What you cannot store in a storage unit
The banned list is shorter than people expect and stranger than people expect. Here is what is on it and why.
Anything that burns, explodes or gives off fumes
Petrol, diesel, propane tanks, kerosene, lighter fluid, paint thinner, oil-based paint, fireworks, ammunition primers, acids and pool chemicals. This is the category that is not negotiable anywhere, and it is not about liability paperwork — it is that a sealed metal box in a Rogue Valley August gets hot enough to matter.
The one that catches people out is machinery. A lawnmower, a generator, a chainsaw or a pressure washer is fine to store; the fuel in it is not. Run the tank dry, or drain it, before it comes in. Same for a boat you are storing indoors.
A propane tank on an RV is a separate conversation and depends on where it is parked. Ask rather than assume.
Food, and anything that used to be alive
No perishable food, and in practice no food at all. Tinned goods feel like an exception and are not: tins corrode, seams fail, and one split tin at the back of a unit will bring in rodents that then work through the cardboard, the upholstery and the wiring of everything else.
Pet food and birdseed are the worst offenders because they are stored in bags and the smell carries. If you are storing a chest freezer or a fridge, empty it, clean it and leave the door propped open.
Plants do not survive and animals are obviously never allowed. Neither is anyone living in a unit, which sounds absurd until you learn how often facilities have to deal with it.
Stolen goods, unregistered vehicles and hazardous waste
Self-explanatory, but worth stating: anything illegal to own is illegal to store, and a rental agreement gives the facility the right to act on it.
Vehicles are a common grey area. A car, motorcycle or trailer stored here needs to be registered and insured, and it needs to run — a unit is storage, not a scrapyard, and a vehicle leaking onto the concrete is a problem for whoever rents it next. Vehicle storage works well for a second car or a project that still moves under its own power.
Asbestos, medical waste, tyres in quantity and anything with a disposal fee attached: no. Jackson County has facilities for those and a storage unit is not one of them.
The grey areas worth asking about
Documents and records. Fine, and common for business storage — but paper wants stable humidity, so it belongs in a climate controlled unit rather than an outdoor one.
Valuables and cash. Allowed, but insurance is the issue: standard coverage for a storage unit is not designed for jewellery or collections. Check what your policy actually covers before you rely on it.
Musical instruments, wine, electronics. Allowed and very common. All three are temperature-sensitive enough that the choice of unit matters more than the rules do.
If something is not on any of these lists and you are unsure, call and ask. It takes a minute and it is a much better conversation than the one that starts with us phoning you.
Common questions
Can I store a car battery or a spare fuel can?
A battery on its own, yes, if it is upright and not leaking. A fuel can, no — full or “empty”, because an empty petrol can still holds vapour.
Can I store tyres?
A set off a vehicle, yes. Tyres in commercial quantity, no: disposal rules make them a problem nobody wants to inherit.
What happens if something prohibited is found in a unit?
We call you first. In nine cases out of ten it is a fuel can somebody forgot about and it is sorted the same week.
Not sure about something you want to store?
Call (541) 879-0698 and describe it. You will get a straight answer, not a policy read off a screen.
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