Commission Agrees to Research Time Limit for Temporary Shipping Containers, Could Recommend 90-Day Cap

At the end of its meeting the Hoschton City Planning and Zoning Commission discussed adding a clearer time limit for temporary intermodal (shipping) containers in the zoning ordinance and asked staff to research language other jurisdictions use.

Commissioner Acevedo proposed the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend to the city council that the zoning ordinance define a time limit for temporary containers, suggesting a 90-day cap. The commissioner framed the change as city-wide and said he believes temporary containers “have been sitting there for at least a year” in some locations visible from the street.

The conversation identified existing code language: staff noted that section 6.8 currently requires containers not remain longer than 32 days, and that temporary storage containers used during moves have a 32-day limit. Staff offered to review the permitted-use tables for residential districts and to bring suggested language back for amendment. The planner said shipping containers are permitted uses in some residential contexts but would still be subject to the 32-day limit.

Commissioners discussed reasonable exceptions—construction sites, secured fenced areas, or behind buildings—and considered permitting approaches that would allow longer use in industrial areas or where a temporary fee could be applied during a business’s transition period. The commission agreed staff should research how peer municipalities treat shipping containers and propose ordinance language clarifying where and for how long containers may be used.

No ordinance change was adopted; staff will return with draft language and examples at a future meeting.