New York County, NY Environmental Rules: Coastal Development (2026)

New York County is coterminous with Manhattan and has no separate county government; coastal-development rules are set by the consolidated City of New York under New York State Coastal Management Program authority delegated by the NYS Department of State. The NYC Waterfront Revitalization Program (WRP), originally adopted in 1982 and most recently updated in 2016 (with 2026 climate-adaptation guidance), is the city's principal coastal management tool. Discretionary actions within the designated coastal zone — which covers all of Manhattan's waterfront — must be reviewed for consistency with the WRP's 10 policies by the NYC Department of City Planning. The boundary now incorporates the 500-year (0.2% annual chance) FEMA floodplain. Construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas requires compliance with NYC Building Code Appendix G, which sets minimum elevation, flood-resistant materials, and design standards (referencing ASCE 24-14) for new construction and substantial improvements. The 2022 update strengthened freeboard requirements and incorporated climate-resilient design elevations. NYC Zoning Resolution Article VI, Chapter 4 (Sections 64-00 et seq.) provides flood-zone overlay rules including modified bulk, parking (Sec. 64-40), and streetscape (Sec. 64-50) provisions to support flood-resilient design. Special Coastal Risk Districts established by Zoning Resolution amendments after Hurricane Sandy (2013) limit new dwelling units and certain community facilities in the most exposed shoreline areas — currently mapped in parts of Staten Island and Queens, but not Manhattan. Lower Manhattan, Battery Park City, the Hudson Yards waterfront, and East Side waterfront projects are also subject to additional resilience overlays. NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) administers stormwater drainage rules. Confirm jurisdictional details with NYC DCP Waterfront and Open Space Division and NYC DOB Floodplain Unit at 311 (or NYC DOB at 212-393-2550).