NYC Zoning Resolution Article II sets front, side, and rear yard requirements by zoning district. Brooklyn's R1–R10 districts have widely varying setbacks, with attached rowhouses typically requiring only 30 ft rear yards.
NYC Zoning Resolution (ZR) Article II governs residential yard and setback requirements. In R1–R5 lower-density districts (much of southern Brooklyn — Marine Park, Bay Ridge, Mill Basin), typical front yards are 10–15 ft, side yards 5–8 ft each, and rear yards 30 ft. R6–R10 denser districts (Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, downtown Brooklyn) allow zero-lot-line attached buildings with front yards matching the streetwall and 30 ft rear yards. Corner lots receive a 20-ft rear yard reduction. Special Purpose Districts — including the Special Coney Island District, Special Downtown Brooklyn District, and Special Gowanus Mixed Use District — modify standard setbacks. The Quality Housing Program allows buildings to match the existing streetwall without tower setbacks. Variances require approval from the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA). DOB reviews setback compliance at permit stage.
Building in a required yard without approval: DOB work without permit violation, $2,500+ civil penalty plus potential stop-work order and mandatory removal.
Kings County, NY
NYC strictly regulates commercial vehicle parking. Commercial vehicles may park at meters for up to 3 hours and are banned from residential areas overnight (...
Kings County, NY
Brooklyn pools must be enclosed by a self-closing, self-latching barrier at least 4 feet high per NYC Building Code and Health Code §165.57.
Kings County, NY
Feeding pigeons, squirrels, raccoons, or other wildlife that creates unsanitary conditions is prohibited in Brooklyn under NYC Health Code §153.09.
Kings County, NY
Brooklyn residents may keep backyard hens, but roosters, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigs, goats, and sheep are prohibited under NYC Health Code §161.01.
Kings County, NY
NYC Health Code §161.01 prohibits most wild, exotic, and farm animals. Ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, pot-bellied pigs, venomous snakes, large reptiles, ...
Kings County, NY
All consumer fireworks are illegal in New York City under New York Penal Law §270.00. This includes sparklers longer than 10 inches, firecrackers, Roman cand...
See how Kings County's setback rules rules stack up against other locations.
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