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Can I Put a Shipping Container on my Property?
Shipping containers are versatile storage units that are easy to move and modify. Because of this, they’re used in many different places, from commercial industry to residential storage.
However, some jurisdictions have restrictions on where you can place a shipping container and other local entities like HOA’s may have additional rules to be aware of.
In this blog, we’ll discuss if you can place a shipping container in your yard, detailing what you need to know about shipping container storage in your area.
Shipping containers offer portable, secure storage for a fraction of the cost of similar options. However, it’s important to be informed about the restrictions on containers in your area before buying or renting one for storage.
Table of Contents
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While there’s no easy answer for this question, as it depends on local regulations and can differ from county to county and state to state, here’s some simple explanations of the regulations in some of the key markets we cover:
Los Angeles, California
Some important regulations to keep in mind when placing a shipping container in your yard in Los Angeles, according to the County of Los Angeles’ Building Code Manual are the following:
A plot plan drawn to scale showing property lines, location of all existing buildings on the lot, size and location of the marine cargo container with respect to those building(s), required side yards, fire lanes, easements, and, where applicable, location of parking stalls. Furthermore, the location of the marine cargo container shall comply with all slope setbacks requirements.
Containers shall not block, obstruct or reduce and required exists, open spaces, windows, vent shafts, or “required” parking spaces (including access driveways) of the existing buildings on the lot.
The number of containers shall be limited to one container per parcel, unless otherwise approved by the DRP.
The maximum floor area for each container shall be 400 feet2.
Each container shall not exceed 10 feet in height, 10 feet in width, and 40 feet in length and shall have no wall opening except for the access door opening.
Where more than one container is approved, the containers shall not be stacked on top of each other or joined in any manner.
The use of containers shall not allow human occupancy and is, therefore, exempt from the disabled access regulations. However, where disabled access regulations are applicable, access for persons with disabilities shall be provided from the street and the accessible parking space to each container on the lot.
Containers that have been factory-built with electrical, plumbing, heating, or air conditioning systems are not covered by this building code manual.
Containers shall be setback from ascending or descending slopes in accordance with Section 1808.7.
A miscellaneous permit shall be issued for each container. A one-hour plan check and one-hour inspection fee shall be charged for each permit.
Additional regulations in the Los Angeles County Code, Section 3115: Intermodal Shipping Containers state: “[Containers] repurposed for use as a permanent building or structure shall be supported on foundations or other supporting structures designed and constructed in accordance with Chapters 16 through 23.
Please consult the regulations material through the hyperlinks provided for an unabbreviated list of all regulations and requirements.
Phoenix, Arizona
In Maricopa County, Arizona, storage containers are considered accessory buildings, and have the following requirements:
They may be built in the required rear yard and/or the required side yard but shall not occupy more than 30% of any required yard and shall not be nearer than three feet to any side or rear lot line.
In the case of corner lots, accessory buildings shall not be nearer to the street than a distance equal to not less than one half the depth of the required front yard of the corner lot; and when a garage is entered from an alley, it shall not be located nearer than 10 feet to the alley line.
Accessory building on through lots shall be no nearer to either street than a distance equal to the required front yard of such lot.
You do not need a zoning clearance for any non-habitable accessory building that is a single story and no greater than 200 feet2 in floor area (24ft containers and shorter).
Tucson, Arizona
In 2012, Pima County Planning Director Arlan Colton was quoted as saying: “Cargo containers are permitted in all zones only in conjunction with an approved commercial development plan.”
In 2015, the Zoning Administrator for the City of Tucson released a memorandum, stating:
Portable storage containers must meet accessory structure zoning provisions in the Unified Development Code (UDC)… Even if they are moved about on a lot, the new location must comply with zoning standards of the UDC. See section 6.6 for applicable standards. They should be treated like accessory structures and meet all the applicable standards.
Glendale, Arizona
See the guidelines for placing a shipping container on your property in Glendale, Arizona here.
Denver, Colorado
In the Denver, Colorado market, the process of storing shipping containers on your property is subject to different restrictions depending on the jurisdiction. The Denver Metro area has 10 different counties, which makes understanding what you can and can’t do a matter of checking local development and building codes. In Denver county, there’s a permitting process for storing dumpsters and containers.
Here’s a summary of some of the most impactful rules to be aware of in the largest areas surrounding Denver county:
Shipping containers are not allowed to be used as an accessory dwelling unit, in addition to mobile homes, campers, recreational vehicles, camper busses or storage containers.
Shipping containers less than 200 ft2 (24ft containers and shorter) are considered mini-structures for storage, and most residential zone districts only allow for a cumulative total of 200 feet2 of mini-structures for storage on a property. This means you could have a 200 foot2 container, or two 100 foot2 containers, but not two 200 foot2 containers. However, you could have one 400 foot2 shipping container as it is not considered a mini-structure.
Shipping containers and Conex boxes are considered accessory structures in most zone districts. The County has limitations on how much accessory square footage can be on a property. All regulations related to accessory square footage are in the Accessory Uses section of the Jefferson County Zoning Resolution and in our Accessory Square Footage Guide PDF.
You can get in touch with a planner to scope out your project and determine exactly which documents will be required as a part of the permitting process, as those do change depending on the scope of the project and property characteristics.
Containers in Douglas County are exempt from building permits, if they have a floor area not larger than 200 square feet (24ft containers and shorter) and are not used for storage of hazardous materials, and are not modified, connected or stacked on top of each other.
Austin, Texas
In Austin, Texas, local rules and regulations typically allow you to put a shipping container on your property.
According to the Development Services Department, “a one-story detached accessory structure that is no more than 200 square feet (18.58 m2) of floor area, no more than 15 feet (4,572 mm) in height, does not create a dwelling, contains no plumbing, and is not located within a flood hazard area” is exempt from building permit requirements. This would typically allow you to place a 24ft container or shorter on your property without a permit.
If you’re wondering if you need a permit, use austintexas.gov’s interactive tool. If your project is not exempt, you’ll need to apply for an accessory building permit, which requires the following information:
Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) name (if applicable)
Proposed construction start date
Estimated cost of construction
If the home is using on-site sewage facilities
Statement of International Residential Code (IRC) year
After submission, you may have to answer comments from Travis County administrators, who may request more information or clarification about your project.
Following application approval, you will receive a permit to post and display publicly near the right of way on your work site.
Temporary Structures
You’re allowed to store shipping containers for storage in most areas, so long as those containers are temporary. The definition of a temporary structure is any structure that’s built to be taken down after a specified period of use. For instance, an example of a temporary structure would be construction scaffolding. Once the construction project is completed, the scaffolding is removed.
Some areas permit shipping containers on private property for a limited period. For instance, in many areas they’re only allowed in residentially zoned districts for a maximum of 90 days within a 12-month period.
Even in these cases, containers can be in violation of zoning laws because they sit too close to the property line, so ensure to check all relevant legislation before renting or buying a shipping container.
Even containers stored in industrial or commercial zones can violate zoning requirements. Always check local zoning codes before ordering storage.
Permission May Depend on Type of Use
In addition to the length of time you use the container, what you’re using the container for also matters. For instance, if you’re using the container as part of a permitted construction project, it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll find any trouble storing a container on your site.
However, if you’re using it for long-term storage in a strictly zoned residential area, you might run into some trouble.
Items You Can’t Store in a Shipping Container
In addition to meeting zoning requirements, you should also know about the items that are prohibited from being stored in a shipping container. Most of these items present safety concerns when stored inside a container:
Gasoline and fuel
Explosive materials
Hazardous materials
Living things, animals
Practice common sense when storing things in a shipping container. If you have any reservations, contact your dedicated container sales representative for more information on safely storing material in your container.
Getting a Site Plan in Order
In some jurisdictions, those wishing to store a shipping container in their yard must present the respective Zoning Office with information about the site. Check your local jurisdiction for specific information. You should be able to access this information by looking up your county government’s website, typically a web address that ends in .gov.
There, they may ask for information about the location of the site, including site drawings, property lines and dimensions, setback requirements and more.
In some residentially-zoned areas, you might be required to put fences or barriers around your container to ensure that pedestrians and drivers stay away from the worksite.
The Consequences of Zoning Code Violations
Southwest Mobile Storage is not responsible for ensuring that you’re adhering to your jurisdiction’s zoning code. Because of this, check zoning regulations before ordering a container from us.
Violating the zoning code can result in expensive fines from local government and may result in a premature pickup of your container. In neighborhoods, you should consult HOA restrictions for more information in your area.
Summary
In conclusion, while shipping containers offer a versatile and convenient storage solution, it’s crucial to understand and comply with local regulations and zoning codes before placing one in your yard.
By doing thorough research and consulting with local authorities, you can ensure that your container placement is both legal and practical. Remember to consider the specific requirements of your area, including any restrictions from homeowners’ associations, to avoid potential fines and complications.
With the right preparation, a shipping container can be a valuable addition to your property, providing secure and flexible storage.
Need a shipping container? At Southwest Mobile Storage we specialize in providing storage to our customers with prompt service, one dedicated point of contact, and fair and understandable terms. Additionally, we have a prorated rental policy following the first 28-day billing cycle (Following the first two 28-day billing cycles for ground-level office rentals), meaning you won’t pay for days that you don’t use the container.
Contact us for more information and get your free quote today!
