NYC Zoning Handbook:
Residential Districts: R8B
The regulations of R8B are similar to those of R8A; they
encourage high coverage buildings that are compatible with
existing low-rise buildings on the block. A six-story
apartment building with a one-story setback is intended to
line up with the traditional rowhouses prevalent in R8B
neighborhoods such as parts of Windsor Terrace in Brooklyn,
and the mid-blocks of the Upper West Side and Upper East Side
of Manhattan.
The FAR in R8B districts is 4.0. The front wall of a new
building must occupy the full width of the lot and must align
with the front walls of adjacent buildings within a maximum
Squired distance from the street line of eight feet on wide
streets and 15 feet on narrow streets. The maximum building
height and setback are determined by the building envelope
which may not be penetrated by the building. The building
envelope is controlled by the intersection of front and rear
sky exposure planes that rise according to a specific ratio.
The Quality Housing Program is mandatory in R8B districts.
Basic Data
R8B: General residence district
- Maximum FAR: 4.0*
- Maximum lot coverage:
- Corner lot 80%
- Interior or through-lot 70%
- Maximum street wall height 60 feet
- Minimum lot area per DU: 169 square feet
- Maximum DUs per acre: 258
- Required parking: 50% of dwelling units**
- Quality Housing Program: Mandatory
*Except in Manhattan Community District 8 where an FAR of 5.1
is permitted for community facilities.
**Except in Brooklyn, where R8B districts are subject to the
40 percent parking requirements applicable in R8 districts.
