Lewiston council adopts ordinance allowing shipping containers as accessory buildings

The Lewiston City Council adopted Ordinance 49-21 on second and third readings to allow the use of shipping containers as accessory buildings in the city.

Council members debated aesthetics, property-rights concerns and the planning process before voting to adopt the ordinance. The council also voted to dispense with the formal requirement that an ordinance be read on separate days and combined the second and third readings before adoption.

The measure, as adopted, repeals and reserves a prior code section restricting prefabricated containerized transport units and amends the Lewiston City Code to classify shipping containers as accessory buildings. Council discussion focused on whether the city should regulate the appearance of containers, or leave such restrictions to neighborhood associations. Several council members said they had received emails from residents opposed to the change on aesthetic grounds; others said more phone calls and conversations supported giving property owners more choice.

City Attorney Jennifer Tangano told the council that the current draft does not provide a mechanism to regulate aesthetics for shipping containers and warned that singling out a single building type could invite legal challenge unless the city applies consistent rules across accessory structures. Tangano also explained that because the amendment affects zoning code, the change went through multiple public hearings at the Planning and Zoning Commission and subsequent council consideration.

Councilors debated possible design controls such as rust protection or painting requirements, and whether to treat containers like a conventional 10-by-20 wood shed. Councilor Klein noted existing shipping containers on private property and argued the ordinance brings those into compliance rather than penalizing owners. Councilor Wright said she favored private-property rights and permitted use, with limited exceptions for historic districts; Councilor Forsman raised concerns about fairness for owners who installed containers before enforcement.

After debate the council voted to waive the separate-readings rule and adopt Ordinance 49-21. The ordinance includes the city attorney's clarifications that accessory-building rules (including lot-size limits) continue to apply; properties that are too small for an accessory building may still be ineligible to site a container.

Council members said additional neighborhood or design standards could be pursued later, but as written the ordinance makes shipping containers an allowed accessory structure under city zoning rules.