What Is the Smallest Apartment in New York
In New York City, the smallest legal apartments can be as small as 150 to 250 square feet. These units are often called micro apartments or micro-units. They include a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area in a single open room.
Where the Smallest Units Appear
Micro units have appeared in new developments in Manhattan and Brooklyn, where developers build smaller apartments to fit more units on a single lot. Some buildings focus on affordable housing or student housing with compact floor plans.
How Small Apartments Are Regulated
New York City requires every legal apartment to have a window, a ceiling height of at least 7 feet, and minimum room dimensions. Local laws limit how small a unit can be while still being classified as a separate apartment.
For current examples and zoning rules, see the New York City Department of City Planning.
