The NYC Zoning Resolution has Use Groups to categorize buildings based on their use. NYC Zoning Use Group 5 consists of Hotels.
Hotel Zoning NYC Use Group 5
Certificate Of Occupancy for Use Group 5
Use Groups are listed on the Certificate Of Occupancy for a space. Use Group 5 has two categories. A Certificate Of Occupancy or CO for Use Group 5 would identify the use of spaces as:
- 5A
- 5B
Use Group 5A
Use Group 5A is Hotels “Transient Accommodations”
Use Group 5B
Use Group 5B is accessory uses to Hotel.
Where Can You Build Hotel Use Group 5 in NYC?
Residential Zoning Districts
In general you cannot develop hotels in residential zoning districts with few exceptions.
R10H Zoning
The buildings facing on Central Park South are in R10H Zoning. In R10H one can develop Hotel Use if granted a special permit by City Planning.
Commercial Overlays
A Commercial Overlay is a commercial zone mapped within Residential Zoning Districts to allow for Commercial Use and or Residential. A few of these zoning districts allow Hotels although the Floor Area Ratio for Commercial Overlays is low and in turn makes them less than ideal for Hotels.
- C1 commercial Overlay districts that allow for hotels
- C2 commercial Overlay districts that allow for hotels
Commercial Zoning Districts
You can develop Hotels in most commercial districts in NYC including their respective subdistricts and contextual districts.
- C1 Local Retail
- C2 Local Service
- C3 Waterfront Recreation
- C4 General Commercial
- C5 Restricted Central Commercial
- C6 General Central Commercial
Additional Restrictions on Hotels in Commercial Zoning Districts
Below are some of the additional restrictions on Hotels in Commercial Zoning:
- Hotels are not allowed in C1-1, C1-2, C1-3, and C1-4
- In Mixed Use Buildings within C4, C5, and C6 buildings with residential and hotels the hotel must be on a lower floor than the residences.
Manufacturing Zoning Districts
New York City passed a M1 hotel zoning text amendment that now requires a special permit for hotels in M1 Zoning Districts. Hotels are not allowed in M2 or M3 Zoning districts at all. Although there are a few exceptions most hotel developments in M1 zoning districts will require a special permit. Below are a list of M1 Zoning Districts.
NYC Hotel Zoning Use Group 5
As an architect I study Zoning Codes closely, but these are complicated and quite involved issues. In this article we reviewed some of the basic concepts with regards to the NYC Zoning Hotel Use Group 5. This post does not assume to cover every possible issue or condition, but provide a general overview of the topic.
Thank you for reading our blog post on Use Group 5 Hotels in the NYC Zoning Code.
I hope this was helpful. Please leave questions and comments below. If you would like to speak with an architect you can Contact Fontan Architecture directly.
This post was written by Jorge Fontan AIA a Registered Architect and owner of New York City architecture firm Fontan Architecture. Jorge Fontan has earned 3 degrees in the study of architecture including two degrees from the City University of New York and a Masters Degree in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University. Jorge has a background in construction and has been practicing architecture for 20 years where he has designed renovations and new developments of various building types.
