Investing in a new storage facility built isn’t an easy task. There are a lot of things that you need to consider, and a lot of red tape that you need to navigate.
One of the things that you’ll face, no matter where you decide to build your facility, is permits.
Permits are permission from the local government to build in their town or city, and you can’t start building without one.
The first thing you need to understand is the different types of zones you might encounter. Towns and cities are divided up into different zones which govern which types of buildings can be built in that area. These zoning areas are:
When building a storage facility, you may notice that your building doesn’t fit neatly into one of the categories above.
While you are a business, you also want to be close to residential zones as this is where your customers are. In some cases, you may need to ask for a rezoning of the area in order to fit your needs.
The next thing you need to know about is permits. The type of permit you need, in order to build in that specific type of zone, will vary from area to area.
According to Inside Self Storage, Some towns have incredibly detailed self-storage regulations while others have the same regulations for self-storage and general commercial. Also, don't forget that in addition to industry-specific guidelines there are many other general regulations that must be met by all commercial developments.
The best thing you can do is research the area in which you want to build.
More than likely the information you need is online, and you can find out what sort of permits are needed to build in that town or city.
From there you can learn the requirements for that permit and start working to make sure you have everything in order.
If you can’t find the information online, it’s a good idea to set up a meeting with local officials. They will be able to walk you through the process of obtaining a permit and answer any questions you may have.
Even if you are able to find information online, you should try to meet the officials in that town any way. In many areas the local government holds a tight grip over what sort of buildings get erected, and you’ll want to have them on your side.
By showing them your plans, answering any of their concerns, and asking for their input you’re more likely to get your building completed.
According to Whirlwind Steel, you should have the answers ready for questions about hours of operation, light pollution, traffic issues, and buffer yards.
Going through the process of getting permits for your storage facility isn’t easy. If you’re having some trouble, it’s a good idea to talk with a zoning attorney.
They will have the expertise necessary to navigate these paths and make your job a whole lot easier.
Anything the government does takes a long time, and you want to get things right the first time, so make sure you have a good team on your side before you proceed.
Some of your team members should include a traffic engineer, an architect, a civil engineer, and an attorney. With this team on your side you can make a perfect presentation, get your project approved, and start construction on your new storage facility.
It’s not easy to know which kinds of permits you need for your new storage facility, or what sort of regulations you need to follow.
By doing your homework, you’ll have a lot less to worry about in the future. We hope this article was able to clear some things up for you, and that you now have a better idea as to what’s required of you the next time you want to build a storage facility.
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