Special Purpose Districts: Citywide

 

Zoning Resolution Chapter: 137-00
Maps: see below
Effective Date: see below

The Special Coastal Risk District (CR) was created in 2017 to address coastal areas that are currently at exceptional risk from flooding and may face greater risk in the future. The Special Districts places limits on new development in these highly vulnerable areas and, in certain instances, to protect sensitive natural areas and ensure that new development is consistent with open space and infrastructure plans.

The Special Coastal Risk Districts are mapped in the following neighborhoods:

CR-1:: Broad Channel, Queens
Maps: PDF Document 24b, 24d, 30a, 30c
Effective Date: 6/21/2017
CR-2: Hamilton Beach, Queens
Map: PDF Document 18b
Effective Date:6/21/2017
CR-3: Buyout Areas, Staten Island
Maps: PDF Document 27d, 34a
Effective Date: 9/7/2017
CR-4: Buyout Areas, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 29a
Effective Date: 5/12/21
Zoning Resolution Chapter: 132-00
Maps: see below
Effective Date: see below
Special Enhanced Commercial District

The purpose of the Special Enhanced Commercial District (EC) is to promote and maintain a lively and engaging pedestrian experience along commercial avenues.

The Special Enhanced Commercial District is mapped in the following areas:

EC-1: Fourth Avenue, Park Slope and South Park Slope, Brooklyn
Maps: PDF Document 16c, 16d 
Effective Date: 11/29/2011
EC-2: Columbus Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue, Upper West Side Manhattan
Maps: PDF Document 8c, 5d
Effective Date: 6/28/2012
EC-3: Broadway, Upper West Side, Manhattan
Maps: PDF Document 8c, 5d
Effective Date: 6/28/2012
EC-4: Broadway, Bedford-Stuyvesant
Maps: PDF Document 13b, 17a
Effective Date: 10/11/2012
EC-5: Ocean Hill and East New York, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 17c
Effective Date: 4/20/2016
EC-6: East New York, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 17c
Effective Date: 4/20/2016
Zoning Resolution Chapter: 83-00
Maps: PDF Document 12c
Effective Date: 10/9/69

The Special Limited Commercial District (LC) attempts to preserve the character of commercial areas within historic districts by permitting only those commercial uses compatible with the historic district, and by mandating that all commercial uses be in completely enclosed buildings. In addition, limitations are placed on the size and illumination of signs. There is one such special district mapped in Greenwich Village.

Zoning Resolution Chapter: 123-00
Maps: see below
Effective Date: see below
Mixed Use District

The Special Mixed Use District (MX) was established in 1997 to encourage investment in, and enhance the vitality of, existing neighborhoods with mixed residential and industrial uses in close proximity and create expanded opportunities for new mixed use communities. New residential and non-residential uses (commercial, community facility and light industrial) can be developed as-of-right and be located side-by-side or within the same building. Pairing an M1 district with an R3 through R10 district (e.g. M1-2/R6) ensures a balanced variety of uses.

Residential uses are generally subject to the bulk controls of the governing residence district; commercial, industrial and community facility uses are subject to the M1 district bulk controls, except that community facilities are subject to residential FAR limits. Most light industrial uses are permitted in each MX district as-of-right, others are subject to restrictions and Use Group 18 uses are excluded altogether, except for small breweries.

Special Mixed Use Districts are mapped in the following neighborhoods:
:

MX-1: Port Morris, Bronx
Maps: PDF Document 6a, 6b
Effective Date:12/10/97
MX-2: DUMBO, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 12d
Effective Date: 7/29/09
MX-4: Flushing/Bedford, Brooklyn
Maps: PDF Document 12d, 13b
Effective Date: 5/9/01
MX-5: Red Hook, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 16a
Effective Date: 1/30/02
MX-6: Hudson Square, Manhattan
Map: PDF Document 12a
Effective Date: 7/23/08
MX-7: Morrisania, Bronx
Maps: PDF Document 3d, 6c
Effective Date: 8/19/03
MX-8: Greenpoint-Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Maps: PDF Document 12c, 12d, 13a, 13b
Effective Date: 9/28/04
MX-9: Northern Hunters Point Waterfront, Queens
Map: PDF Document 9b
Effective Date: 8/16/06
MX-10: Atlantic and Howard Avenues, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 17a
Effective Date: 10/29/07
MX-11: Gowanus, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 16c
Effective Date: 3/11/09
MX-12: Borough Park, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 22c
Effective Date: 10/27/10
MX-13: Lower Concourse, Bronx
Map: PDF Document 6a
Effective Date: 6/30/09
MX-14: Third Avenue/Tremont Avenue, Bronx
Maps: PDF Document 3c, 3d
Effective Date: 10/13/10
MX-15: West Harlem, Manhattan
Map: PDF Document 3b
Effective Date: 11/13/12
MX-16: Ocean Hill / East New York, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 17c
Effective Date: 4/20/16
MX-17: Hunts Point, the Bronx
Map: PDF Document 6c
Effective Date: 3/22/18
MX-18: Mott Haven, the Bronx
Map: PDF Document 6c
Effective Date: 10/17/19
MX-19: Brownsville, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 17d
Effective Date: 12/10/20
MX-20: Crown Heights West, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 16c
Effective Date: 5/8/19
MX-21: Arverne East, Queens
Map: PDF Document 31a
Effective Date: 3/25/21
MX-22: Bushwick, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 13b
Effective Date: 5/27/21
MX-23: Ravenswood, Queens
Map: PDF Document 9a
Effective Date: 10/21/21
MX-24: Astoria, Queens
Map: PDF Document 9b
Effective Date: 11/22/22
MX-25: Gowanus, Brooklyn
Map: PDF Document 16c
Effective Date: 10/27/22
Zoning Resolution Chapter: 105-00
Maps: see below
Effective Date: see below
Special Natural Area District

The purpose of the Special Natural Area District (NA) is to guide new development and site alterations in areas endowed with unique natural characteristics, including forests, rock outcrops, steep slopes, creeks and a variety of botanic and aquatic environments. In the four Special Natural Areas, the City Planning Commission reviews proposals for new development, enlargements and site alterations to maximize protection of natural features. Natural features are protected by limiting modifications in topography, by preserving tree, plant and marine life, and natural water courses, and by encouraging clustered development.

The Special Natural Area Districts are mapped in the following neighborhoods:

NA-1: Emerson Hill, Dongan Hills, Todt Hill, Lighthouse Hill and the central wetlands of Staten Island
Maps: PDF Document 21b, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 27a, 27b
Effective Date: 12/19/74
NA-2: Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil and Fieldston, Bronx
Maps: PDF Document 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d
Effective Date: 5/21/75
NA-3: Shore Acres Area, Staten Island
Map: PDF Document 21d
Effective Date: 12/1/77
NA-4: Fort Totten, Queens
Maps: PDF Document 7d, 11c
Effective Date: 4/28/83
Zoning Resolution Chapter: 103-00
Maps: PDF Document 3b, 4b, 6a, 9b, 10d, 11b, 14c, 15a
Effective Date: 7/18/74

The Special Planned Community Preservation District (PC) designation protects the unique character of communities that have been planned and developed as a unit. Those communities characteristically have large landscaped open spaces and a superior relationship of buildings, open spaces, commercial uses, and pedestrian and vehicular circulation. No demolition, new development, enlargement or alteration of landscaping or topography is permitted within the district except by special permit of the City Planning Commission. Preservation districts have been mapped in Sunnyside Gardens and Fresh Meadows in Queens, Parkchester in the Bronx and Harlem River Houses in Manhattan.

Zoning Resolution Chapter: 102-00
Maps: PDF Document 12b, 12d
Effective Date: 10/24/74
Scenic View

The Special Scenic View District (SV) is intended to prevent obstruction of outstanding scenic views as seen from a public park, esplanade or mapped public place. No buildings or structures are allowed to penetrate a scenic view plane except by special permit of the City Planning Commission. The Brooklyn Heights Scenic View District (SV-1) extends over an area west of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade to protect the views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, Governors Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.