
While legal basement apartments are rare in New York City, garden-level apartments are much more common and often come with appealing built-in features at competitive prices. In this article, we define what garden-level units are, examine their key advantages and potential drawbacks, and spotlight some of the most desirable garden-level units currently available in the New York City market.
In this article:
Basement Versus Garden-Level Apartment
In New York City, a basement apartment is defined as a unit below curb level, but where at least half of its height is located above the curb. In contrast, a cellar is a space where more than half of its height is below curb level. Basement units may have windows large enough to serve as exits, while cellar windows, if present, are usually too small for that purpose. This distinction explains why, according to NYC Housing Preservation and Development Guidelines, basement apartments can sometimes be legally rented if they meet strict city regulations, whereas cellar apartments can never be legally rented.
Garden-level apartments, by contrast, are legal in New York City. However, defining what constitutes a garden-level apartment can be somewhat tricky, as there is no official designation. Further complicating the term, "garden apartment" historically refers to two distinct types of residences depending on the borough. In Queens, the term originated in 1917
when the Queensboro Corporation used it to describe apartment complexes in Jackson Heights, built around a shared green space. Similar developments in Queens have since been known as garden apartments. In Brooklyn and Manhattan, however, garden apartments typically refer to street-level units that offer direct access to a backyard or garden.
⬇ Example of a unit in a garden apartment complex in Jackson Heights, Queens

The Towers, #2 (CORE Group Marketing LLC)


The Appeal of Garden-Level Apartments in New York City
• Gardeners
Unless you're fortunate enough to own an entire Brownstone, you're unlikely to have access to a garden in most New York City living situations, unless you live in a garden-level unit. While some brownstones negotiate garden access between tenants living on all three floors, in most cases, if you're living on the ground floor, you have a de facto right to the backyard as a renter or owner. For city gardeners, this can be an amazing bonus, offering the chance to create your own oasis in the city.• Families
Raising small children in a New York City apartment can be challenging. Even if you're near one of the city's great parks or playgrounds, constantly making small talk with other parents while your child plays can feel exhausting. A garden-level unit offers a unique solution: it lets your kids enjoy outdoor time without leaving home. While suburban families might take this for granted, in New York City, it's a rare luxury.• Pet Owners
Whether you have a restless cat, a dog that loves to roam off-leash, or even a sunbathing tortoise, a garden-level apartment offers an obvious advantage. Having private outdoor space is a huge benefit for pet owners looking to give their animals more freedom.• Tenants in Need of Accessibility
While not all garden-level units are fully accessible unless updated to modern standards, they do offer a practical option if you’re looking to avoid stairs. Although you may need to navigate a few steps to enter or exit, one big perk is never having to carry heavy grocery bags up multiple flights of stairs again.The Potential Downsides of Garden-Level Living
Overall, garden-level apartments provide great value, increased space, and access to a rare feature in New York City—a backyard. Still, being on the ground floor can be challenging. One obvious risk is increased vulnerability to flooding, though this depends on one's location. Garden-level apartments, due to their proximity to the ground, can also be more prone to pest problems. Garden-level apartments also tend to pose more security risks, though in most cases these risks can be mitigated by installing window grills and security systems. Finally, while not an issue for everyone, ground-level apartments also tend to be darker, though as a consequence, they are also much cooler in the summer, which can result in significantly lower electrical bills.
Garden-level apartments for sale in NYC
184 Clinton Avenue, #GARDEN1
$649,000 (-6.6%)
Clinton Hill | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 875 ft2

184 Clinton Avenue, #GARDEN1 (Compass)



293 Riverside Drive, #1AB (Christies International Real Estate Group LLC)



211 Thompson Street, #GLD (Compass)


The Walden, #1C (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)

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111 Montgomery Street, #1N (Spire Group Inc)

479 Lexington Avenue, #GARDEN
$899,000
Bedford-Stuyvesant | Condominium | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 931 ft2

479 Lexington Avenue, #GARDEN (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)


453 West 22nd Street, #GARDENDUPLEX (Sothebys International Realty)



111 Nelson Street, #GARDEN (Compass)


237 Devoe Street, #1R (Elegran LLC)

159 West 126th Street, #GARDENA
$1,090,000 (-9.2%)
Harlem | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths | 1,230 ft2

159 West 126th Street, #GARDENA (Compass)


483 14th Street, #GARDEN (Brown Harris Stevens Brooklyn LLC)


440 East 57th Street, #1G (Compass)


252 West 21st Street, #GARDEN (Corcoran Group)



450 West 20th Street, #GARDEN (Corcoran Group)


175 Huron Street, #1 (Corcoran Group)


The Lumiere, #THG (Compass)


109-119 East 10th Street, #GARDEN (Compass)


222 East 17th Street, #GARDEN (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)


Arborstone Brooklyn, #GARDEN
$2,200,000
South Slope - Greenwood Heights | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths | 2,022 ft2

Arborstone Brooklyn, #GARDEN (Serhant)


90 Herbert Street, #TH1 (Compass)



225 14th Street, #GARDENA (Nest Seekers LLC)


174 North 6th Street, #TH (Serhant)



West Village Houses, #GA (Compass)


The Grand Manhattan, #GARDEN (Nest Seekers LLC)



The Cheyney, #1E (Compass)


Mead House, #GARDEN (Compass)


Charlotte of the Upper West Side, #GARDEN
$9,950,000 (-17%)
Broadway Corridor | Condominium | 4 Bedrooms, Unknown Baths | 3,570 ft2

Charlotte of the Upper West Side, #GARDEN (CORE Group Marketing LLC)


Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?

Contributing Writer
Cait Etherington
Cait Etherington has over twenty years of experience working as a journalist and communications consultant. Her articles and reviews have been published in newspapers and magazines across the United States and internationally. An experienced financial writer, Cait is committed to exposing the human side of stories about contemporary business, banking and workplace relations. She also enjoys writing about trends, lifestyles and real estate in New York City where she lives with her family in a cozy apartment on the twentieth floor of a Manhattan high rise.