NYC Zoning Handbook:
Residential Districts: R5
R5 districts allow a variety of housing types as do R3-2 and
R4 districts but with a higher density. The maximum FAR of
1.25 (the attic allowance does not apply) typically produces
three-story rowhouses and small apartment buildings. R5
districts provide a transition between lower and higher
density neighborhoods and are widely mapped in all boroughs
except Manhattan. Typical R5 neighborhoods are sections of
Astoria in Queens and East New York in Brooklyn. Most R5
districts are served directly by rapid transit.
To ensure compatibility with existing neighborhood scale, the
maximum street wall height is 30 feet, above which it must be
set back 15 feet. The maximum roof height is 40 feet. Front
yards must be exactly 10 feet deep or a minimum of 18 feet in
order to ensure that cars parked in front yard driveways do
not protrude onto sidewalks. Height and setback requirements
may be waived by authorization of the City Planning
Commission. One parking space is required for each dwelling
unit in single-, two- and three-family houses; in multiple
dwellings, parking spaces are required for 85 percent of the
apartments. R5 is the lowest density district in which a
parking space is not required for each dwelling unit.
Basic Data
R5: General residence district
- Minimum lot size:
- Detached, single- or two-family: 3,800 square feet lot area; 40 foot lot width
- Other: 1,700 square feet; 18 foot lot width
- Maximum FAR: 1.25
- Maximum lot coverage: 55%
- Minimum lot area per DU: 605 square feet
- Maximum DUs per acre: 72
- Front yard: 18 feet minimum or 10 feet exactly
- Side yards:
- Detached (2 required): 13 feet total (minimum); 5 feet minimum
- Semi-detached (1 required): 8 feet minimum
- Other (2): 8 feet each (minimum) or 10% of building length
- Maximum building height: 40 feet; street wall height 30 feet
- Maximum street wall length: 185 feet
- Required parking: One space per dwelling unit or 85% of dwelling units if grouped
