N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 503: Section BC 503: General Building Height and Area Limitations

503.1 General.

Unless otherwise specifically modified in Chapter 4, building height, number of stories and building area shall not exceed the limits specified in Sections 504 and 506, based on the type of construction as determined by Section 602, and the occupancies as determined by Section 302, except as modified hereafter in this chapter. Building height, number of stories and building area provisions shall be applied independently. Each portion of a building separated by one or more fire walls complying with Section 706 shall be considered to be a separate building.

503.1.1 Special industrial occupancies.

Buildings and structures of Type I and II construction designed to house special industrial processes that require large areas and unusual building heights to accommodate craneways or special machinery and equipment, including, among others, rolling mills; structural metal fabrication shops and foundries; or the production and distribution of electric, gas or steam power, shall be exempt from the building height, number of stories and building area limitations specified in Sections 504 and 506. Mezzanines within such buildings or structures shall comply with Section 505.2. Documents and plans describing the special industrial processes shall be submitted to the commissioner for approval.

503.1.2 Buildings on the same tax lot.

Two or more buildings on the same tax lot and under the same ownership and control shall be regulated as separate buildings, or, at the option of the owner, shall be considered as portions of one building where the building height, number of stories of each building and the aggregate building area of the combined buildings are within the limitations specified in Sections 504 and 506. The provisions of this code applicable to the aggregate building shall be applicable to each building.

503.1.3 Type I construction.

Buildings of Type I construction permitted to be of unlimited tabular building heights and areas are not subject to the special requirements that allow unlimited area buildings in Section 507 or unlimited building height in Sections 503.1.1 and 504.3 or increased building heights and areas for other types of construction.