Floor Area
"Floor area" is the sum of the gross areas of the several floors of a building or buildings, measured from the exterior faces of exterior walls (or center lines of party walls), subject to detailed inclusions and exclusions defined by rule. In NYC, floor area accounting is highly specific and can treat basements, cellars, balconies/terraces, mechanical space, and parking areas differently depending on conditions.
- Where it applies
- New York City
- When it comes up
- Zoning analysis; design development; permit set preparation
- Property types
- All
In practice
"Floor area accounting" is a recurring source of surprises between early massing and DOB filing; operators should lock a consistent floor-area computation method early.
Read more in the Knowledge Base
- Air Rights and Development Potential - Identifying Hidden Value in Low-Rise AcquisitionsBuyers
- Selling a NYC Townhouse: Strategy, Pricing, and Unique RisksSellers
Related terms
Zoning and Land Use
- Air Rights
- Area Variance
- As-of-right Development
- Authorization
- Base Height
- Base Plane
- Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA)
- Building Envelope
- Bulk
- Certification
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.