Step 3: Preparation of Land Use and Environmental Applications

A special permit is a discretionary action by the City Planning Commission, subject to ULURP review, or the Board of Standards and Appeals, which may modify use, bulk, or parking regulations if certain conditions and findings specific in the Zoning Resolution are met.

Below are comprehensive guides that describe some of the most common actions and their application requirements. For those Zoning Special Permits that are not listed below, please refer to the “General Zoning Special Permit Standards” table at the bottom of the page.

Specific Standards and Guidelines for Certain Zoning Special Permits

• 13-451-13-455: Special Permits in the Manhattan Core
• 74-711: Special Permits for Landmark Preservation in All Districts
  • ZR 74-711 Guidelines
  • Application Sample
• 74-712: Special Permits for Development in Historic Districts
  • ZR 74-712 Guidelines
  • Application Sample
• 74-90: Special Permits for Certain Community Facility Uses
  • ZR 74-90 Guidelines
  • Application Sample
• 74-901: Special Permits for Certain Community Facility Uses in R1 and R2 Districts and Certain Commercial Districts
• 74-902: Special Permits for Certain Community Facility Uses in R3 to R9 Districts and Certain Commercial Districts

Application Component	Standards	Templates	Samples/Forms
Doing Business with the City Form			Form
Project Description	Standard	Template
Official Zoning Sectional Map	Standard		Sample
Tax Map(s)	Standard		Sample
Project Area Photographs	Standard		Sample
Area Map (Land Use and Zoning)	Standard		Sample 1 Sample 2
Official Zoning Sectional Map	Standard		Sample
Zoning Analysis	Guidelines (new)	Template 1 (new) Template 2 (new)
Zoning Lot Site Plan	Guidelines (new)		Sample (new)
Statement of Findings	Guidelines (new)		Sample (new)
Owner’s Authorization	Description
Application Components that May be Required Depending on the Specific Action
Land Use Map	Guidelines (new)		Sample 1 (new) Sample 2 (new)
Survey	Description
Elevation	Guidelines (new)		Sample (new)
Section	Guidelines (new)		Sample (new)
Neighborhood Character Diagram	Guidelines (new)		Sample (new)
Detail Elevation	Guidelines (new)		Sample (new)
Landscape Plan	Guidelines (new)		Sample (new)
Ground Floor Plan	Guidelines (new)		Sample (new)
Upper Floor Plan(s)	Guidelines (new)		Sample (new)
Axonometric Diagram	Guidelines (new)		Sample (new)
Waiver and Encroachment Drawing	Guidelines (new)
Owner’s Authorization	If the applicant does not have an ownership interest in the subject property or if there are other fee owners of the property who are not co-applicants on the application, the application must include an authorization letter signed and notarized by the fee owner(s) of the property. The owner’s statement should explain that he or she is aware of the action(s) concerning the property that the applicant is requesting.