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September 30, 2007
House over FAR
So what exactly does it mean that a house is OVER FAR? Is it because they over-built or maybe sold the FAR? How does it affect what I can/cannot do with a home?
Comments
Some properties exceed the allowable FAR for the district that they are in. These usually existed before the zoning regulations for that district were determined..or ammended. In some cases perhaps a variance was sought from the City Planning Commission for a building to be built in excess of allowable FAR, however this is very unlikely for a townhouse, or brownstone. You can't sell FAR. You can sell development rights (air rights), or you can combine separate tax lots into a joint zoning lot--while still maintaining the separate tax lots-- and use the combined FAR anywhere on that zoning lot. If you're over your FAR the only thing you can't do is increase the size, bulk of your house. You can do whatever you want within the existing footprint and envelope.
Posted by: Espresso at September 30, 2007 1:00 PM
OP here, thanks for the detailed response. Is it not ideal then, in general, to purchase a brownstone that is already about 400 over FAR? I don't plan to add any extensions or anything of that sort, just maybe a roof deck.
Posted by: guest at September 30, 2007 1:28 PM
You can finish out your roof no problem, since you're not adding bulk, or habitable interior sf to the house. If you're not exceeding height and setback regulations you might be able to do a pergola or something like that.
Posted by: Espresso at September 30, 2007 2:18 PM
You can add a roof deck, as long as you don't need an enclosed egress stair to get to it and as long as stair bulkheads do NOT count as floor area in your district (which usually they do not). You'd have to make sure your stair bulkhead complies with other zoning regulations too (i.e. there are maximum sizes of bulkheads in most districts).
Posted by: guest at September 30, 2007 10:39 PM
thanks.
Posted by: guest at September 30, 2007 11:02 PM
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