LocalMeanNew York

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Pied-à-terre

pee-AY-duh-TAIR

Classic New York EnglishBoroughs & neighborhoods

Local meaning

A small or secondary city residence kept for occasional use rather than as the owner’s full-time primary home.

In New York real-estate conversation, a pied-à-terre may serve commuting, work, cultural visits, or part-time residence. Whether it is permitted depends on the building, ownership form, financing, taxes, insurance, and occupancy rules. Some co-ops prohibit or closely review non-primary-residence purchases.

Example in context

  1. “They wanted a pied-à-terre near the office for two nights a week.”

How it is used

A French-derived real-estate term frequently encountered in New York’s high-cost housing market.

Tone

neutral, upscale, real-estate-specific

Setting

second homes, apartment listings, board policies, tax discussions

Regional scope

A French-derived real-estate term frequently encountered in New York’s high-cost housing market.

Watch for

The label does not override building rules or legal obligations. Buyers should verify occupancy restrictions, taxes, insurance, and rental limitations.

Spelling and scope

A French-derived real-estate term frequently encountered in New York’s high-cost housing market.

Search forms
pied a terre NYC meaningNew York second apartmentpied-à-terre co-op rules

LocalMean keeps common search spellings discoverable without claiming that every borough, community, or generation uses one written form.

Frequently asked questions

Does pied-à-terre mean a luxury apartment?

Not necessarily. It means a secondary city residence, although the term often appears in higher-end listings.

Can every co-op be used as a pied-à-terre?

No. Some cooperative boards require primary residence or apply additional review to part-time occupancy.

Read next

All words →
noun; real-estate termCo-op

An apartment in a corporation-owned building where the resident buys shares and receives a proprietary lease rather than owning the unit as separate real property.

noun; real-estate termCondo

An apartment owned as an individual real-property unit together with a shared interest in the building’s common elements.

noun; real-estate termCondop

A New York building structure that combines condominium ownership for part of the property with a cooperative corporation owning another portion, often the residential apartments.

Evidence and further reading

These sources support the regional association, dictionary sense, or broader spread. The entry remains open to correction from New York speakers and qualified reviewers.