Borough of River Edge, NJ Article II Temporary Storage Containers

[Adopted 5-4-2009 by Ord. No. 1651]

§ 182-7 Purpose.

The purpose of this article is to create a procedure whereby individuals may apply for a permit to allow for the use of temporary storage on properties located in the Borough of River Edge and to provide for rules, regulations and restrictions with regard to the use and placement of such temporary storage containers.

§ 182-8 Definitions.

For the purpose of this article, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings stated herein:

TEMPORARY STORAGE UNIT

A unit greater in dimension than three feet in length by three feet in width by three feet in height rented or owned or for use by the property owner or occupant for storage of personal, business, or commercial items or used for the packing or storage of items for permanently moving to or from the residence or for temporarily storing items during a renovation to the main residences. Temporary storage units include, but are not limited to, sea boxes, bulk storage containers, portable on-demand storage containers, store-to-door mobile transportation storage containers, roll-off containers or other such similar containers.

§ 182-9 Application request; approval.

A. No person shall place upon his or her property or upon any premises in the Borough a temporary storage unit unless the owner of the premises has previously obtained a temporary storage unit permit from the Borough Zoning Officer.

B. To obtain a permit the property owner(s) or property manager, in the case of rental units, shall obtain approval from the Zoning Officer. Applications, in writing, shall include, but not limited to, the following:

(1) The names, addresses and telephone numbers of the owner or manager of the property on or at which the temporary storage unit is to be placed.

(2) The names, addresses and telephone numbers of the individual or company which owns the temporary storage unit.

(3) A copy of a survey must accompany the application.

(4) Any other information the Zoning Officer may require to determine the full compliance with other applicable ordinances of the Borough.

(5) An executed statement indicating that the applicant understands and agrees that this storage unit is temporary in nature and the applicant understand and has read the article.

(6) The application shall be reviewed by the Zoning Officer who shall review the application for completeness and issue said permit within seven days of filing.

C. In the case of a tenant or property owner using the same temporary storage unit for the purposes of moving between properties within the Borough, only one permit will be required, however, a survey shall be submitted for both locations.

§ 182-10 Guidelines.

A. Size of temporary storage unit. Temporary storage units shall be no greater than eight feet in height, 18 feet in length, and eight feet in width, or no greater than a total of 1,200 cubic feet.

B. Number of temporary storage units. One temporary storage unit shall be permitted per residential property.

C. Location of temporary storage units. The placement of temporary storage units shall meet all of the following provisions:

(1) The storage unit shall be placed either in the driveway or in an approved paved parking area at the furthest accessible point from the street and at least 10 feet from the curb.

(2) The storage unit shall not be placed within any public right-of-way or roadway including sidewalks.

(3) In a multifamily residential complex, the storage unit shall be placed as close to the dwelling using the unit as possible.

(4) At the discretion of the Zoning Officer, the storage unit may be placed in an alternative location, provided that the alternative location does not create an unsafe location.

D. Duration.

(1) The temporary storage unit shall be temporary in nature and, unless approved by the Planning Board, no temporary storage unit shall be placed or remain on the same premises for more than 120 days, cumulatively, within a twelve-month period. The start date of the time period shall be the date of delivery, as shown on the delivery ticket, which must be supplied to the Zoning Officer upon request.

(2) The temporary storage unit permit shall not be granted for more than 60 days, however, two thirty-day extensions of the permit may be granted, but in no case shall more than two extensions be granted unless otherwise approved by the Planning Board. After the expiration of the initial period, as well as the two extensions, if additional time is required, the applicant may submit an application to the Planning Board. No more than one temporary storage unit shall be placed upon any single lot at one time.

(3) Where residential fire, flood, hurricane, natural or man-made disaster or other similar undue hardship has occurred, the Zoning Officer or the Borough shall determine the time period for the unit.

E. No temporary storage unit shall be used to store solid waste, construction debris, demolition debris, recyclable materials, business inventory, commercial goods, or goods for property other than at the residential property where the storage unit is located.

F. Storage of hazardous material within the temporary storage unit is prohibited.

G. Temporary storage units shall be locked and secured by the property owner, tenant or property manager at all times when loading or unloading is not taking place.

H. The property owner, tenant or property manager, or user of the temporary storage unit must secure it in a manner that does not endanger the safety of person or property in the vicinity of the temporary structure. In the event of severe weather conditions in which the unit may become a physical danger to persons or property, the Borough of River Edge may require the removal of the storage unit.

I. Occupancy of container prohibited. No human or animal shall occupy the temporary storage container except for the express purpose of loading or unloading the container. No heat source of any kind shall be placed in the container.

§ 182-11 Fees.

There shall be a permit application and review fee charged in the amount of $50 for every request for initial temporary storage unit permit and/or extension.

§ 182-12 Enforcement.

This article may be enforced by the Borough of River Edge Police Department, Zoning Officer, Code Enforcement Officer or such other employee or department of the Borough as designated in writing by the Borough Administrator.

§ 182-13 Violations and penalties.

Any person, corporation and/or entity violating or neglecting to comply with any provision of the chapter shall be subject to a fine of up to $500 for each violation or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or by an order to perform community service or a combination thereof, in the discretion of the Municipal Judge. Each and every week such violation or noncompliance exists shall constitute a separate offense and an additional fine may be imposed.