New York City Zoning R5
Hamoun Niknejad2026-09-13T17:23:57+00:00If you own a property in New York City and see “R5” on the zoning map, the designation may look simple. In reality, R5 zoning can involve a combination of rules covering floor area, building height, yards, lot coverage, density, parking, building configuration, and even special regulations that depend on the location of the property.Understanding these rules is important before purchasing a property, adding another floor, enlarging a house, creating additional dwelling units, or developing a vacant lot.This guide explains...
What is an SRO Building
Hamoun Niknejad2026-09-13T03:42:19+00:00If you are buying, selling, renovating, or converting an older New York City property, you may come across the term SRO, or Single Room Occupancy. In NYC, however, an SRO is more than simply a building with small bedrooms.Under New York’s Multiple Dwelling Law, single room occupancy generally describes a condition where one or two people occupy a single room—or connected rooms—separately and independently from other occupants within the same apartment or multiple dwelling. Residents may have a private sleeping...
New York City Zoning C1-3
Hamoun Niknejad2026-09-13T17:31:11+00:00If you own, lease, or are considering purchasing a commercial property in New York City, you may come across a zoning designation such as R5/C1-3, R6/C1-3, or R7A/C1-3. At first glance, these combinations can be confusing.C1-3 is a commercial zoning designation commonly mapped along neighborhood shopping streets within residential areas. It allows many of the everyday businesses that serve nearby residents while preserving the general residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.Understanding C1-3 zoning is particularly important before signing a commercial...
What is ADA accessible
Hamoun Niknejad2026-09-06T16:20:14+00:00You have probably heard someone say:“The space needs to be ADA accessible.”It sounds simple, but in New York City architecture, accessibility is rarely determined by one rule or one measurement.The Americans with Disabilities Act, commonly called the ADA, establishes federal accessibility requirements intended to ensure that people with disabilities can use buildings, businesses, services, and facilities without unnecessary physical barriers.But an architect working in New York City must often consider more than the ADA alone.Depending on the project, accessibility requirements...