It is Very Illegal To Do This One Thing In A Utah Storage Unit
Storage units are a great place to store household or business items at a reasonable cost. People store their washer and dryer, couches, business files and anything else you might need later. The one thing you can’t put in a storage unit is yourself.
Utah law prohibits “Self-storage facility does not include...real property used for residential purposes.” It is illegal to stay in storage units. If you are found sleeping in one, you could be arrested. There is no water or bathrooms, and it can be even worse for you if you have children inside.
So, what about just hanging out in my storage unit for some peace and quiet? You can do this, if it’s all right with the owner of the facility. However, there are a lot more beautiful places to go for relaxation. A park, or anywhere else in nature would probably be better than a metal square with all your belongings.
Some people have thought of working from a storage unit. Once again, not the ideal place. There is no real ventilation, and it locks from the outside. Plus, you may not impress that big client when you bring them in for your big pitch.
How about band practice? Your neighbors are sick of you playing Ozzy tunes from your garage, a storage unit might be a good option. Once again, you would need approval from the owner of the place, and you would need enough electricity to run all your equipment. You also might want a unit near a record company just in case you get discovered.
Renting a storage unit can be a life saver when you need somewhere to put your stuff in-between moving and such. Just don’t try to live in it.
IS HARVESTING RAINWATER FROM YOUR ROOF ILLEGAL IN UTAH?
Can you collect rain that falls on your house and property in Utah?
When early pioneers settled Utah, they realized early on that water was a limited resource. Brigham Young and later other government officials did not want people hoarding water and set up laws in a way that would allow them to use water found on their property, but not own it.
As long as the water was being used efficiently, the landowner could continue to use it, but if it was no longer needed, the water went back to the public.
This policy resulted in many still thinking that collecting rainwater is illegal in Utah. This is not true. You can collect rainwater, but it is regulated. In 2011 and 2013 bills were passed that specified how much water can be collected.
The Utah State University Extension office gives some really good information for harvesting rainwater. The rainwater you harvest has to be used on the parcel of land it is collected on and cannot exceed 2,500 gallons. There is a lot of information about barrels and ways to collect the water as well as building codes.
So how much water could you collect in Southern Utah? According to the site, in the month of April you could collect 262 gallons off your roof. However, in May and June it drops to 87 gallons per month.
Considering the average person uses 100 gallons of water per day, harvesting rainwater isn’t going to make a big dent in your water bill. It is still kind of cool to think you’re storing up and using your own water, and it could certainly keep your garden going and grow some tomatoes.