Solarium on a terrace

Have to check if the building is "built full" - i.e. maximum FAR allowed for the site. First need to go through the building to check out possibilities.

Though I do know that in my building (coop) which is definitly built to maximum FAR, they did allow a solarium on an owner's terrace.

Thank you. Any one else has any comments?

Hi,
Like the OP, I would love to hear about other people's attempts--either successful or unsuccessful--in building a solarium on their private terrace. What type of city permissions are required? How about permission from their coop boards?

Thanks!

Khoi

Yes, you'd need a permit from the DoB. Roof structures, including solaria and greenhouses, need to be of fireproof construction and count as enclosed space.

You also need permission from the co-op or condo. A terrace is part of the roof. If a co-op, the co-op owns the roof and allows you to use it. If a condo, the roof is a limited common element. In either case, the new construction, if permitted by the city, will act as a new roof, so the building will have all kinds of requirements. E.g., sealing, access to the sides of the building for Local Law 11 inspection and work, and on and on. As always, the building's duty to keep the apartments below dry supersedes any rights you have to use of the roof.

So, not necessarily impossible, but neither easy nor cheap. Otherwise, every building would have them.