City planning staff presented draft standards and asked for council direction on whether to allow metal shipping containers as an accessory use in more residential neighborhoods, and — if so — what restrictions should apply.

Senior Planner Ronaldo Aquina told the City Council the current Jurupa Valley code permits metal shipping containers on residential lots only when lots are 5 acres or larger. Staff said council direction in an earlier study session prompted a follow‑up review of other jurisdictions, an inventory of Jurupa Valley lots of 20,000 square feet or greater, and a staff proposal that would lower the trigger to 20,000 square feet (about one‑half acre) with standards and a permit process.

Key proposed standards presented by staff included: a formal “metal shipping container permit” administered by the Community Development Director; a maximum container footprint of 400 square feet; a maximum height of 8 feet 6 inches (no stacking); a 25‑foot minimum setback from front, side and rear property lines (to keep containers in the rear half of larger lots); neutral or principal‑building‑matching colors; a maximum container age of 10 years at placement; maintenance in a good state of repair; a concrete or asphalt foundation or pad; and a revocation process allowing the Community Development Director to rescind a permit for public‑health, fraud or permit‑violation reasons.

Aquina said staff surveyed local jurisdictions and counties and found varying standards: Riverside County and other nearby jurisdictions use a sliding approach keyed to lot size (for example, allowing 1 container on a 1‑ to 2‑acre parcel, more containers on larger parcels). Jurupa Valley staff’s inventory identified roughly 8,000 parcels of 20,000 square feet or larger; most were located in the Sky Country/West area of the city.

Council members and public speakers raised practical and policy questions. Several council members favored allowing containers on larger residential lots but not in smaller‑lot neighborhoods; one suggested keeping a 1‑acre floor for most approvals, while others said a 20,000‑square‑foot threshold was reasonable if staff added objective design and screening requirements. Concerns included visual blight, pest and rodent attraction, structural deterioration of older containers, hazardous materials being stored in hot metal boxes and how to ensure ongoing maintenance. Mayor Bergson said, “it is not a smart idea to put chemicals in hot things,” noting metal containers exposed to summer heat can become extremely hot.

Council members asked staff to build flexibility into a permit so the Community Development Director could make site‑specific, common‑sense decisions for unusual lots (corner lots, odd setbacks). Several councilors suggested a requirement that applicants participate in community outreach or demonstrate a minimum lease term if they do not own the property. Some council members also proposed an inspection or photo‑renewal requirement at permit renewal, such as submitting photos at the 10‑year mark rather than mandatory replacement.

No ordinance was adopted at the meeting. By the meeting’s close council members asked staff to prepare a draft code amendment and bring it back with options on minimum lot sizes (staff was asked to include a one‑acre option and a 20,000‑square‑foot option), details on inspection and renewal, and examples of other cities that have lowered thresholds. Staff said the item would be prepared for Planning Commission and City Council public hearings if council directed a formal code change.

Why this matters: shipping containers are a low‑cost storage and small‑business solution for many residents but also carry neighborhood and public‑safety concerns. Council direction will determine whether Jurupa Valley expands allowance and how it balances homeowner flexibility with preservation of neighborhood character.