(A) Placement, parking and/or storage of box truck bodies removed from the truck chassis is hereby prohibited in R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1 and B-2 Districts, except as otherwise permitted in this Chapter 154.
(B) The placement and/or use of any portable cargo container (hereinafter referred to herein as a “container” or “containers”) as an accessory building, storage building, other building, or other similar purpose is prohibited within the zoning jurisdiction of the City of Fairfield, except as provided for below:
(1) A container is permitted as an accessory building in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 Districts provided the following conditions are met:
(a) The container may not be used as a residence of any kind.
(b) The container shall be placed on concrete or asphalt, but not on any parking area or parking lot.
(c) The container shall be painted in one solid monochromatic color, so as to blend in with the building to which it is an accessory and so that there is no visible writing. No signage or advertising shall be on the container; and the container shall otherwise be so maintained as described in this division (B) (1)(c) for as long as it remains on the property. The container shall be painted within 30 days of it being placed on the owner’s property. If bad weather prevents the container from being painted, the owner may request to extend the 30-day painting deadline. The request must be made in writing and must state the reason for the request. The written request must be delivered to the Building and Zoning Officer. The written request must first be made within the initial 30-day painting deadline. The Building and Zoning Officer may extend the 30-day painting deadline if he/she determines that bad weather is preventing the painting. Extensions may be granted for no more than 60 additional days. The owner may
appeal the Building and Zoning Officer's decision to the City Council at its next available meeting.
(d) The container shall be placed on the property so as to minimize the visibility of the container from the road and other residences.
(e) The container may not be placed in a front yard or a side yard.
(f) The container shall comply with all setback requirements.
(g) The container shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and codes.
(h) The container may be installed only after a building permit has been issued by the city.
(i) The total lot coverage of all structures combined must not exceed 30% of the lot coverage or have a total lot coverage of 320 square feet, whichever is less.
(j) The container shall be placed a minimum of seven feet (7'0") from any residential or accessory structures on the property.
(k) The container shall not be placed within the limits of a floodplain.
(l) The container shall be supported to prevent shifting of the structure.
(m) The container shall not be erected and kept on-end vertically.
(n) The container shall not be supplied with or connected to water, sewer, gas or electric service.
(o) The container shall not contain any toxic or hazardous material.
(p) The container may be subject to an annual inspection, of the interior and exterior of the container, by a Building Inspector, licensed by the State of Illinois, if the same is deemed necessaty by the Mayor and/or City Council to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section and with the Code of Fairfield. Any inspection fees or costs incurred shall be paid by the property owner.
(q) A container that is damaged and requiring more than $500 in repairs shall not be permitted to be installed.
(r) The container shall not be placed within off-street parking, loading, or landscaping areas nor impede access to public right-of ways, public utility or drainage easements, adjacent structures, or any building.
(2) A container is permitted as a non-occupied temporary or seasonal use on any property provided the following conditions are met:
(a) The container is being used for temporary use and located on private property for moving items in or out of a building for a period of time not to exceed 14 days.
(b) The container is being used for temporary storage on private property during active and actual construction that is subject to and authorized by a city building permit.
(c) The container is being used for temporary storage within project limits during an authorized/approved public infrastructure project.
(d) The container shall be placed on concrete or asphalt.
(e) The container shall comply with all setback requirements.
(f) The container shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and codes.
(g) The container shall not be placed within loading, or landscaping areas nor impede access to public right-of ways, public utility or drainage easements, adjacent structures, or any building.
(3) When a container is altered by cutting, removing or replacing structural elements, the following requirements must be met:
(a) If a steel frame is replaced, a similar or higher grade of steel shall be used as the replacement frame.
(b) When openings are made in container walls for doors, windows and other openings, the opening mnst be framed with steel elements resembling or exceeding elements in the original frame and complying with the applicable ASTM steel standards.
(4) Non-conforming portable cargo container, truck body or semitrailer.
(a) An existing nonconforming portable cargo container, truck body or semitrailer, which fails to comply with this section shall be brought into conformity or removed from the property, within six months of the passage of Ordinance 22-1108-317.
(b) Any person who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to comply with an order of the City of Fairfield to bring into conformity or remove a portable cargo container, truck body, or semitrailer shall be in violation of this section.
(Ord. 10-1228-18, passed 12-28-2010; Ord. 22-1108-317, passed 11-8-2022; Ord. 23-0822-340, passed 8-22-2023) Penalty, see § 154.999