses are subject to the M1 district bulk controls, except that community facilities are subject to residential FAR limits. Most light industrial uses are permitted in each MX district as-of-right, others are subject to restrictions and Use Group 18 uses are excluded altogether, except for small breweries.

Special Mixed Use Districts are mapped in the following neighborhoods::

MX-1:
Port Morris, Bronx

Maps: 6a, 6b

Effective Date:12/10/97

MX-2:
DUMBO,
Brooklyn

Map: 12d

Effective Date: 7/29/09

MX-4:
Flushing/Bedford, Brooklyn

Maps: 12d, 13b

Effective Date: 5/9/01

MX-5:
Red Hook, Brooklyn

Map: 16a

Effective Date: 1/30/02

MX-6:
Hudson Square, Manhattan

Map: 12a

Effective Date: 7/23/08

MX-7:
Morrisania, Bronx

Maps: 3d, 6c

Effective Date: 8/19/03

MX-8:
Greenpoint-Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Maps: 12c, 12d, 13a, 13b

Effective Date: 9/28/04

MX-9:
Northern Hunters Point Waterfront, Queens

Map: 9b

Effective Date: 8/16/06

MX-10:
Atlantic and Howard Avenues, Brooklyn

Map: 17a

Effective Date: 10/29/07

MX-11:
Gowanus, Brooklyn

Map: 16c

Effective Date: 3/11/09

MX-12:
Borough Park, Brooklyn

Map: 22c

Effective Date: 10/27/10

MX-13:
Lower Concourse, Bronx

Map: 6a

Effective Date: 6/30/09

MX-14:
Third Avenue/Tremont Avenue, Bronx

Maps: 3c, 3d

Effective Date: 10/13/10

MX-15:
West Harlem, Manhattan

Map: 3b

Effective Date: 11/13/12

MX-16:
Ocean Hill / East New York, Brooklyn

Map: 17c

Effective Date: 4/20/16

MX-17:
Hunts Point, the Bronx

Map: 6c

Effective Date: 3/22/18

MX-18:
Mott Haven, the Bronx

Map: 6c

Effective Date: 10/17/19

MX-19:
Brownsville, Brooklyn

Map: 17d

Effective Date: 12/10/20

MX-20:
Crown Heights West, Brooklyn

Map: 16c

Effective Date: 5/8/19

MX-21:
Arverne East, Queens

Map: 31a

Effective Date: 3/25/21

MX-22:
Bushwick, Brooklyn

Map: 13b

Effective Date: 5/27/21

MX-23:
Ravenswood, Queens

Map: 9a

Effective Date: 10/21/21

MX-24:
Astoria, Queens

Map: 9b

Effective Date: 11/22/22

MX-25:
Gowanus, Brooklyn

Map: 16c

Effective Date: 10/27/22

SPECIAL NATURAL AREA DISTRICT

Zoning Resolution Chapter:
105-00

Maps: see below

Effective Date: see below

The purpose of the Special Natural Area District (NA) is to guide new development and site alterations in areas endowed with unique natural characteristics, including forests, rock outcrops, steep slopes, creeks and a variety of botanic and aquatic environments. In the four Special Natural Areas, the City Planning Commission reviews proposals for new development, enlargements and site alterations to maximize protection of natural features. Natural features are protected by limiting modifications in topography, by preserving tree, plant and marine life, and natural water courses, and by encouraging clustered development.

The Special Natural Area Districts are mapped in the following neighborhoods:

NA-1:
Emerson Hill, Dongan Hills, Todt Hill, Lighthouse Hill and the central wetlands of Staten Island

Maps: 21b, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 27a, 27b

Effective Date: 12/19/74

NA-2:
Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil and Fieldston,
Bronx

Maps: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d

Effective Date: 5/21/75

NA-3:
Shore Acres Area, Staten Island

Map: 21d

Effective Date: 12/1/77

NA-4:
Fort Totten, Queens

Maps: 7d, 11c

Effective Date: 4/28/83

SPECIAL PLANNED COMMUNITY PRESERVATION DISTRICT

Zoning Resolution Chapter:
103-00

Maps: 3b, 4b, 6a, 9b, 10d, 11b, 14c, 15a

Effective Date: 7/18/74

The Special Planned Community Preservation District (PC) designation protects the unique character of communities that have been planned and developed as a unit. Those communities characteristically have large landscaped open spaces and a superior relationship of buildings, open spaces, commercial uses, and pedestrian and vehicular circulation. No demolition, new development, enlargement or alteration of landscaping or topography is permitted within the district except by special permit of the City Planning Commission. Preservation districts have been mapped in Sunnyside Gardens and Fresh Meadows in Queens, Parkchester in the Bronx and Harlem River Houses in Manhattan.

SPECIAL SCENIC VIEW DISTRICT

Zoning Resolution Chapter:
102-00

Maps: 12b, 12d

Effective Date: 10/24/74

The Special Scenic View District (SV) is intended to prevent obstruction of outstanding scenic views as seen from a public park, esplanade or mapped public place. No buildings or structures are allowed to penetrate a scenic view plane except by special permit of the City Planning Commission. The Brooklyn Heights Scenic View District (SV-1) extends over an area west of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade to protect the views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, Governors Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Disclaimer

The Zoning Reference provides only general zoning information and is not meant to serve as a substitute for the actual regulations which are to be found in the Zoning Resolution.

Brief explanations of terms in blue italics can be viewed by clicking on the term.