B3-2 Family Dwelling – Class B Buildings Guide (2023)

B3-2 family dwelling is a type of the Class B buildings which is the lower level. Even though Class B buildings tend to be a little older, they nevertheless have excellent management and tenants.

Value-added investors frequently target these buildings as investments since well-located Class B buildings can achieve Class A status by undergoing renovations like facade and common area upgrades.

Class B structures should typically be well-maintained and not functionally obsolete.

What Is B3-2 Family Dwelling?

The B3-2 family dwelling is a type of Class B Building that comprises two-family dwellings that were converted from one family homes. Queens is home to almost half of them (53 percent), while Brooklyn is home to 34 percent, and the Bronx is home to 8 percent.

B3-2 Family Dwelling

The Department of Finance will bill it as a two-family even though a new C of O was never issued because B3 reveals that it was previously a single and an application was filled out to convert it.

A detached or semi-detached building that is exclusively intended for or occupied by two families who live apart from one another is referred to as a two-family dwelling.

Owners of single and two-family dwellings frequently want to turn them into multi-family apartment buildings.

What Does B3-2 Family Dwelling Mean?

It means the property was a one-family turned into a two-family, as indicated by the building department’s listing as a “b3-2 Family dwelling”.

Planning Advisory Service (PAS) published its first Information Report and it states that in all R-2 Zones (Two-Family Zones):

“An existing one or two-family dwelling of a class hereinafter determined may be converted into dwelling units for the use of three or more families, subject to the conditions hereinafter stated.”

What Is A Legal Two-Family House

A house that is divided into two parts, either vertically for two families to live side by side but apart by a party wall, or horizontally for two families to live in separate apartments stacked one above the other.

A legal two-family house is also called duplex house because it is a building with two livable units. A two-family house often includes separate utilities, separate entrances, and unconnected living areas.

Class B Buildings – Two Family Dwellings

Properties in the Class B buildings are categorized as stated below:

  • B1 – Two Family Brick
  • B2 – Two Family Frame
  • B3 – Two Family Converted (From One Family)
  • B9 – Miscellaneous Two Family

B1 – Two Family Brick

Brick two-family dwellings are included in the B1 construction class of real estate.

With 34% of all two-family homes in New York City, they are the most prevalent type.

They are most prevalent in Brooklyn, which has 48% of these buildings, followed by Queens (31%), and Staten Island (3%). (17 percent ).

Canarsie, Borough Park, Bay Ridge, Flatlands, and Ridgewood  (Queens) are the top 5 Brooklyn neighborhoods with the highest concentrations of B1 two-family residences.

B2 – Two Family Frame

Frame two-family homes, which make up the majority of properties in the B2 building class in Queens (40 percent), Brooklyn (25 percent), and Staten Island (24 percent).

New Springville/Bloomfield/Travis (Staten Island), Bushwick South (Brooklyn), Eltingville/Annadale/Huguenot/Blue Heron Park/Pond Wolfe’s Park/Mount Loretto (Staten Island), East New York – portion A (Brooklyn), and South Ozone Park (Queens) are the top 5 areas for homes in the B2 building class.

B3 – Two Family Converted (From One Family)

Two-family residences that were once single-family homes are included in the B3 construction category.

The majority of them (53%) reside in Queens, followed by Brooklyn (34%), and the Bronx (8%).

South Ozone Park (Queens), Stuyvesant Heights (Brooklyn), Richmond Hill (Queens), St. Albans (Queens), and Bensonhurst West (Brooklyn) are the areas with the highest concentration of homes in the B3 building class .

B9 – Miscellaneous Two Family

Homes that fall under the B9 construction class are miscellaneous two-family dwellings that do not fall under B1, B2, or B3.

The majority (60%) are in Brooklyn, followed by Staten Island (22%), and Queens (9%).

The top 5 areas with the highest concentration of properties in the B9 miscellaneous two family building class are listed below: Brooklyn neighborhoods such as

  • Canarsie
  • Sunset Park
  • Crown Heights North
  • Gerritsen Beach
  • Sheepshead Bay
  • Manhattan Beach, and
  • Great Kills (Staten Island).

What Is My Building Classification?

There are building classifications that are available, according to the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). These classifications are known as Class A, Class B, and Class C.

A house is identified using its features and requirements by using the correct building classification. Building class typically refers to a business property’s overall state and shows how well-kept its facilities and location is. This means that classification of building is based on occupancy and type of construction.

Every structure or piece of land must be categorized as an occupancy building based on its purpose or the nature of its occupants. They fall under the following categories:

  1. Agricultural buildings
  2. Commercial buildings
  3. Residential buildings
  4. Educational buildings
  5. Government buildings
  6. Industrial buildings
  7. Military buildings
  8. Religious buildings
  9. Transport buildings
  10. Power plants

How To Find Out If A House Is A Legal Two Family

On the Department of Building’s website, at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/home/home.shtml, you can conduct a C of O search. Simply enter the address of your property on the left side of the screen, click “Search,” and then, after arriving at the Property Profile Overview, click the link that says “View Certificates of Occupancy.”

Alternatively, depending on the town, city, or your country of residence, you may find out if it is a 2 family home by contacting the town zoning office.

A legal two family dwelling is more likely to exist if:

  1. In order to give a family member more living space, the unit was an attic, basement, or garage conversion.
  2. The detached unit is constructed to typically imitate the architectural design and style of the parent structure.
  3. The detached unit is smaller than the main residence.
  4. There are no separate utilities provided by the auxiliary unit.
  5. According to zoning regulations, the main building must be used as the property owner’s permanent residence.
  6. The primary residence and any additional units mainly adhere to the neighborhood’s single-family with ADU standards.
  7. In the market area, single-family homes with ADUs are the most common usage for properties with similar configurations.

What Is B3-2 Zoning?

The B3-2 Zoning district provides a wide range of shopping centers, retail storefronts, and large stores, often along major streets.

The B3-2 Zoning allows more types of businesses than B1 and B2 districts. Under this district, apartments are permitted above the ground floor.

Compared to the B1 district, there is a higher concentration of vehicles and a higher intensity of development.

What is Special Condominium Billing Lot?

R0 – Special Condominium Billing Lot – These Condominium buildings fall under the R0 building class.

While the condo units individually come under other R codes, the buildings themselves fall under the R0 property class.

Brooklyn has the highest concentration of these condo buildings, accounting for 47% of all of them, followed by Manhattan (35%), and Queens (13%).

Borough Park in Brooklyn, SoHo/Tribeca/Civic Central/Little Italy in Manhattan, Hudson Yards/Chelsea/Flatiron/Union Square in Manhattan, West Village in Manhattan, and Bedford (Brooklyn) are the top 5 neighborhoods where these structures may be found.

A2-1 Family Dwelling NYC

A residential structure that falls under the state’s one and two family housing regulations is referred to as a one and two family dwelling.

What Does An A2-1 Family Dwelling Mean?

Any building or structure that is only used for residential purposes by no more than two families is referred to as a “private house.”

All residential and the majority of commercial areas in New York City permit one- and two-family homes. They are built in a detached or semi-detached style.

A “single-family private dwelling” is a structure made for and occupied just by one family.

A “two-family private dwelling” is a structure intended for and occupied solely by two families.

Each one-family or two-family dwelling unit that faces or has access to a legal street or public thoroughfare shall be considered to be a private dwelling, as long as it is furnished with all necessary amenities as a separate dwelling unit and is arranged in a way that allows it to be recognized as a legal one-family or two-family dwelling.

What is a Class B building in NYC?

A multiple dwelling which is occupied, as a rule, transiently, as the more or less transitory abode of individuals or families who are lodged with or without meals is a Class B Building in New York City (NYC) multiple housing.

What Does Building Class Mean In NYC?

The quality and quantity of amenities provided are taken into account when formally classifying commercial buildings in Manhattan. NYC Building Class comprises of Class A, B, or C rentals or leases are determined by these standards, which also influence their pricing.

How To Change Building Class Nyc

As described in Chapter 3 of the Building Code, a change in the occupancy classification or a change of occupancy within an occupancy classification.

Your building conversion must be reported to the Department of Buildings as a “Alteration Type 1.”

A new or revised certificate of occupancy and an Alteration Type 1 filing are required for changes to use, occupancy, and egress.

What is B1-2 family dwelling?

Brick two-family homes are under the B1 building class of real estate. With 34% of all two-family homes in New York City, they are the most prevalent type. Brooklyn, where 48% of these buildings are found, is the most common location for them, followed by Queens (31%) and Staten Island (17%).

What is B2-2 family dwelling?

Frame-built two-family homes that fall under the B2 building class are most prevalent in Queens (40%) Brooklyn (25%), and Staten Island (24%).

Conclusion

B3-2 family dwellings are Class B buildings converted from one-family homes. Queens has 53%, Brooklyn 34%, and the Bronx 8%.

B3 shows that it was previously a single and an application was filled out to convert it, thus the Department of Finance will bill it as a two-family even though no new C of O was issued.

Useful Resources

Class B Buildings – Two Family Dwellings (link)
Building Classification | City of New York – NYC.gov (link)

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