Frequently Asked Zoning Questions

Q: What is the purpose of zoning?

            A: Zoning shapes the city. Zoning, administered by the Department of City Planning, determines the size and use of buildings, where they are located and, in large measure, the densities of the city’s neighborhoods.

Q: What are the different types of zoning districts?

            A: There are three general categories of zoning districts. (1) Residential Districts (shown in yellow on zoning maps) (2) Commercial Districts (shows in Red on zoning maps) and (3) Manufacturing Districts (shown in purple on zoning maps). Although there are many specific zoning districts within each category, the category designates the general type of use permitted in the district. Long Island City has M districts in which only manufacturing and related uses are permitted, mixed use or M/R districts in which manufacturing, commercial, or residential uses re permitted, and C districts that allow

Q: How do I find out what zone am I in?

Look at a zoning map to determine which zone your property is in, or consult your attorney or architect.

- The New York City Department of City Planning’s Zoning Map Index http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/zone/zonedex.shtml

- Oasis Maps NYC (User friendly – type in your address) http://www.oasisnyc.net/oasismap.htm

Q: How does zoning determine use of a property?

FAR – Floor Area Ratio – limits the size of allowed development

Each zoning district has a FAR restriction intended to limit the overall bulk or size of a building. This is achieved by limiting the ratio of the floor area of a building to the size of the lot on which it sits. For example, if a district has a FAR of 5, a parcel of 10,000 square feet would be limited to a building of 50,000 square feet. There are further restrictions to the FAR requirements that aim to encourage development of medical space, community facilities and the like.

Specific uses allowed for the property

Beyond the general designation of Residential, Commercial and Manufacturing districts, zoning districts allow for various specific uses designated by a “use group”. In Long Island City, different M zones allow for different types of manufacturing and industrial uses. For example, once M zone may allow for an automotive repair shop, while another may not.

How an area gets rezoned

A rezoning refers to a change in the zoning resolution, which is basically a change in law. A rezoning is initiated by the Department of City Planning, and goes through a thorough approval process before it is voted on by the City Council. In 2001, 37 centrally located blocks in Long Island City were rezoned to increase commercial development and allow new residential use.  More on this rezoning at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/lic/lic1.shtml

For more information about zoning:  www.myciti.org/documents/citi_zoning_guide.pdf