New York City Zoning Resolution
Study urban design with a practical focus on NYC regulations and expand your professional profile toward international cities. This course aims to train students in project management for residential and commercial developments applying Department of Buildings (DOB) regulations and the Zoning Resolution, optimizing each project through land use and parking criteria. The student will learn from the history of zoning to the identification of permitted obstructions and housing incentives, mastering ICC, IBC, IRC codes and the technical standards demanded by the U.S. market.
REQUIREMENTS
- Basic design and construction knowledge.
- Previous experience with design or architecture software.
- Access to Revit (for applied exercises).
- English level B1 or higher.
- Architects, urban planners, landscape designers, or urban environment professionals (advanced students are also welcome).
OBJECTIVE
- Understand how land use is regulated and the history of zoning in New York City.
- Identify permitted obstructions, parking criteria, and plaza/bonus incentives (Quality Housing).
- Perform zoning analyses, egress studies, and ADA accessibility evaluations.
- Prepare permit documentation and drawing reviews based on DOB standards.
- Enable remote work collaboration with architecture firms, consultants, and contractors in the U.S.
STUDENT PROFILE
- Interest in urban design, building codes, and international regulatory compliance.
- Advanced interpretation and comprehension capacity of technical documentation and complex codes.
- Motivation to develop technical documentation projects and zoning analysis applied to NYC standards.
POSITIONS YOU COULD APPLY FOR AFTER COMPLETING THIS COURSE
- DOB Permit Coordinator
- Building Permit Expeditor Remote
- NYC DOB Filing Representative
- Permit and Zoning Assistant
- Remote Permit Specialist
- Permit Specialist
- Remote Permit Processor (DOB filings)
- Permit Coordinator (NYC DOB)
- Construction Documentation Specialist
- Permit Expeditor / Filing Representative
- Architectural Filing Assistant
- Construction Permit Technician
- Permit and Compliance Coordinator
- Building Permit Coordinator
- Plan Examiner Assistant
- Zoning and Permitting Assistant
- Permit Application Specialist (NYC Department of Buildings)
- DOB Project Coordinator
- Architectural Permit Drafter (AutoCAD / DOB Drawings)
- Building Code Drafter / Compliance Drafter
Introducción al Análisis de Zonificación
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- Lección 1: ¿Qué es el urbanismo?
- Lección 2: Estructura legal de los Estados Unidos
- Lección 3: Introducción a la ciudad de Nueva York
¿Qué es la Zonificación?
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- Lección 1: ¿Qué es la zonificación?
- Lección 2: Los inicios de la zonificación en Estados Unidos
- Lección 3: Resoluciones de zonificación de la ciudad de Nueva York
- Lección 4: Planificación urbana en el siglo XXI
- Lección 5: Herramientas para el análisis de la zonificación
Regulaciones de Volumetría / Bulk Regulations
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- Lección 1: Regulaciones de volumen : Bulk regulations
- Lección 2: Superficie y ancho del lote : Lot size area & width
- Lección 3: Indice de Construcción : Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
- Lección 4: Factor de densidad de unidades de vivienda:Density DU Factor
- Lección 5: Regulaciones de patios : Yard Regulation
- Lección 6: Tipos de edificios
- Lección 7: Distancia entre edificios
- Lección 8: Altura de los edificios Parte 1
- Lección 9: Altura de los edificios Parte 2
- Lección 10: Relación de espacio abierto : Open Space Ratio
- Lección 11: Retiros y plano de exposición al cielo
- Lección 12: Obstrucciones permitidas
- Lección 13: Regulaciones de estacionamiento
- Lección 14: Plazas e incentivos adicionales
- Lección 15: Viviendas de calidad : Quality Housing
Distritos en la Zoning Resolution de la ciudad deNew York
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- Lección 1: Zoning Resolution – Introducción
- Lección 2: Distritos y mapas de zonificación de NYC
- Lección 3: Distritos residenciales de baja densidad
- Lección 4: Distritos residenciales de densidad media y alta
- Lección 5: Distritos comerciales
- Lección 6: Distritos industriales
- Lección 7: Distritos especiales a nivel de la ciudad
- Lección 8: Distritos especiales de Manhattan
- Lección 9: Distritos especiales de Brooklyn
- Lección 10: Distritos especiales del Bronx
- Lección 11: Distritos especiales de Queens
- Lección 12: Distritos especiales de Staten Island
Grupo de uso en la Zoning Resolution de la ciudad deNew York
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- Lección 1: Visión general de los grupos de uso
- Lección 2: Grupos de uso residencial I y II
- Lección 3: Grupos de uso para instalaciones comunitarias
- Lección 4: Grupos de uso minorista y comercial
Alejandro Liévano
Architect, BIM Specialist & Project Manager
Alejandro Liévano is a Colombian architect and project manager with over a decade of experience leading multidisciplinary teams from concept to delivery. He has worked across diverse project types and client profiles, providing expertise in zoning regulations, building codes, and BIM implementation .
As Project Manager at Superior CS Group , Liévano oversees project planning, risk and performance management, workflow design, and coordination between clients, consultants, and construction teams . He manages a portfolio of projects and clients based in New York , ensuring design and construction standards meet both local and international codes.
Before joining Superior CS Group, Liévano spent seven years at Gustavo Perry Architects , contributing to large-scale residential projects—from affordable housing to high-end urban developments—integrating architectural, landscape, and MEP coordination under demanding schedules.
Earlier in his career, he worked at Tierratec as an assistant architect and collaborated with the Colombian Construction Council for Green Building (CCCS) on the National Award for Social and Sustainable Housing (JMSD) initiative.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from the National University of Colombia , where his thesis focused on Raizal Ethnic Housing for the Islands of Providence and Santa Catalina.
Areas of experience
- Zoning and code compliance guidance
- Project planning and delivery
- Risk and performance management
- Client and stakeholder coordination
- BIM leadership and audits
- MEP coordination
- Team training and onboarding
Representative works / roles
- Project Manager — Superior CS Group (current role; clients and projects in New York)
- Architect — Gustavo Perry Architects (seven years, large-scale residential projects)
- Assistant Architect — Tierratec
- Production support — Colombian Construction Council for Green Building (CCCS), JMSD National Award
Education
- Bachelor’s in Architecture and Urban Planning — National University of Colombia
Is this course only for architects?
Not exclusively. While it’s primarily aimed at architects, urban planners, and design professionals, advanced students or related professionals with basic knowledge of design and construction are also welcome to enroll.
Will I really be able to work with U.S. companies after this course?
Yes. This program is designed to prepare you to collaborate with architecture firms, consultants, and contractors in the U.S. You’ll learn how to correctly apply standards from the Department of Buildings (DOB), ICC codes, IBC, IRC, the NYC Zoning Resolution, and other technical requirements demanded by the U.S. market.
What software do I need to complete the course?
For applied exercises, you’ll need access to Revit. You’re also expected to have previous experience with some design or architecture software, as the course focuses on technical codes and documentation.
What is the estimated weekly workload? The course combines theory and practice. You can complete it at your own pace—there’s no time limit—but we estimate a total of 7 hours to complete the program.
Do I need in-depth knowledge of U.S. codes before starting?
No. The course starts from the basics and gradually introduces the ICC, IBC, IRC, the Zoning Resolution, the DOB structure, and all relevant codes. What you need is a solid foundation in design and construction.
Does this course include real zoning and code exercises for New York City? Yes. You’ll perform zoning analyses, egress studies, ADA accessibility evaluations, permit documentation, and drawing reviews based on DOB standards. Everything is designed to help you work on real projects from day one.
What level of English do I need?
A B1 level is enough, mainly to interpret technical documents, regulations, and communicate with teams at a basic professional level. Fluency is not required.
Is the course theoretical or practical?
It’s a highly practical program focused on code interpretation, real case analysis, technical documentation, and the development of residential and commercial projects according to New York City standards.
Do I need to live in the U.S. to apply these skills?
No. The course is designed for remote work—an increasingly common model in U.S. firms outsourcing zoning analysis and technical documentation development.
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