Rochester, NY, City Code

Updated July 2018

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Table of Contents

Downtown Revitalization

The city’s zoning code includes a Center City District that encourages pedestrian-oriented mixed-use development (§§120-57–72). The district is comprised of six individual regulatory districts that highlight specific aspects of context and character and provide specific design guidance.

Form-Based Zoning

The city’s zoning code includes a mapped mandatory form-based zoning district (§120-77.2 et seq.). It includes a regulating plan and building envelope standards. Districts standards address purpose, goals, and intent; definitions; general standards; buildings; parking; streetscape, lighting, and mechanical; landscape requirements; and procedures.

Rethinking Off-Street Parking Requirements

The city’s zoning code includes multiple types of policy-driven off-street parking requirements. It exempts all uses in the Center City District from minimum off-street parking requirements (§120-65). It establishes parking maximums for all nonresidential uses (§120-173.D). And it authorizes parking reductions for shared parking facilities, on-street parking, bicycle parking, pedestrian-oriented uses, valet parking, and transit proximity (§120-173.E).

Solar Energy

In the city's zoning code, solar energy systems not more than 1/2 story above the roof of a building are exempt from maximum height requirements (Sec. 120-196).

Solar collectors may be located within required setbacks (Sec. 120-197).

Solar energy systems are a permitted accessory use and structure for all residential districts (Sec. 120-163).

The ordinance defines solar collector, solar energy system, and active and passive solar energy systems (Sec.120-208).

Solar energy systems are addressed in various Planned Development Districts. In District No 14 solar energy systems are a permitted accessory structure so long as they aren't located in the front yard (Ch PDD no. 14. Ord. No. 2011-297). Solar energy systems are encouraged in District No. 12 (Ord. No 2010-153). In District no. 7 solar energy collectors can be installed on the roof if the design and location is approved by the Director of Zoning (Ord. No 2005-159).

Access to natural lighting and solar exposure is a condition the Planning Commission may consider placing on special permits (Sec. 120-192.d.j).

In the marina district roofing materials that incorporate PV solar collectors are a permitted roofing material (Sec. 120-77.2.d.7).


Rochester, NY

2010 Population: 210,565

2010 Population Density: 5,884.83/square mile