R5B
Residential R5B
New York City zoning district · 30,617 parcels
R5B is defined as a Residential R5B in New York City. The maximum building height is 24 feet. There are 30,617 parcels classified under this district. R5B is a medium-low-density residential zoning district in New York City permitting multifamily and rowhouse housing with a maximum FAR of 1.1. Buildings in R5B districts have a rowhouse and small apartment character with a general height limit of 40 feet (3 stories). This is a lower-density contextual district with strict height limits, preserving the low-rise character of brownstone and rowhouse neighborhoods.
The low-rise contextual R5, for homeowners on older attached-house blocks. R5B allows rowhouses and small apartment buildings but with a tight 24-foot cap, about 2 to 3 stories. FAR (floor-area ratio, total floor space versus lot size) is 1.1. The strict height limit protects the consistent low scale of brownstone and rowhouse streets.
Development standards
R5B regulates building height, lot size, setbacks, and lot coverage across 30,617 parcels in New York City.
Frequently asked questions
Code references
Section NYC Zoning Resolution
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