NYC Zoning for Ground Floor Businesses has Changed
Leasing or marketing spaces in Union Square? This is what you need to know about the zoning changes recently adopted in New York City as a part of “City of Yes”
The Zoning changes are making opening and expanding a business in NYC easier. Top-level impacts in Union Square include:
Amusement and recreation facilities are now permitted, which makes it easier to open businesses with larger formats or experiential retail, such as arcades or indoor sports.
Nightlife and entertainment establishments are now allowed under “Eating or Drinking Establishment.” This makes it easier to open a bar or restaurant with comedy, live music, dancing, or other live entertainment.
A wider variety of clean production businesses are permitted, including bakeries, breweries, or maker spaces.
The primary zoning districts in the Union Square neighborhood are C1 (east of 3rd Avenue) and C6 (west of 3rd Avenue). You can locate your property on the map below or here.
Find your property here
What are the changes in C1 zoning districts?
What are the changes in C6 zoning districts?
For more detailed information about zoning changes and opportunities, visit nyc.gov/YesEconomicOpportunity
WHAT ARE THE CHANGES IN C1 ZONING DISTRICTS?
Amusement and recreation uses are now permitted in C1:
The following select entertainment facilities are permitted up to 10,000 SF:
Billiards/pools halls
Bowling alleys
Escape rooms
Ping pong/table tennis
The following uses are permitted up to 5,000 SF:
Arcades
Axe-throwing
Golf simulator driving range
Indoor go-karts
Indoor skateboard park
Interactive or virtual reality attractions
Laser tag
Miniature golf
Observation towers
Play spaces/family fun centers
Wax figure exhibitions
Seasonally: haunted houses and similar fright attractions
Small-scale nightlife with dancing and live entertainment up to 200-person capacity* are now permitted within bars and restaurants in C1 districts. This may include:
Comedy shows
Concerts
Dancing
Open-mic night or poetry reading
*Increases above 200 persons may be considered through a discretionary review process via the Board of Standards and Appeals
Small-scale, clean production businesses are now allowed in C1 districts up to 5,000 SF. This may include:
3-D printing
Ceramic studio
Jewelry making
Micro-brewery
Wholesale and/or large-scale bakery
Woodworking
Other food and beverage producers, such as coffee roasters, ice cream makers, and shared commercial kitchen or food business incubator space
Other makers
WHAT ARE THE CHANGES IN C6 ZONING?
Amusement and recreation facilities in C6 have no square footage limitation on either ground floor or on upper floors. Types of businesses may include:
Interactive or virtual reality attractions
Laser tag
Miniature golf
Observation towers
Ping pong/table tennis
Play spaces/family fun centers
Wax figure exhibitions
Seasonally: haunted houses and similar fright attractions
Arcades
Axe-throwing
Billiards/pool halls
Bowling alleys
Escape rooms
Golf simulator driving range
Indoor go-karts
Indoor skateboard park
Small-scale nightlife with dancing and live entertainment is still allowed at any capacity in C6 districts (this was the case before the zoning changes). This may include:
Comedy shows
Concerts
Dancing
Open-mic night or poetry reading
Small-scale, clean production businesses are now allowed in C6 districts up to 10,000 SF on ground floor, with no limitation on size above the ground floor. This may include:
3-D printing
Brewery
Ceramic studio
Jewelry making
Wholesale and/or large-scale bakery
Woodworking
Other food and beverage producers, such as coffee roasters, ice cream makers, and shared commercial kitchen or food business incubator space
Other makers
For more detailed information about zoning changes and opportunities, visit nyc.gov/YesEconomicOpportunity
Photo of Partea NYC by Liz Ligon
All other photos are licensed by Unsplash