242 HOARD OF ESTIMATE AND APPORTIONMENT 



§ 18. Area District Exceptions, (a) The area required in a court or 

 yard at any given level shall be open from such level to the sky unobstructed, 

 except for the ordinary projections of skylights and parapets above the 

 bottom of such court or yard, and except for the ordinary projections of 

 window sills, belt courses, cornices and other ornamental features to the 

 extent of not more than four inches. However, where a side yard or an 

 outer court opens on a street a cornice may project not over five feet into 

 such side yard or outer court within five feet of the street wall of the 

 building. 



(b) An open or lattice enclosed iron fire escape, fireproof outside stair- 

 way or solid-floored balcony to a fire tower may project not more than lour 

 feet into a rear yard or an inner court, except that an open or lattice en- 

 closed iron fire escape may project not more than eight feet into a rear yard 

 or into an inner court when it does not occupy more than 20 per cent of the 

 area of such inner court. 



(c) A corner of a court or yard may be cut oft* between walls of the 

 same building, provided that the length of the wall of such cut-off does not 

 exceed seven feet. 



(d) An offset to a court or yard may be considered as a part of such 

 court or yard, provided that it is no deeper in any part than it is wide on the 

 open side and that such open side be in no case less than six feet wide. 



(e) If a building is erected on the same lot with another building the 

 several buildings shall, for the purposes of this article, be considered as a 

 single building. Any structure, whether independent of or attached to a 

 building, shall for the purposes of this article be deemed a building or a part 

 of a building. 



(f) If an additional story or stories are added to a building existing 

 at the time of the passage of this resolution, the courts and yards of which 

 do not conform to the requirements of this article, the least dimensions of 

 yards and courts shall be increased from the top of the existing yard or 

 court walls, as though they were of the prescribed dimensions at such heights 

 and the carrying up of existing elevator and stair enclosures shall be 

 exempted from the provisions of this article. 



Article Y — General and Administrative 



§ 19. Interpretation j Purpose. In interpreting and applying the pro- 

 visions of this resolution, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements 

 adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience 

 and general welfare. It is not intended by this resolution to repeal, abrogate, 

 annul or in any way to impair or interfere with any existing provision of law 

 or ordinance or any rules, regulations or permits previously adopted or 

 issued or which shall be adopted or issued pursuant to law relating to the 

 use of buildings or premises ; nor is it intended by this resolution to interfere 

 with or abrogate or annul any easements, covenants or other agreements 

 between parties ; provided, however, that where this resolution imposes a 

 greater restriction upon the use of buildings or premises or upon height of 

 buildings or requires larger yards, courts or other open spaces than are im- 

 posed or required by such existing provision of law or ordinance or by 

 such rules, regulations or permits or by such easements, covenants or agree- 

 ments, the provisions of this resolution shall control. 



§ 20. Rules and Regulations; Modifications of Provisions. The Board 

 of Standards and Appeals, created by chapter 503 of the Laws of 1916, 

 shall adopt from time to time such rules and regulations as they may deem 



