Active building permit
means an unexpired and unrevoked building permit for which the building inspector has not performed a final inspection.
Applicant
means an owner, occupant or authorized agent, or a contractor or person with control of a property or lot.
Shipping or cargo or storage container(s)
means, generally, an all steel container with strength to withstand shipment, storage and handling, such containers include reusable steel boxes, freight containers and bulk shipping containers; originally a standardized reusable vessel that was designed for and used in the parking, shipping, movement, transportation or storage of freight, articles or goods or commodities; generally capable of being mounted or moved on a rail car, truck trailer or loaded on a ship.
(Ordinance 20200618-01, sec. 1, adopted 6/18/20)
(a) 
No person shall store, maintain, or otherwise keep a cargo or shipping container temporarily on any lot or parcel of property within the city without first having obtained and possessing an active building permit issued by the city, and a permit for placement of a cargo/shipping container.
(1) 
Permits are valid for a period not to exceed six months.
(2) 
Upon review of a request for 1 extension, the city may grant one (1) six month extension.
(b) 
Cargo/shipping containers must abide by building codes except that:
(1) 
A foundation is not required since they are temporary structures;
(2) 
Ventilation is not required;
(3) 
Electricity is an option but not required;
(4) 
Cargo/shipping containers must be anchored in a manner acceptable by the current building codes, to be confirmed by an inspection;
(5) 
Setbacks are to be at least 15 feet from any other structure including other cargo/shipping containers.
(c) 
Cargo/shipping containers may be installed only in the commercial zoning districts, and only with the following restrictions:
(1) 
No cargo/shipping containers can be stacked on top of one another or on top of any other object.
(2) 
Cargo/shipping containers must be behind or beside the main or primary structure on the lot or parcel of land and are subject to the same setback requirements as the main structure.
(3) 
Cargo/shipping containers must have opaque screening such as fencing or vegetation screening of equal height to the container, to screen the container from the street, right-of-way, or adjacent properties.
(4) 
No cargo/shipping container shall be used for human habitation or commercial business purposes.
(5) 
No cargo/shipping container shall be used to store hazardous materials.
(6) 
No cargo/shipping container shall be used to store and keep refuse or debris in, against, on, or under the cargo container.
(7) 
Any cargo/shipping container(s) shall be secure, structurally sound, stable and in good repair, as determined by the building official.
(d) 
Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1), a cargo or shipping container may be located for long-term usage in M-1 manufacturing/industrial district and M-2 manufacturing/industrial district. In addition to the regulations set forth in subsection (c) the following shall apply to long-term usage:
(1) 
No more than ten (10) percent of the storage units in the facility may be shipping containers;
(2) 
Shipping containers must be anchored in a manner acceptable to the building official; and
(3) 
Shipping containers must be painted to match other storage containers and buildings in the facility.
(e) 
These regulations shall not apply to political subdivisions of the state that use cargo/shipping containers in the course of exercising their governmental functions.
(Ordinance 20200618-01, sec. 2, adopted 6/18/20)
(a) 
Any permit issued under this article may be revoked upon ten (10) days’ written notice to the owner, occupant, or person in control of the property if such person is storing, maintaining, or otherwise keeping a cargo container in violation of this article.
(b) 
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the city to revoke a permit may appeal to the board of aldermen, whose decision shall be final.
(Ordinance 20200618-01, sec. 3, adopted 6/18/20)
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this article of the city, or amendments thereto, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction in the municipal court of the city, shall be subject to a fine in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code for each offense, and each and every day such offense shall continue shall be denied a separate offense.
(Ordinance 20200618-01, sec. 6, adopted 6/18/20; Ordinance adopting Code)