Zoning › New York › Erie County › Buffalo

Buffalo, NY Zoning

Form-based-zoning. 21 districts · 4 overlays · 6 applicable state preemptions.

Overview

Code type
form-based
Naming convention
transect
Worth knowing
  • Form-based code (transect-style) adopted Dec 27, 2016, effective April 3, 2017 — Buffalo was first major US city to adopt a form-based code citywide and first major US city to eliminate off-street parking minimums citywide (§8.3.1(1))
  • Three zone families: N- Neighborhood Zones (transect-style, building-type-driven), D- District Zones (campus / industrial / open-space, coverage-driven), C- Corridor Zones (overlay-only — Metro Rail, Rail, Waterfront)
  • No FAR cap and no maximum residential density anywhere in Green Code — density controlled solely via building-type form (footprint × stories) within build-to zones (§3.2)

+ 15 more in Quirks & notes

Districts

spec 5mu 4com 3res_sf 3cbd 2res_mf 2ind 2
CodeNameCategory Min lotHeight CoverageFAR Du/acParking Setbacks F/S/R
N-1DDowntown/Regional Hubcbd—[4]—[5]————0[1] / 0[2] / —[3]
N-1CMixed-Use Corecbd—[9]52 ft[10]————0[6] / 0[7] / —[8]
N-1SSecondary Employment Centermu1,000 sf[14]90 ft[15]————0[11] / 0[12] / —[13]
N-2CMixed-Use Centermu900 sf[19]52 ft[20]————0[16] / 0[17] / —[18]
N-2EMixed-Use Edgemu900 sf[24]48 ft[25]—————[21] / —[22] / —[23]
N-2RResidentialres_mf900 sf[29]40 ft[30]—————[26] / —[27] / —[28]
N-3CMixed-Use Center (Streetcar Neighborhoods)com900 sf[34]44 ft[35]————0[31] / 0[32] / —[33]
N-3EMixed-Use Edge (Streetcar Neighborhoods)mu900 sf[39]40 ft[40]—————[36] / —[37] / —[38]
N-3RResidential (Streetcar Neighborhoods)res_sf900 sf[44]40 ft[45]—————[41] / —[42] / —[43]
N-4-30Single-Family 30+res_sf4,000 sf[49]40 ft[50]—————[46] / —[47] / —[48]
N-4-50Single-Family 50+res_sf4,000 sf[54]40 ft[55]—————[51] / —[52] / —[53]
D-RResidential Campusres_mf—[59]—[60]0.8[61]———0[56] / 0[57] / 0[58]
D-MMedical Campusspec1,800 sf[65]—[66]0.9[67]———0[62] / 0[63] / 0[64]
D-EEducational Campusspec5,000 sf[71]—[72]0.9[73]———0[68] / 0[69] / 0[70]
D-SStrip Retailcom5,000 sf[77]—[78]0.9[79]———[{'variant': 'general', 'value': 0, 'citation': '§4.4 (range 0–100 ft)'}, {'variant': 'adjacent to N-zone within 150 ft', 'value': 10, 'citation': '§4.4 max'}][74] / [{'variant': 'interior', 'value': 5, 'citation': '§4.4'}, {'variant': 'corner', 'value': 0, 'citation': '§4.4 (range 0–50 ft)'}][75] / 15[76]
D-CFlex Commercialcom5,000 sf[83]—[84]0.9[85]———0[80] / 0[81] / 0[82]
D-ILLight Industrialind5,000 sf[89]—[90]1[91]———0[86] / 0[87] / 0[88]
D-IHHeavy Industrialind5,000 sf[95]—[96]1[97]———0[92] / 0[93] / 0[94]
D-OSOpen Space — Squarespec5,000 sf[101]—[102]0.25[103]———0[98] / 0[99] / 0[100]
D-OGOpen Space — Greenspec5,000 sf[107]—[108]0.1[109]———15[104] / 15[105] / 15[106]
D-ONOpen Space — Naturalspec5,000 sf[113]—[114]0.02[115]———15[110] / 15[111] / 15[112]

Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found

Overlays

C-M
Metro Rail Corridor Zone
TOD
§5.1 (Article 5 Corridor Zones)

Designated areas within walking distance of NFTA Metro Rail stations along the Main Street light-rail line (geographic boundaries shown on official Zoning Map; precise station-radius distance not specified in §5.1 text — defined by map polygon)

min_height_stories[{'variant': 'N-1C, N-1S, N-2C, N-2E, or N-2R underlying', 'value': 3, 'citation': '§5.1'}, {'variant': 'N-3C, N-3E, or N-3R underlying', 'value': 2, 'citation': '§5.1'}][116]
min_residential_density_du_ac[{'variant': 'N-1C underlying', 'value': 36, 'citation': '§5.1'}, {'variant': 'N-2C or N-2E underlying', 'value': 24, 'citation': '§5.1'}, {'variant': 'N-3C or N-3E underlying', 'value': 18, 'citation': '§5.1'}][117]
surface_parking_placementrear yard only[118]
C-R
Rail Corridor Zone
SPEC
§5.2

Active rail lines and yards, including vacated rail rights-of-way, intended to be reserved as permanent transportation corridors. Geographic boundaries shown on official Zoning Map.

max_height_ft50[119]
infrastructure_preservationDisused railroad bridges, trestles, culverts, and tunnels should be preserved and maintained for potential recreational trail development[120]
C-W
Waterfront Corridor Zone
ENV
§5.3

All land areas within the Local Waterfront Revitalization Area (LWRA), defined in the Buffalo Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP). Covers Lake Erie shoreline, Niagara River, and Buffalo River frontage.

waterfront_yard_ft[{'variant': 'C-W-25 (intensely urbanized waterfronts)', 'value': 25, 'citation': '§5.3.3.1.d'}, {'variant': 'C-W-100 (less urbanized waterfronts)', 'value': 100, 'citation': '§5.3.3.1.e'}][121]
native_vegetation_buffer_ft50[122]
prohibited_uses['Adult establishments', 'Junk/salvage yards', 'Recycling facilities', 'Waste transfer stations', 'Truck stops', 'Electronic Message Centers'][123]
shore_public_walkway_requiredencouraged as multi-use paths along shoreline[124]
local_waterfront_consistency_reviewrequired for all development[125]
N-DER
Downtown Entertainment Review Overlay
spec
§3.4.1

Properties bounded by Tupper Street (north), east side of Main Street (east), west side of Elmwood Avenue (west), and Seneca Street (south)

tavern_entry_restrictionno patrons under 21 between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.[126]
special_use_permit_requiredfor affected tavern establishments[127]
event_license_requiredfor mixed-age events serving alcohol during restricted hours[128]
tavern_definitionan establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold for on-site consumption and in which the service of food, if served at all, is incidental[129]

State preemptions

NY-EO30-PHCapplies
Qualifying condition
City of Buffalo population 276,011 (Census 2020), upstate (Erie County, Western NY region). Upstate Pathway 1 threshold = 0.33% stock growth / 1 yr or 1% / 3 yr; Pathway 2 = HCR Pro-Housing Resolution + housing plan. Buffalo is in HCR's PHC applicant set as of 2024; current certification status not verified against HCR live dashboard in this pass.
Source
NY Executive Order No. 30 (Hochul, 2023-07-18); HCR Pro-Housing Community Program; FY 2025 Enacted Budget appropriations.
Effect
Eligible (if certified) for DRI, NY Forward, Regional Council Capital Fund, NY Main Street, Market NY, MEP transit funding, and ESD Pro-Housing Community Supply Funds. Does not preempt local zoning.
NY-RPL-12D-STRapplies
Qualifying condition
Statewide framework (RPL Art. 12-D §§447-A to 447-G) effective 2024-12-21; county registry and platform verification effective 2025-09-22. Erie County opt-out status not verified in this pass against county legislature minutes; default assumption is county registry applies unless opted out. State STR sales tax effective 2025-03-01 applies regardless of opt-out. Applicability per-parcel for STR-use parcels in Buffalo. Buffalo has its own STR ordinance (Buffalo Common Council Ord. 2018) confining STRs to specific zones and requiring host registration with the city — this local regulation is preserved as a floor-not-ceiling under Art. 12-D §447-G.
Source
NY RPL Article 12-D (Chapter 594 of Laws of 2024; Chapter 99 of Laws of 2025).
Effect
If Erie County has not opted out: STR hosts must register with both Erie County and the City of Buffalo; booking platforms must verify registry. Buffalo retains local zoning authority over STRs (including district-based use restrictions in Green Code §6.1).
NY-COASTAL-MANAGEMENT-PROGRAM-LWRPapplies
Qualifying condition
Buffalo fronts Lake Erie, the Niagara River, and the Buffalo River — all within the NY Coastal Area. The City of Buffalo has an approved Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP); the Green Code C-W Waterfront Overlay (§5.3) is the LWRP's implementing zoning device. Buffalo waterfront projects are subject to LWRP consistency review and (for federal-license/permit/funding actions) federal consistency review under CZMA §307.
Source
NY Executive Law Article 42; 19 NYCRR Part 600; NYS DOS LWRP-approved municipalities list; Buffalo Green Code §5.3 (C-W zone).
Effect
Projects in Buffalo's waterfront area must demonstrate consistency with NY CMP's 44 policies and Buffalo LWRP policies. Green Code §5.3.3.7 (Local Waterfront Consistency Review) implements this requirement at the city level.
NY-FRESHWATER-WETLANDSapplies
Qualifying condition
ECL Article 24 (as amended by Part TT of Chapter 58 of Laws of 2022; threshold reductions effective 2025-01-01) reduces DEC jurisdictional wetland threshold to 7.4 acres (and any wetland 'of unusual importance'), with 100 ft adjacent area statewide (300 ft for exceptional wetlands). Buffalo includes Tifft Nature Preserve, Times Beach Nature Preserve, Buffalo River corridor, and Niagara River shoreline; DEC-mapped freshwater wetlands exist in Buffalo. Parcel-level mapping not performed in this pass.
Source
ECL Article 24; 6 NYCRR Part 664.
Effect
DEC freshwater wetlands permit required for regulated activity in or within 100 ft of mapped wetland on a Buffalo parcel. Independent of city zoning approval; in addition to Green Code §5.3 C-W requirements where applicable.
NY-SEQRAapplies
Qualifying condition
SEQRA (ECL Article 8; 6 NYCRR Part 617) applies statewide to all discretionary 'actions' by state and local agencies. Buffalo's Common Council, City Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Appeals must complete SEQRA review for rezonings, major site plan approvals, special use permits, and Planned Unit Developments (Green Code Chapter 14). Buffalo does not have its own SEQRA-implementing ordinance equivalent to NYC's CEQR — SEQRA applies in its 6 NYCRR Part 617 form.
Source
NY Environmental Conservation Law Article 8; 6 NYCRR Part 617.
Effect
Procedural overlay on all discretionary Green Code approvals. Local zoning substance unchanged; closing the approval requires SEQRA compliance (EAF, Type I/Unlisted -> negative declaration or EIS).
NY-MANUFACTURED-HOUSING-NON-EXCLUSIONapplies
Qualifying condition
NY Constitution Art. I substantive due process doctrine (Kurzius v. Upper Brookville, 45 N.Y.2d 840 (1978)) prohibits total citywide exclusion of manufactured homes. Buffalo Green Code allows manufactured/mobile homes as a use category subject to building-type restrictions in N-3R, N-4-30, N-4-50, and certain D-R zones (verification of specific listing in §6.1 use table not performed in this pass; Kurzius rule satisfied if any zone permits MH).
Source
Kurzius v. Upper Brookville, 45 N.Y.2d 840 (1978); NY DOS Municipal Regulation of Manufactured Housing (Sept 2024).
Effect
Constitutional floor observed — Buffalo's Green Code provides at least one zone in which manufactured homes are permitted. Restrictive (district-based) zoning is constitutionally permitted; total exclusion is not.
Non-applicable laws (5)
NY-MDL-26-3-NYC-FARdoes_not_apply
Qualifying condition
MDL §26(3) >12.0 FAR unlock pathway is statutorily limited to cities with population >= 1,000,000 (NYC only). Buffalo population 276,011 (Census 2020) << 1,000,000 threshold.
Source
NY Multiple Dwelling Law §26(3) as amended by Part Q of Chapter 56 of Laws of 2024.
Effect
No MDL §26(3) FAR ceiling relief available in Buffalo. Pathway is NYC-only.
NY-MDL-JURISDICTIONunder_review
Qualifying condition
MDL general applicability is cities with population >= 325,000 (NY Multiple Dwelling Law Art. 1). Buffalo population 276,011 (Census 2020) is below the 325,000 threshold. However the NY state-overlay record (NY_MDL_JURISDICTION_APPLICABILITY) flags Buffalo as MDL-covered in 2026 — possibly via statutory listing in MDL §3 (cities specifically named) or via a Buffalo-adopted local opt-in. Primary-source review of MDL §3 city listings not performed in this pass. | qualifying_condition_checked_inputs=population 276,011 (Census 2020 — primary); MDL §3 city listing (NOT primary-source-verified this pass); local opt-in resolution (NOT verified). ; effect_if_applies=MDL habitability and use floor applies to multiple dwellings in Buffalo. Not a direct zoning override of Green Code base-zone fields; sets state-law minimum standards for multiple-dwelling habitability. | applies_raw=under_review
Source
NY Multiple Dwelling Law; state-overlay record NY_MDL_JURISDICTION_APPLICABILITY.
Retrieval issue
MDL §3 enumerated-city listing was not retrieved in this pass; nysenate.gov live fetch of MDW §3 deferred. The state-overlay record's 'Buffalo + Rochester in 2026' note was not back-traced to primary statute.
NY-ADIRONDACK-PARKdoes_not_apply
Qualifying condition
City of Buffalo is in Erie County, Western NY — approximately 250 miles west-southwest of the Adirondack Park Blue Line. Buffalo is not in any Adirondack county.
Source
NY Executive Law Article 27; APA Park Boundary GIS.
Effect
No APA jurisdiction over Buffalo parcels.
NY-CATSKILL-PARKdoes_not_apply
Qualifying condition
City of Buffalo is in Erie County (Western NY); Catskill Park covers parts of Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, and Ulster counties (Southern Catskills, Hudson Valley region) ~300 miles east of Buffalo. No overlap.
Source
NY ECL Article 9; Catskill State Land Master Plan.
Effect
No Catskill State Land Master Plan jurisdiction over Buffalo parcels.
NY-HOUSING-COMPACT-FAILEDdoes_not_apply
Qualifying condition
NY Housing Compact (Hochul FY 2024 Executive Budget proposal, Jan 2023) was removed from enacted FY 2024 budget (May 2023) and died in the Legislature. As of 2026-05, no successor statewide TOD-mandate or builder's-remedy bill has been enacted. Therefore no preemption applies to Buffalo.
Source
NY Legislature FY 2024 budget record; Manhattan Institute, 'NYC Housing Crisis: Next Steps After New York Housing Compact Fails' (2023).
Effect
No statewide TOD or upzoning mandate applies to Buffalo. Buffalo's TOD intensification is driven by the Green Code's own C-M Metro Rail Overlay (§5.1), which is a city-adopted overlay (not state-mandated).

Adopted building codes

Statewide except NYC

IBC
2018
IRC
2024
NEC
2020
IFC
2018
IECC (Residential)
2018
IECC (Commercial)
2018

Click a code label to open its state-by-state adoption atlas.

Amendment history

DateKindCitation
2017-04-03effectiveUDO effective citywide (45 days for Neighborhood Commercial Corridor Zones; 90 days for all other zones from adoption)
2016-12-27adoptionCommon Council of City of Buffalo adoption of Chapter 496

Quirks & notes

  • Form-based code (transect-style) adopted Dec 27, 2016, effective April 3, 2017 — Buffalo was first major US city to adopt a form-based code citywide and first major US city to eliminate off-street parking minimums citywide (§8.3.1(1))
  • Three zone families: N- Neighborhood Zones (transect-style, building-type-driven), D- District Zones (campus / industrial / open-space, coverage-driven), C- Corridor Zones (overlay-only — Metro Rail, Rail, Waterfront)
  • No FAR cap and no maximum residential density anywhere in Green Code — density controlled solely via building-type form (footprint × stories) within build-to zones (§3.2)
  • MINIMUM density and MINIMUM height in C-M Metro Rail Overlay: 18–36 du/ac floor and 2–3 story minimum depending on underlying zone (§5.1). Density floors are unusual in US zoning
  • Front setbacks replaced by build-to zones in neighborhood zones — 85% (most types) or 65% (Detached House) of front-facing lot width must be occupied by primary facade within a defined distance range from front property line (§3.2)
  • Ground-floor transparency requirements are building-type-keyed: 70% front for Shopfront / Commercial Block / Tower; 20–30% for residential types and Stacked Units (§3.2)
  • Ground-floor minimum height: 18 ft (Shopfront/Tower); 15 ft (Commercial Block, Shopfront House); 13 ft (D-C, D-M, D-OS); 10–13 ft (Stacked Units)
  • D-S Strip Retail front yard range 0–100 ft, capped at 10 ft max where adjacent to N-zone within 150 ft — explicit transition rule (§4.4)
  • D-OS Square requires central orientation marker (fountain/sculpture), 1 linear ft seating per linear ft of perimeter, ≥25% surface in durable materials, and prohibits driveways/parking/loading inside (§4.8)
  • D-R Residential Campus has 3-story base + Planning Board discretion to increase to 1× widest adjacent thoroughfare height with 1:1 stepback (§4.1)
  • D-M Medical Campus allows 6 stories base, up to 16 with Planning Board major site plan review (§4.2); D-E Educational Campus 6 base, up to 12 with Planning Board (§4.3) — discretionary height increases tied to site-plan review
  • Waterfront Overlay C-W has two yard depths: C-W-25 (intense urban) and C-W-100 (less urbanized with 50 ft native vegetation buffer); implements Buffalo's LWRP and NY CMP / federal CZMA consistency review (§5.3, ties to state preemption NY-COASTAL-MANAGEMENT-PROGRAM-LWRP)
  • Rail Overlay C-R caps building height at 50 ft (with railroad-purpose exception) and requires preservation of disused railroad infrastructure (bridges, trestles, culverts) for potential trail conversion (§5.2)
  • Downtown Entertainment Review Overlay (N-DER) at Tupper/Main/Elmwood/Seneca imposes operational restrictions on taverns (no under-21 patrons 10pm–4am; special use permit; event license for mixed-age alcohol events) without modifying base-zone dimensional standards (§3.4.1)
  • VLR (Visible Light Reflectance) >15% facade materials prohibited in D-C, D-IL, D-IH, D-OS, D-OG, D-ON — material-reflectivity standard across multiple zones
  • Highly reflective material standard applies — Buffalo had reflective-glass problems on prior projects; reflectivity cap is the regulatory response
  • PUDs handled under Chapter 14 (separate article from base zoning) — site-specific zoning by Council approval; no statewide TOD or builder's-remedy mandate applies to Buffalo (NY Housing Compact failed 2023, no successor)
  • Buffalo MDL applicability uncertain: city population 276,011 is below MDL §3 general 325,000 threshold, but state-overlay roster flags Buffalo as MDL-covered in 2026 — possibly via §3 enumerated-city listing; flagged under_review pending primary statute verification

Formulas

Definitions

height
Maximum height set by building type within each zone — see §3.2 building-type schedules. In N-1D and N-1C, height of Commercial Block and Tower is also constrained by thoroughfare-width formulas (1.75x and 1.25x street width respectively per §3.2). Height in stories AND feet are both stated per building type.
lot_coverage
Two coverage metrics in Green Code: 'building coverage' (footprint as % of lot) and 'impervious coverage' (impervious area as % of lot). Stated per district zone in §4; not the primary control in neighborhood zones — building-type form standards govern instead.
far
du_ac
Not used as a maximum citywide. Used as a MINIMUM density floor only in C-M Metro Rail Overlay (18–36 du/ac depending on underlying zone) per §5.1.
impervious_cover
Maximum impervious-area coverage stated per zone in §4 (district zones). Replaces lot coverage as a constraint in open-space zones.
setback_front_ft
Replaced by 'build-to range' or 'build-to percentage' in neighborhood zones — front facade must be placed within a defined distance range from the front property line, and 85% (most types) or 65% (Detached House) of front-facing lot width must be occupied by primary facade within that range (§3.2). In district zones, front yard min = 0 ft typically; D-S strip retail allows 0–100 ft (10 ft max where adjacent to N-zone within 150 ft).
setback_side_ft
Set per building type (§3.2); attached types use 0 ft, detached types use 3–6 ft. In district zones typically 0 ft minimum (D-S Strip Retail = 5 ft interior side, 0–50 ft corner; D-OG Green = 15 ft; D-ON Natural = 15 ft).
setback_rear_ft
Set per building type as percentage of lot depth in neighborhood zones (§3.2). In district zones typically 0 ft minimum (D-S = 15 ft; D-OG = 15 ft; D-ON = 15 ft).
parking
Zero off-street parking MINIMUMS citywide per §8.3.1(1) — Buffalo was the first major US city to eliminate parking minimums (2017). Where parking is voluntarily provided, it must comply with §8.3 form/location standards.
transparency
Minimum ground-floor facade transparency (windows/doors as % of facade). Building-type-keyed: 70% front for Shopfront / Commercial Block / Tower / Shopfront House (shopfront portion); 20%–30% for residential types and Stacked Units; 30% front in D-C and D-M (60% if facing residential within 150 ft).
build_to_zone
Distance range from front property line within which the primary facade must be placed AND a minimum percentage of front lot width that must be occupied within that range (typically 85% for commercial types, 65% for Detached House). Replaces traditional front setback lines (§3.2).
building_type
Each neighborhood zone permits a defined set of building types (Detached House, Attached House, Carriage House, Shopfront House, Shopfront, Commercial Block, Stacked Units, Civic Building, Tower). Each building type carries its own dimensional standards. Use form, not use, is the primary regulatory framework (§3.2).

Capacity calculations

max_footprint_sf
lot_area_sf * building_coverage (where stated in §4 district zones)
buildable_envelope_sf
Building-type-driven: most neighborhood-zone types support 85% build-to with 0 ft interior side; effective footprint approximates lot_area_sf × 0.85–0.90 in compact center types (N-1, N-2C/N-3C).
max_stories
Per building type per zone — Tower in N-1D follows thoroughfare formula (1.75x street width); Commercial Block 4–5 stories in N-1D/N-1C/N-1S; 4 stories in N-2C/N-3C; 3 stories in N-2E/N-2R/N-3E/N-3R/N-4. D-M up to 6 (16 with Planning Board); D-E up to 6 (12 with Planning Board); D-R up to 3 (plus 1× adjacent thoroughfare height with Board approval).
note
No FAR cap anywhere in Green Code. No maximum residential density citywide — only MINIMUM densities in C-M TOD overlay (§5.1). Density is controlled solely via building-type form (footprint × stories) within build-to zones. Zero parking minimums citywide (§8.3.1).

Massing explorer

Interactive 3D comparison across every district. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, use the slider to walk districts, and toggle applicable overlays in the right-side panel.

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— ft
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Parking
— /unit
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— du/ac
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District Category Height FAR Coverage Setbacks Parking Density Min lot Overlays

Sources & references

Citations
  1. [1] §3.2 — Build-to zone replaces front setback; facade placed at or very near front property line within 85% build-to range
  2. [2] §3.2 — Attached building types: 0 ft interior side
  3. [3] z §3.2
  4. [4] z §3.2 building-type-keyed
  5. [5] z §3.2
  6. [6] §3.2 — Build-to zone replaces front setback
  7. [7] §3.2 — Attached types: 0 ft interior; 0–15 ft corner
  8. [8] z §3.2
  9. [9] z §3.2 building-type-keyed
  10. [10] §3.2 — Tallest permitted building type — Stacked Units 4 stories / 52 ft. Commercial Block is NOT permitted in N-1C per Green Code building-type table for this zone
  11. [11] §3.2
  12. [12] §3.2
  13. [13] z §3.2
  14. [14] §3.2 — Commercial Block min lot 1,000 SF; Stacked Units 1,800 SF; Tower N/A
  15. [15] §3.2 — Civic Building up to 6 stories / 90 ft; Commercial Block 4–5 stories 52 ft; Tower per thoroughfare formula
  16. [16] §3.2 — Build-to range — 85% build-to occupation required
  17. [17] §3.2 — 0 ft interior for attached types
  18. [18] z §3.2
  19. [19] §3.2 — Carriage House 900 SF; Shopfront House 1,500–1,800 SF; Commercial Block 1,000 SF
  20. [20] §3.2 — Tallest permitted type — Commercial Block 4 stories / 52 ft (mid-range), Shopfront House 3 stories / 44 ft
  21. [21] z §3.2
  22. [22] z §3.2
  23. [23] z §3.2
  24. [24] §3.2 — Range 900–4,000 SF depending on building type
  25. [25] §3.2 — Commercial Block 4 stories / 48 ft; Detached/Attached/Carriage Houses 3 stories / 40 ft
  26. [26] z §3.2
  27. [27] z §3.2
  28. [28] z §3.2
  29. [29] §3.2
  30. [30] §3.2 — 3 stories; Stacked Units may reach 4 stories / 52 ft in some configurations
  31. [31] §3.2 — Build-to range — 85% occupation
  32. [32] §3.2 — 0 ft interior for attached commercial types
  33. [33] z §3.2
  34. [34] §3.2 — Range 900–1,800 SF by building type
  35. [35] §3.2 — Tallest type — Commercial Block 4 stories / 44 ft; Shopfront House 3 stories / 44 ft; Shopfront 1 story 18 ft min ground floor
  36. [36] z §3.2
  37. [37] z §3.2
  38. [38] z §3.2
  39. [39] §3.2 — Range 900–4,000 SF by building type
  40. [40] §3.2 — 3 stories typical; Commercial Block 4 stories / 44 ft permitted
  41. [41] z §3.2
  42. [42] z §3.2
  43. [43] z §3.2
  44. [44] §3.2 — Range 900–4,000 SF by building type
  45. [45] §3.2 — 3 stories
  46. [46] z §3.2
  47. [47] z §3.2
  48. [48] z §3.2
  49. [49] §3.2
  50. [50] §3.2 — Detached House 3 stories / 40 ft
  51. [51] z §3.2
  52. [52] z §3.2
  53. [53] z §3.2
  54. [54] §3.2
  55. [55] §3.2
  56. [56] §4.1
  57. [57] §4.1
  58. [58] §4.1
  59. [59] n §4.1
  60. [60] z §4.1
  61. [61] §4.1 — Building coverage max 80%
  62. [62] §4.2
  63. [63] §4.2
  64. [64] §4.2
  65. [65] §4.2
  66. [66] z §4.2
  67. [67] §4.2 — Building coverage max 90%
  68. [68] §4.3
  69. [69] §4.3
  70. [70] §4.3
  71. [71] §4.3
  72. [72] z §4.3
  73. [73] §4.3
  74. [74] §4.4 — Range 0–100 ft; capped at 10 ft maximum where adjacent to neighborhood zones within 150 ft
  75. [75] §4.4 — Interior side 5 ft min; corner side 0–50 ft range (10 ft max if adjacent N-zone within 150 ft)
  76. [76] §4.4
  77. [77] §4.4
  78. [78] z §4.4
  79. [79] §4.4
  80. [80] §4.5
  81. [81] §4.5
  82. [82] §4.5
  83. [83] §4.5 — 50 ft minimum lot width
  84. [84] z §4.5
  85. [85] §4.5
  86. [86] §4.6
  87. [87] §4.6
  88. [88] §4.6
  89. [89] §4.6 — 50 ft minimum lot width
  90. [90] z §4.6
  91. [91] §4.6 — Building coverage up to 100%
  92. [92] §4.7
  93. [93] §4.7
  94. [94] §4.7
  95. [95] §4.7
  96. [96] z §4.7
  97. [97] §4.7
  98. [98] §4.8
  99. [99] §4.8
  100. [100] §4.8
  101. [101] §4.8 — Range 5,000–85,000 SF; min lot width 50 ft
  102. [102] z §4.8
  103. [103] §4.8 — Building coverage max 25%
  104. [104] §4.9
  105. [105] §4.9
  106. [106] §4.9
  107. [107] §4.9 — 50 ft minimum lot width
  108. [108] z §4.9
  109. [109] §4.9 — Building coverage max 10%
  110. [110] §4.10
  111. [111] §4.10
  112. [112] §4.10
  113. [113] §4.10 — 50 ft minimum lot width
  114. [114] z §4.10
  115. [115] §4.10 — Building coverage max 2%
  116. [116] §5.1
  117. [117] §5.1
  118. [118] §8.3.3.A.2
  119. [119] §5.2 — Exception: limitation does not apply where it would prevent or unreasonably interfere with railroad transportation purposes
  120. [120] §5.2
  121. [121] §5.3.3.1
  122. [122] §5.3.3.1.e.ii
  123. [123] §5.3.3.5.b
  124. [124] §5.3.3.2
  125. [125] §5.3.3.7
  126. [126] §3.4.1
  127. [127] §3.4.1
  128. [128] §3.4.1
  129. [129] §3.4.1

Research status

Publication gates

primary url presentpassedhttps://bufgreencode.com/ (city-affiliated official mirror of Chapter 496 UDO; non-aggregator)
no aggregator citedpassedScan clean — no zoneomics, steadily, siteplanguide, sitedesignguide, siteplancreator, propwire, zonara, unzoned references
confidence tags full formpassedAll confirmed dimensional fields carry c-prefix citation to §3.2, §4.x, §5.x, §8.3.1, or §3.4.1
overlays have parameters trigger confidencepassedAll 4 overlays (C-M Metro Rail, C-R Rail, C-W Waterfront, N-DER Entertainment) have non-empty params, trigger, status (confirmed), and citation
preempt section city specificpassed11 NY-level preemptions evaluated with city-specific qualifying_condition_checked (Buffalo population, region, LWRA membership, district presence, MDL applicability flag). NY not in gate-5 active-preemption state list (CA/TX/FL/OR/WA/CO/MN/MT/UT/AZ/NJ/CT) — substantive evaluation performed anyway

Data quality

85%completeness145 confirmed
Documented gaps
  • Ft-equivalent for stories-only height caps in D-R, D-M, D-E, D-S, D-IL, D-IH (Green Code expresses these in stories only without ft conversion in standards tables)
  • Side/rear setback ft equivalents for build-to-percentage and percent-of-lot-depth rules in N-2E, N-2R, N-3E, N-3R, N-4-30, N-4-50 (Green Code uses building-type-keyed percentage formulas in §3.2 rather than ft minimums)
  • Section 6.1 principal-use table not extracted (would map permitted use codes → permitted zones)
  • MDL §3 enumerated-city listing not primary-source-verified (Buffalo's MDL coverage flagged under_review)
  • Erie County RPL Art. 12-D STR opt-out status not verified against county legislature minutes (assumed registry applies)
  • Buffalo Pro-Housing Community certification status not back-checked against HCR live dashboard (qualifying threshold confirmed; current status not)

Other cities in this state

Nearest-alphabetical profiles. Click through to compare zoning patterns side-by-side.

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