(A) Purpose and intent. The unregulated use, maintenance and placement of portable storage containers (PSCs) within the city create potentially unsightly and incompatible conditions. The following regulations are established to allow the use of PSCs to allow residents and business owners flexibility in their use, with reasonable limits to promote compatibility with adjoining land uses.
(B) Definition. For the purpose of this section, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
PORTABLE STORAGE CONTAINERS (PSCS).
(a) Standardized prefabricated metal structures originally designed for, or used in, the packing, storage, shipping, movement or transportation of cargo, freight, goods, equipment or commodities. The PSC is fully enclosed with a floor, walls, ceiling and a sealed door to withstand harsh environmental conditions and is transported from place to place by being loaded on a flatbed trailer.
(b) All trailers required to be titled and licensed in order to be towed on a highway are exempt from this definition. Structures designed for human occupancy according to HUD’s standards are exempt from this definition.
(C) Permitted temporary placement of PSCs; all zoning districts.
(1) PSCs are permitted on private property when a city-issued building or grading permit is in effect for that same property. PSCs for city construction projects on city property or in the public right-of-way are permitted with the City Engineer’s approval.
(2) If not in relation to a construction site, a maximum of one PSC is allowed without a permit to be located within a public right-of-way for a period of maximum of 72 hours.
(3) The time period in division (C)(2) above may be extended to a maximum of 30 days with the Zoning Administrator’s approval; provided, that the PSC is on private property and the side setback requirements of the zoning district are met. The PSC shall be deemed as a temporary permitted use.
(4) Maximum number of PSCs allowed for temporary use is as follows.
(a) One PSC of any size is allowed per 1,200 square feet of building area.
(b) Up to three PSCs are allowed with the Zoning Administrator’s approval.
(D) Permitted permanent placement of PSCs.
(1) A PSC shall be permitted to be permanently placed in the C-1, C-2, C-3, Light and Heavy Industrial and Airport Zoning Districts. Permanent placement is prohibited in RLS-1, AG, R-1, R-2, R-3, CC, DRD and parks recreation open space districts.
(2) PSCs shall be governed by the city’s adopted building codes.
(3) PSCs shall be located on property where the primary permitted use is established and shall comply with the area regulations of the applicable zoning district and shall not unreasonably create an impact to parking spaces or parking lot driveways.
(4) A PSC shall be placed so that it is set back the same distance from the street as the existing building. For lots having two or more street frontages, at least one frontage must comply with this requirement and the PSC can be placed at the building setback for the remaining frontages.
(5) A maximum of two PSCs are allowed to be stacked vertically.
(6) A maximum of two PSCs are permitted.
(7) The containers shall be maintained at all times from all types of visible deterioration such as rusting, peeling paint, graffiti and the like. The owner of the portable storage container shall be responsible for its maintenance.
(E) Exemptions from this chapter. The following are exempt from the regulations of this section:
(1) Businesses that offer PSCs for sale or rent to the public and the PSCs are stored from time to time at the business owner’s commercial, industrial or airport zoned property. The aforementioned requirements for setbacks, permits and placement locations shall not apply;
(2) PSCs that are part of a construction contractor’s business equipment inventory and are stored from time to time at the contractor’s place of business located in a commercial, industrial or airport zoned property;
(3) PSCs that are used in connection with an emergency as declared by public safety officials; and
(4) PSCs that comply with the adopted building, fire, plumbing and mechanical codes of the city, and are used for residential and nonresidential occupancy and not storage.
(F) Compliance. PSCs that exist as of October 15, 2018 that do not comply to these standards must do so by October 15, 2019.
(Prior Code, App. A, Art. V, § 10) (Ord. 1293, passed 10-15-2018)