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Storage Containers & your ordinances

p00p

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42.4974° N, 82.8964° W
Has anyone dealt with issues from their township or city regarding having a 8'x8'.5"x40' shipping/storage container in there backyard? If so, was their a resolution that allowed you to keep it or was it a hard no & must remove it?
 
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dcg9381

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Jun 20, 2018
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Austin, TX
I have not, probably because I'm not in the city. If they're saying "no" have them cite ordinance or code you're in violation of. We need to know the "rules" that you're breaking to be able to help you.

I'd think in some cases, you'd be able to work around - perhaps by wrapping the container like a tiny home, etc, but it depends on what you're in violation of.
 
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p00p

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I'd rather be proactive & figure it out prior to getting to that level of confrontation. If there's a good probability of being in violation, I'd just scrap the idea.
 

510ebl

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Jan 20, 2015
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Southern New Jersey
I have heard of it depending somewhat on whether it can be considered a portable structure and also if it is intended to be temporary. I.E. is it there for the duration of construction?

Slap some wheels and a tongue on it, and register it home made!
 

Renegade1LI

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Mar 11, 2018
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long island ny
A lot depends on the neighbors & how unsightly the container is, in a good spot not ******* off neighbors you may never have a problem. Most towns have multiple ordinances, I'm allowed a temp structure but it has to be so many feet from property line & can't have utilities attached, but every town is different.I can go online to see all the town codes, did you try that?
 

walta

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Jan 13, 2017
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Dutzow Missouri
Most nice suburbs have a set of rules for sheds generally 150 square feet max, less than 12 feet tall, 10 foot setback from any structure or property line, outside of any easement, no concrete, no water and no electricity.

Walta
 

jimindm

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Oct 29, 2011
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Des Moines, Iowa
Not sure what the exact ordinance is they fall under here.

I have seen them go up on outside storage container on the zoning board of adjustment.

Most are approved, but for cases like above. usually as storage is needed for a construction project. I can not say I have ever seen one on the agenda as a resident just wanting one for an indoor storage area.

If I was doing it, I would be very careful about what I said it actually was. Different names and uses, have different rules.

If I had to guess, would have to be something temporary and not permanent. Temporary would just give you a period of time to keep it there, and then it is removed.

Permanent storage structure might have other codes you need to meet. Something of that size may require a concrete slab. I know there is a limit to size of sheds, before even a permit is needed. I think here is is 120 SF.

Having said all of that, the truth is you may or may not get by with just doing it. Zoning inspectors on the street are so busy they really do not have time to seek out items such as these.

Unless, they get a complaint about it. It may not even be a complaint it could be the inspecting the garage build next door to you. It could be the addition across the street, a pool, or any number of things, that a city official could just see it while conducting business close.

Keep in mind there may or may not be anything about a storage container in that language. Call it what you want, and that may satisfy zoning. It may still not pass building codes.

Carports here are the best example of that. They are mounted permanently, but many are not on a slab, and many are to close to something that would require them to have a firewall. Putting a wall in one would never meet code, and making an existing garage or house wall into a fire rated wall just is not economical.
 

7635tools

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Feb 19, 2015
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87
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Southeast Wisconsin
I put two 40’ high cubes in my front yard 4+ years ago and nobody has said a thing. What I do on my property is my business and nobody else’s.


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gorilla

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I put two 40’ high cubes in my front yard 4+ years ago and nobody has said a thing. What I do on my property is my business and nobody else’s.


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this is what everyone says until their neighbor starts up a pig farm.
 
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TTMotorsports

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Jan 8, 2019
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Lucerne Valley, CA
In AZ I wanted to get a 40ft container and do a roof from my shop to that to have a covered outside concrete work are. If over 150 sq ft it required a permit. I would have done it anyways but I sold my house before I ever did that anyways.
 

muckdp

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Aug 26, 2011
Messages
44
In my area, the code specifically disallows shipping containers. In the rural parts of the county, they don't enforce without a complaint from a neighbor. In the city, they'll actively enforce. So I think you'll need to take queues from your neighbors, but more importantly just call your code enforcement office and ask them.

FWIW, I have 2x 20ft containers, and a 10' container. I love them. I moved all my "storage" items from the shop to one of the 20' containers, so the shop is just beer, tools, and project. We use the 10ft one up near the house, in an out of the way area as a garden shed - lawnmower, weed whacker, shovels, etc.

If you get one, make sure you get one of the newer ones with the "EZ open" doors. The hinges are individually greased, and they open very smoothly compared to the older style doors.
 

TTMotorsports

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Lucerne Valley, CA
Also my experience with them is DAMN they are expensive now days just like everything else. I ended up buying a 53' semi trailer and using that for my storage. In AZ you just pay for lifetime registration, not sure how it is in MI. Lots of people buy trailers and just lift them up and Sell the axles and a little cutting on the back set them back down on the ground as a cheaper storage container.
 

BillK

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Beautiful Southern Maryland
I'd rather be proactive & figure it out prior to getting to that level of confrontation.

Am I crazy suggesting that you make a call and ask your city/county etc ??? That would be the first thing I would do. I am not even sure why you would ask a question like that here.
 

Gunfixr

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Feb 9, 2021
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677
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behind the house
I just got a 20 ft shipping container a few yrs ago, and set it in the back yard, behind the house.
Couple yrs later, inspector out looking at the permitted garage built 20 ft away, told me I was supposed to get a permit for the container.
I had figured, rural County, zoned agricultural, it wasn't needed, but I guess I was wrong.
We had painted it it make it look better, and cover the chi-com logo on the side.

He didn't see it.........

Might paint it to match the garage........
 

TTMotorsports

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Lucerne Valley, CA
Yeah I was going to paint mine same as the shop so anyone who saw it would assume it was all part of the permitted shop.

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gnpenning

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I have more questions than answers.
Am I crazy suggesting that you make a call and ask your city/county etc ??? That would be the first thing I would do. I am not even sure why you would ask a question like that here.

Common sense thought. To many variables across the country versus local laws......hmmmm.

To answer the question, allowable here. Neighbors have one.
 
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p00p

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Nov 23, 2019
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42.4974° N, 82.8964° W
Am I crazy suggesting that you make a call and ask your city/county etc ??? That would be the first thing I would do. I am not even sure why you would ask a question like that here.

Your hours accommodates my timing of questions. Even though I do call before the offices close, it goes to the inbox. Emailing in the past has not given me a straight answer, even though I wanted it in "writing", I'd be ok to converse with someone downtown before trying again with the email.

I was making progress towards adding a structure; by getting my ducks in a row prior to submitting an O.W. for a permit to have an outbuilding added. Due to the cost increases, lack of reputable G.C. available, my time becoming less free, & other life things, the shipping container would get the job done cheaper & faster by far. Not exactly what I'd want for overall size & it lacks some accommodations.
 
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