[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of New Glarus 12-10-2025 by Ord. No. 05-2025-2. Amendments noted where applicable.]
SHIPPING CONTAINER
Shall be defined as a transportable, enclosed, box-like metal container for dry storage. The term "shipping container" includes, but is not limited to, containers such as non-refrigerated semitrailers, roll-off containers, slide-off containers, and "piggyback" containers. A shipping container includes any container intended for the purpose of storing personal.
A. 
The term "shipping container" does not include the following (known herein as "other containers"): refrigerated containers (whether operable or not), tanks, open top, flat rack, or open side containers.
A. 
Shipping containers may not be placed on any parcel of real estate in the Town without a permit issued by the Town.
B. 
Other containers are prohibited from being placed on any property in the Town except properly zoned trucking, shipping or construction businesses, and then only as needed for the business conducted on the property.
C. 
Shipping containers which are in place as of the date of adoption of this chapter shall be removed no later than 180 days after the date of adoption unless a permit is issued.
D. 
This chapter does not apply to resin, wood or metal sheds which are 32 square feet or less in area; to any operable truck or van; to any constructed or to modular of other structures placed under a building permit.
E. 
This chapter does not purport to override any restrictive covenants which prohibit placement of shipping containers.
A. 
Any person seeking to locate or maintain a shipping container in the Town shall complete an application for a Town permit using an application form prescribed by the Town. The applicant shall include a scale drawing showing the proposed location of the shipping container and the distances from all property boundaries.
B. 
The Town Board shall review all applications for placement of shipping containers. If it appears the proposed placement of a shipping container complies with this chapter, the Town Board shall issue a permit.
C. 
The permit for placement of a shipping container is valid only for the location for which the permit was issued. Permits expire after 30 days. Additional permits may be issued subject to the terms and conditions of this ordinance.
A. 
Shipping containers shall be painted in a neutral shade and without advertising or signage affixed to the shipping container. A shipping container may include a sign or painted information not more than three square feet in area identifying the owner of the container.
B. 
No electrical power nor plumbing may be installed in a shipping container.
C. 
No person may reside in a shipping container.
D. 
Shipping containers located on a single parcel may not exceed a cumulative gross floor area of 450 square feet. Shipping containers may not be stacked and may not be more than 8 1/2 feet in height.
E. 
In no event shall there be more than two temporary shipping containers on any property at any time.
F. 
Shipping containers may not be placed less than 20 feet from the front boundary of a property, nor less than five feet from all other lot lines. If there is a residence on an adjacent parcel, the shipping container may not be less than 440 feet from the nearest point of the residence.
G. 
Shipping containers may not be in any required open space, on any wetland or in a location that interferes with vehicular and/or pedestrian circulation.
H. 
Shipping containers shall comply with any applicable building and fire code regulations for the purpose of ensuring safe ingress and egress to dwellings, access to utility shutoff valves and fire protection.
I. 
Shipping containers shall be locked when not in use. Their doors or entrances shall be kept closed when not in use. The shipping container owner shall take precautions to prevent vermin from staying in the shipping container.
J. 
The Town Board shall have the discretion to further restrict the placement of any shipping container on a property that prevents any unreasonable deprivation of light, air, or reasonable use to any adjoining property.
K. 
A shipping container shall not remain on any property located in the Town of New Glarus for more than 30 consecutive calendar days, and not more than 60 gross days in a 12-month period, unless permitted by the Town of New Glarus. (Exceptions may be granted for construction projects where work is ongoing and actively progressing.)
A. 
With reasonable notice, the Town of New Glarus Board may revoke any permit issued under this ordinance, if it is determined by the Town Board that a shipping container is being maintained in an unsafe matter or constitutes a public nuisance or violates any other provision of the Town or County Code.
B. 
Shipping containers must be located at the primary lot of the residence.
C. 
Shipping containers shall not be used for residential purposes.
D. 
No shipping container or portion of a shipping container may be rented to a third party.
If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provision or application of this chapter that can give effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.