NYC Zoning Handbook:
Residential Districts: R5 Infill
R5 infill provisions are similar to R4 infill provisions but
allow greater bulk and density. R5 infill housing
requirements are designed to stimulate low-rise, multifamily
construction in R5 districts characterized by attached homes
and small multiple dwellings. An increase in FAR to 1.65 and
higher density regulations permit three-story developments
with greater bulk and more dwelling units than in R5
districts. To ensure compatibility with existing neighborhood
scale, the maximum street wall height is 30 feet, above which
the building envelope slopes at a 20 degree angle to a
maximum roof height of 33 feet. The maximum permitted size
for any zoning lot is 1.5 acres. Infill housing can be built
only on blocks that are at least 50 percent developed.
Buildings must be set back 18 feet to prevent cars parked in
front yard driveways from protruding onto sidewalks. If
parking is grouped, space must be provided for at least 66
percent of the dwelling units.
The infill regulations are not applicable to lots occupied by
single- or two-family detached or semi-detached houses on
residential blockfronts where such houses predominate.
Basic Data
R5 INFILL: All housing types
- 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: 1.65
- Maximum lot coverage: 55%
- Minimum lot area per DU: 545 feet
- Maximum DUs per acre: 80
- Front yard: 18 feet minimum
- 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: 33 feet;
- Maximum street wall height 30 feet
- Maximum street wall length: 185 feet
- Required parking: One space per dwelling unit or 66% of dwelling units if grouped
