{"id":754,"date":"2023-07-20T16:47:37","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T16:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ssdcmoving.local\/?p=754"},"modified":"2025-06-17T17:23:39","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T17:23:39","slug":"can-you-live-in-a-storage-unit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/can-you-live-in-a-storage-unit\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Living in a Storage Unit is NOT an Option"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2022, for the first time in the United States, average monthly rent exceeded $2,000. In cities like Austin<\/a>, rents are up<\/a> nearly 50 percent. Combined with persistent inflation and stagnant wages, these soaring costs of owning a home<\/a> or renting are driving people to take desperate measures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unable to pay rent or make timely mortgage payments, some residents have turned to storage units, for a couple of reasons, as a latch ditch effort to keep a roof over their heads. While it might seem like a resourceful idea at first glance, the truth is that living in a unit is both illegal and dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is It Illegal to Live in a Storage Unit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The answer is yes. For legal reasons, it is against the law to live in a self-storage unit in the United States. According to Brian Hoel, President of BraineTrust Storage LLC, it’s a straightforward issue. \u201cState and local laws prohibit the residential use of storage units.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor example, in California, the Health and Safety Code prohibits the use of self-storage units for human habitation, and violators can face fines up to $1,000 and eviction from the facility,\u201d Hoel says. \u201cIn New York, the state’s Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code also prohibits residential occupancy of storage units, and violators can face fines and imprisonment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why You Can’t Live in a Storage Unit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main reason you can’t live in a storage unit is that it’s against the law. Some people get away with living in a self-storage unit for a while, but if you get caught, you’ll be asked to leave, social services may be called and child protective services may get involved (if you have children), and you may not be allowed to continue to rent the unit for your belongings anymore, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That could leave you with nowhere to go and nowhere to put your things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Living in a Storage Unit Isn’t Safe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People living in these units are often noticed by the security cameras<\/a> that the self-storage company has installed. If you show up, but they don’t see you leave, it doesn’t take too long to figure out that you’re trying to live in your unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You won’t have running water or electricity, and if you don’t have a climate-controlled unit<\/a>, you won’t have heat or air conditioning, either. You could freeze to death in the winter months or end up experiencing heatstroke in the summertime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Will Happen if You’re Caught Living in a Storage Unit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who chooses to illegally take up residence in a storage unit risks eviction, fines, and a range of legal consequences, including criminal charges that depend on local and state ordinances. Not to mention, the legal ramifications of living in a unit with children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting away with living in these units is unlikely as well, given that most are monitored by security and cameras 24\/7. Storage operators also have ways of determining if a tenant is living in their storage unit<\/a>. IRE (The Investment Real Estate Group of Companies) provides storage facility staff with four signs that a tenant is living in their storage unit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n