CLEWISTON – Some Hendry County homeowners will be allowed to use shipping containers for storage under a change to the Land Development Code discussed at the June 10 meeting of the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners.

Ryan Alexander, of the county’s Planning & Zoning Department, said the change would allow a 40-foot shipping container on residential properties 1 acre or larger and 20-foot shipping containers on a residential properties over ¾ acre.

Certain areas of the county including parts of Montura Estates, Port LaBelle, Banyan Village and Hooker’s Point are excluded from the amendment. In addition, neighborhoods under a Homeowners Association (HOA) are excluded if the HOA does not allow containers.

The number of shipping containers may not exceed 1 container per acre, not to exceed a cumulative number of 2 containers on a single parcel.

Shipping containers must be placed behind the primary residence.

No shipping container shall be permitted in the front yard or within any setbacks.

Shipping containers shall be fully screened from the public right-of-way with a 6 foot tall fully opaque fence or wall and/or a landscaped hedge that is planted to obtain a height of 6 feet within one year of planting. If the residence fully screens the shipping container from the public right-of-way, additional screening shall not be required.

Shipping containers shall be painted to match the exterior of the primary residence on all four sides.  

The landowner shall be responsible for ensuring that the TSU unit is maintained in good condition, free from evidence of deterioration, weathering, discoloration, graffiti, rust, ripping, tearing or other holes or breaks, at all times.

Containers shall be used to store solid waste, construction debris, demolition debris, recyclable materials, business inventory, commercial goods, goods for property other than at the residential property where the TSU unit is located (i.e., used for retail sales), hazardous material or illegal material.  Property owners would be required to allow code enforcement officers to inspect the containers with reasonable notice.