Ok. I read through the zoning laws as best I could. I definitely got caught up in some of the wording (I regularly read through Congressional bills, but this is just DENSE). This seems to be the pertinent section of the law:
23-132
R6 R7 R8 R9 R10
In the districts indicated, balconies may project into or over#publicly accessible open area#,#rear yard#, an #initial setback distance#, any open areas not#open space#, provided that such balcony shall:
(a) not project by a distance greater than seven feet as#building # wall from
(b) not project into the minimum required distance between#buildings # on the same #zoning lot#;
(c) not cover more than ten percent of the area designated as(my note: this does not seem applicable)
(d) be unenclosed except for a parapet not exceeding 3 feet, 8#building # wall up to a
(e) be located at or higher than the floor level of the third#story # of a #building # or at least 20 feet above #curb #buildings # containing #residences ##story ##curb level# or seven feet above natural grade,
(f) have an aggregate width, at the level of any #story #, not#building # wall from which it projects.
By my reading, my neighbor’s building may be in violation of the last article (f) and possibly article (d). Assuming that I am correct, what is my next legal step? My first thought is to call 311 , NYC’s information and public service line. Is getting in touch with my landlord’s neighbor a better way to handle it? I’ve never been in this situation before.