A. 
Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this chapter.
CONSTRUCTION TRAILER/CONTAINER/PORTABLE STRUCTURE
A trailer, portable temporary container, or portable structure with or without axles and wheels intended to support construction activity at a site with an active building permit.
PORTABLE STORAGE CONTAINER
A self-storage container that is delivered to and retrieved from a home or business for long-term off-site or on-site storage. Portable Storage On Demand or PODS is a familiar trade name for such containers. These containers are not on a chassis and do not have axles or wheels. Portable storage containers are containers loaded with materials and placed on a property authorized for residential use for the purpose of temporarily storing materials, including any container, storage unit, shed-like container or other portable structure that can be or is used for the storage of personal property of any kind and which is located for such purposes outside an enclosed building other than an accessory building or shed complying with all building codes and land use requirements.
TEMPORARY STORAGE STRUCTURE
A portable storage container or trailer that does not have a permanent foundation or footing and which includes portable storage containers, construction trailers, and bulk solid waste containers. Such structures shall not be considered a building or accessory structure.
B. 
Permitted temporary uses. Portable storage containers may be utilized as a temporary structure within the Township when in compliance with the standards of this subsection. It shall be the obligation of the owner and/or user of such temporary structure to secure it in a manner that does not endanger the safety of persons or property in the vicinity of the temporary container. Any use of such containers within the Township not in compliance with this subsection shall be unlawful.
C. 
Permit required; application; fee. Before a portable storage container is placed on any property, the owner, tenant or contractor working on the subject property must submit an application for a land use permit approving such placement from the Department of Community Development. If the permit application is made by a tenant or contractor, written permission of the owner of the subject property for the placement of such portable storage container on the subject property must be provided to the Department of Community Development before a permit is issued. Permits shall be issued for a time period of 60 days. The fee for the permit is set forth in § 139-50 of the Revised General Ordinances of the Township of Howell.
D. 
Number of portable storage containers. Only two portable storage container may be placed at any residential property at one time.
E. 
Size of portable storage container. A portable storage container may not exceed 10 feet in height, 10 feet in width or 20 feet in length in residential-used land.
F. 
Duration.
(1) 
Portable storage containers may be located as a temporary storage container on property within the Township for a period not exceeding 60 days in duration from time of delivery to time of removal. Such temporary container may not be located on the same specific property more than two times in any given one-year period.
(2) 
In the event of high winds or other weather conditions in which such container may become a physical danger to persons or property, the Zoning Officer or a Code Enforcement Officer may require the immediate removal of such temporary container.
(3) 
In the event of fire, hurricane or natural disaster causing substantial damage to a structure, the property owner may apply to the Township for permission to extend the time that a portable storage container may be located as a temporary structure on the property. Application for such extended duration shall be made in writing and filed with the Department of Community Development and shall give sufficient information to determine whether such extended duration should be granted. The Director of Land Use shall determine whether or not to grant such extended duration and the length of such extension. In the event of an adverse decision by the Director of Land Use, the applicant may appeal such decision to the Township Council. In the event of such appeal, the decision of the Township Council shall be final.
G. 
Location. Portable storage containers are prohibited from being placed in streets, public rights-of-way, or on unimproved surfaces in the front yard of a property and may only be placed upon driveways, side and rear yards if such locations meet the requirements of this section. All such locations must be paved, off-street surfaces at the farthest accessible point from the street, and all must comply with the side yard accessory structure setback requirements for any accessory structures in the zone in which such portable storage container is located. If the property does not have a driveway, or cannot meet the standards described herein, the Director of Land Use may, as part of the permit approval process, approve the placement of a container in the front yard. If such portable storage container is to be permitted to be located in the front yard, it must be kept at the farthest accessible point from the street and the surrounding area must be maintained in a weed-free condition. Wherever portable storage containers may be placed, they shall be subject to all property maintenance standards applicable to accessory structures. No portable storage container shall be allowed to remain outside in a state of disassembly or disrepair.
H. 
Violations and penalties.
(1) 
Any portable storage container placed in violation of this article or which is not removed at the end of the time for which it may lawfully remain in place, or immediately upon the direction of the Director of Land Use, Code Enforcement Officer, Zoning Officer or a law enforcement officer for removal of such temporary structure for safety reasons, shall be punishable, upon conviction thereof, by a fine not to exceed $2,000 for each violation committed hereunder.
(2) 
The owner of the subject property shall be afforded a fifteen-day period to cure or abate such violation. Every day that a violation continues after service of written notice by certified and/or regular mail on the owner of the subject property as shown in the latest tax duplicate shall be deemed a separate offense. The court may also order the removal of the violation by the Township, and the cost of such removal, together with the cost of administration of its removal, may be assessed against the property on which the temporary storage structure was located and may be filed as a lien against such property by the Township Clerk. Such lien shall be superior in dignity to all other liens or encumbrances upon the property, including the lien of a mortgage, and shall be equal in dignity to the lien of ad valorem taxes.