New York City manages its 520 miles of shoreline through the Waterfront Revitalization Program and NYC Zoning Resolution Article VI Chapter 2 (Special Regulations Applying in Waterfront Areas). Development on waterfront lots must comply with waterfront access plans, setback requirements, flood resilience standards, and public access provisions. The Department of City Planning administers waterfront zoning, and projects must also comply with FEMA flood zone requirements.
New York City's waterfront development is governed by the Zoning Resolution's waterfront regulations (Article VI, Chapter 2) and the city's Waterfront Revitalization Program (WRP). All discretionary actions within the city's coastal zone boundary must be reviewed for consistency with the WRP's ten policies covering topics including flooding, water quality, habitat protection, public access, and visual quality. Waterfront zoning requires that development on waterfront blocks provide public access through waterfront access plans (WAPs), which may include shore public walkways and supplemental public access areas. The zoning establishes setback requirements from the shoreline, visual corridor requirements to maintain views of the water, and height and bulk regulations specific to waterfront sites. Following Hurricane Sandy, the city strengthened flood resilience requirements, and new construction in flood zones must comply with Appendix G of the NYC Building Code and FEMA flood elevation requirements. The Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR) recommendations have also influenced shoreline management policy. Projects within the coastal zone must submit a WRP Consistency Assessment Form to the Department of City Planning.
Violations of waterfront zoning and development standards may result in Department of Buildings stop-work orders, zoning enforcement actions, and fines. Failure to provide required public access areas can result in enforcement by the Department of City Planning. Non-compliance with flood zone construction requirements may result in increased flood insurance premiums and building code violations.
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