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TOWN OF WAUSAU PUBLIC HEARING

TOWN OF WAUSAU PUBLIC HEARING ON A STORAGE CONTAINER ORDINANCE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT a public hearing will be held before the Planning Commission, Town of Wausau, Marathon, WI on Monday, the 3rd day of August 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tn. of Wausau Municipal Building, 161484 Cty. Rd. Z, Wausau, WI. 54403, for public comment on the creation of a Town of Wausau Zoning Ordinance:

Sec. 17.27 Town of Wausau Code of Ordinance for Portable Storage Containers 

1. Purpose: The Town Board of Wausau deems it necessary to regulate the use of Portable Storage Containers Aka Shipping Containers within the Town of Wausau.

2.  Authority: The Town of Wausau has the authority, pursuant to Section 60.10(2), 60.21(2) & 61.34(1) of the Wis. Stats., to enact this ordinance.

3.  Definition: A Portable Storage Container is any container used to ship goods “On” a ship, rail car, or flatbed truck.

4.  Use:

  1. A zoning permit is required for a Portable Storage Container.
  2. Portable Storage Containers are considered an accessory structure and shall be located on the same lot as the principal use to which it is an accessory.
  3. The use of a portable storage container as a principal structure or dwelling is prohibited.
  4. The use of Portable Storage Containers is allowed in the following zoning districts:
  • No Portable Storage Containers are allowed in the R-1/20 Residential Zoning or in areas that are developed as Subdivisions.
  • A Portable Storage Container may be allowed temporarily for 90 days if a new home is being erected in any district or if a moving company is using it for storage before the move occurs.
  • No more than one Portable Storage Container shall be allowed on a property zoned AT-1/40 Transitional Agriculture.
  • No more than two Portable Storage Containers shall be on a property zoned A-1/80 Agriculture or CM-Commercial/light manufacturing district.
  • All Portable Storage Containers must meet all Town of Wausau setbacks for the Zoning District it is located.
  • To exceed the number of portable storage containers stated in Sec. 17.27 (d) (3) and (4), a conditional use permit must be issued by the Town Board for additional containers in AT-1/40 or A-1/80.

5. Restrictions:

  1. The Portable Storage Container should be placed in an area of the property that cannot be seen from the public’s view.
  2. No livestock or pets may be stored in the container.
  3. Containers shall not be stacked.
  4. No structural modifications may be made to the container.
  5. Containers shall be a solid color and shall be earth-tone color or the same or similar color as the principal building on the lot.
  6. Lettering, wording, and advertising are prohibited on the container.
  7. A Portable Storage Container shall not be larger than ten feet wide, forty feet long, and ten feet high.
  1. Penalty: Any person who is in violation of any provision within this section or a rule or regulation promulgated under this section shall be subject to a penalty as provided in Sec. 17.100 Fees, Violations, and Penalties.
  2. Severability: Should any section, clause or portion of this ordinance be adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this ordinance shall not be affected thereby.

Posted by Sharon Hunter, Clerk