Zoning Use Groups overview

New York City has 18 different USE GROUPS.

In this post, you can have a general review and summary of all use groups and applicable zones together, and for more explanation, you can click on each of them and study for more details.

Before starting any project you need to find out what is your property’s or area of work’s use group by checking the property zoning if you want to design, do a renovation, or change the Certificate of Occupancy, you should check the possibility of what you want to do.

In general:

• USE GROUPS 1 -2 are residential
• USE GROUPS 3-4 are Community Facilities
• USE GROUPS 5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15 are Retail and Commercial use
• USEGROUPS 16 is General Services
• USE GROUP 17-18 are manufacturer use

Residential Districts:

• R1 , R2   single family detached
• R3A , R3X , R4A , R5A   single and two family detached
• R3-1 , R4-1  single and two family detahced and semi-detached
• R4B  single and two family detahced, semi detached, and attached
• R3-2 , R4 , R5 , R5B , R6 to R10 detached, semi detached and attached 

Commercial Districts:

• C1 Local Retail
• C2 Local Service
• C3 Waterfront Recreation
• C4 General Commercial
• C5 Restricted Central Commercial
• C6 General Central Commercial

Manufacturing Districts:

• M1 light manufacturing
• M2 medium manufacturing
• M3 heavy manufacturing

USE GROUP 1

Use Group 1 consists of single-family detached residences.

• 1A Residential uses
• 1B Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES: (ZR 22-11)

Applicable zones: R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES:  (ZR 32-11)

Applicable zones: C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 41-11)

New residences are excluded from manufacturing districts, except for:

• Joint living-work quarters for artists in M1-5B Districts;
• Dwelling units in M1-5M and M1-6M Districts;
• dwelling units in M1-1D, M1-2D, M1-3D, M1-4D, and M1-5D Districts, where authorized by the City Planning Commission, both to protect residences from an undesirable environment and to ensure the preservation of adequate areas for industrial development; and
• Dwelling units in M1-6D Districts.

USE GROUP 2

Use Group 2 consists of all other types of residences.

• 2A Residential uses
• 2B Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES: (ZR 22-12)

Applicable zones: R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-11)

Applicable zones: C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 41-11)

New residences are excluded from manufacturing districts, except for:

• Joint living-work quarters for artists in M1-5B Districts;
• Dwelling units in M1-5M and M1-6M Districts;
• dwelling units in M1-1D, M1-2D, M1-3D, M1-4D and M1-5D Districts, where authorized by the City Planning Commission, both to protect residences from an undesirable environment and to ensure the reservation of adequate areas for industrial development; and
• Dwelling units in M1-6D Districts.

USE GROUP 3

Use Group 3 consists of community facilities

• 3A Community facilities
• 3B Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES: (ZR 22-13)

Applicable zones: R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-12)

Applicable zones: C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1 M2 M3

USE GROUP 4

Use Group 4 consists primarily of community facilities

• 4A Community facilities
• 4B Open uses
• 4C Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES: (ZR 22-14)

Applicable zones: R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-13)

Applicable zones: C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-11)

Applicable zones: M1

USE GROUP 5

Use Group 5 consists of hotels used primarily for transient occupancy.

• 5A Transient Accommodations like Hotels and Transients
• 5B Accessory uses to group A

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-14)

Applicable zones: C1 C2 C4 C5 C6 C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-11)

Applicable zones: M1

USE GROUP 6

Use Group 6 consists primarily of retail stores and personal service establishments

• 6A. Convenience Retail or Service Establishments
• 6B. Offices
• 6C. Retail or Service Establishments
• 6D. Public Service Establishments
• 6E. Clubs
• 6F. Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES: (ZR 22-21)

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

JUST 6C in residential zones for Nursing Homes with special regulations

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-15)

Applicable zones: C1 C2 C4 C5 C6 C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1 M2 M3

USE GROUP 7

Use Group 7 consists primarily of home maintenance or repair services which

• 7A : Transient Accommodations
• 7B : Retail or Service Establishments
• 7C : Wholesale Establishments
• 7D : Auto Service Establishments
• 7E : Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-16)

Applicable zones: C2 C6 C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1

Use group 7A (Transient Accommodations) permitted

USE GROUP 8

Use Group 8 consists primarily of amusement or service establishments

• 8A Amusements
• 8B Retail or Service Establishments
• 8C Automotive Service Establishments
• 8D Public Service Establishments
• 8E Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-17)

Applicable zones: C2 C4 C6 C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1 M2 M3

USE GROUP 9

Use Group 9 consists primarily of business and other services

• 9A: Retail or Service Establishments

• 9A:Wholesale Establishments

• 9C: Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-18)

Applicable zones: C2 C4 C5 C6 C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1 M2 M3

USE GROUP 10

Use Group 10 consists primarily of large retail establishments (such as department stores)

• 10 A Retail or Service Establishments
• 10 B Wholesale Establishments
• 10 C Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-19)

Applicable zones: C4 C5 C6 C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1 M2 M3

USE GROUP 11

Use Group 11 consists of a few types of essentially custom manufacturing activities

• 11 A Manufacturing Establishments
• 11 B Wholesale or Similar Establishments
• 11 C Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-20)

Applicable zones: C5 C6 C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1 M2 M3

USE GROUP 12

Use Group 12 consists primarily of fairly large entertainment facilities

• 12 A Amusements
• 12 B Retail Establishments
• 12 C Public Service Establishments
• 12 D Automotive Service Establishments
• 12 E Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-21)

Applicable zones: C4 C6 C7 C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1 M2 M3

USE GROUP 13

Use Group 13 consists of open or low coverage uses, mostly open amusement establishments

• 13 A Amusements, Open or Enclosed
• 13 B Retail Establishments
• 13 C Service Establishments
• 13 D Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-22)

Applicable zones: C7 C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1 M2 M3

USE GROUP 14

Use Group 14 consists of the special services and facilities required for boating and related activities.

• 14 A :Retail or Service
• 14 B :Clubs
• 14 C :Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-23)

Applicable zones: C2 C3 C7 C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1 M2 M3

USE GROUP 15

Use Group 15 consists of large open commercial amusement establishments

• 15 A : Amusements

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-24)

Applicable zones: C7

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:

Not permitted to have in manufacturing zonings

USE GROUP 16

Use Group 16 consists of automotive and other necessary semi-industrial uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES: (ZR 32-25)

Applicable zones: C8

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1 M2 M3

USE GROUP 17

Use Group 17 consists primarily of manufacturing uses

• 17 A        Service or wholesale establishments
• 17 B        Manufacturing establishments
• 17 C        Miscellaneous uses
• 17 D        Special uses in M1-5B Districts
• 17 E        Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in any Commercial zonings

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-12)

Applicable zones: M1 M2 M3

USE GROUP 18

Use Group 18 consists primarily of industrial uses

• 18 A:   Manufacturing establishments
• 18 B:   Storage or miscellaneous uses, open or enclosed
• 18 C:   Accessory uses

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in Residential zonings

IN COMMERCIAL ZONES:

Not permitted to have in any Commercial zonings

IN MANUFACTURING ZONES:  (ZR 42-15)

Applicable zones: M3