St. Tammany planning commission approves housekeeping amendments to Unified Development Code, withdraws portable storage container rule for further review

The St. Tammany Parish Planning Commission voted to approve a package of housekeeping text amendments to the Code of Ordinances (Unified Development Code, chapters 100–900) but removed one contested provision on portable storage containers for further review.

Planning staff presented seven housekeeping items under the packet’s Housekeeping Text Amendments No. 9, including clarifications to advertising and conditional-use submittal requirements, reinstating minimum standards for automobile sales, adding multifamily dwellings and hospitals as permitted uses in certain HC districts, clarifying rules for portable storage containers, and adjusting buildable-lot and accessory-structure setback language.

“Number 3 is to add multifamily dwelling as a permitted use under HC 4, and add hospitals as a permitted use within HC 3 and 4,” Steph, planning staff, told the commission. On portable storage containers, Steph said the proposed changes would require a building permit regardless of container size and restrict where containers may be placed in certain zoning districts.

The portable-storage-container provision drew extensive public and commissioner comment focused on rural property access, farming uses, and whether a permanent primary structure should be required on a parcel that houses containers. Commissioners and members of the public questioned how the rule would affect rural landowners who use containers for equipment storage where a barn or permanent structure is not present. Staff clarified the proposed text would make portable storage containers a secondary use requiring a primary permanent structure on the same parcel for parcels less than or equal to 1 acre; larger parcels and parcels in agricultural overlays raised separate questions.

Staff also explained permitting implications. “They need to apply for building permits regardless of size,” Steph said, noting Chapter 300 currently exempts certain small structures under 200 square feet but the amendment would exclude portable storage containers from that exemption. Staff described typical building-permit submittal requirements as ownership documents, a survey, and plans showing anchoring, wind loads and, if in a flood zone, elevation.

Commissioners suggested and debated exceptions for rural overlays. Commissioner Roback recommended adding a council stipulation to allow portable storage containers as a secondary use if a parcel lies inside a rural overlay and is 3 acres or greater. After discussion, the commission amended the package and voted to send the housekeeping amendments — with the portable storage-container language withdrawn from the current approval for further staff work and potential council consideration — to the parish council.

Commissioners also approved clarifications to buildable-lot-of-record rules. Staff said the amendment would clarify that, for lots that cannot connect to central sewer and water, a buildable lot requires a 75-foot width and 7,500 square feet in area (whereas parcels that can connect to central sewer and water retain the prior 50-by-100-foot availability). The package included language to allow more permissive side-yard setbacks for accessory structures on buildable lots of record consistent with the old code and to clean up drainage-plan and preliminary-approval terminology in Chapter 900 to align with the adopted UDC.

The final motion approved the housekeeping package as amended and withdrew item number 4 (portable storage containers) for further review; the motion carried. Staff said the portable-storage-container text would be revisited and that variance relief remains available through the Board of Adjustments for cases that require it.

The commission’s action is advisory to the St. Tammany Parish Council, which would consider any ordinance-level changes. Staff noted the Unified Development Code was adopted in December 2023 and these amendments are intended to correct omissions and restore practices from the prior code where staff and commissioners judged it appropriate.