5 Ways Not to Use a Storage Unit

Alright, let's have a real talk. We've been running Oaktree Self Storage here in Suwanee for a good while now, and if there's one thing we've learned, it's that people make interesting choices. Sometimes that creativity is brilliant. Other times? Well, that's what this blog post is about.

Look, we love our customers at 1619 James Burgess Rd, and we're here to help you store your stuff safely and legally. But we've had to have some awkward conversations over the years, so we figured we'd put together this guide to save everyone the trouble. Think of this as the "don't try this at home" version of storage advice. In this blog, we'll discuss the top 5 things not to store at a storage unit.

1. Running a Secret Restaurant or Food Business

Storage units aren't zoned for food preparation, they're not inspected by health departments, and they definitely don't meet commercial kitchen standards. We're talking no proper ventilation, no commercial-grade refrigeration, no grease traps, no hand-washing stations.

Beyond the legal nightmare, there's the pest situation. Food attracts bugs and rodents. Once you've got an infestation in one unit, it can spread to neighboring units, and now it's everyone's problem.

If you're starting a food business, look into commercial kitchen rentals, shared kitchen spaces, or get proper licensing and inspections. 

2. Using It as Your Primary Living Space

This one breaks our hearts a little because we get it. Housing costs around Suwanee and the greater Atlanta area have gotten ridiculous. These storage units aren't designed for human habitation. There's limited ventilation, no emergency exits, no proper heating or cooling systems, and definitely no bathrooms or running water.

Fire marshals don't mess around with this stuff either. If someone's living in a unit and there's an emergency, evacuation becomes complicated. Plus, most storage facilities have insurance policies that specifically exclude coverage if someone is living on the property.

If you're in a financially tight spot, there are resources available to help. Gwinnett County offers emergency housing assistance programs, and numerous organizations throughout metro Atlanta support individuals facing housing insecurity.

3. Storing Anything Illegal

This should be obvious: don't store illegal stuff. We're not the police, but we're also not going to be accessories to whatever you've got going on.

We have security cameras, we notice patterns, and we're legally obligated to cooperate with law enforcement when they come asking questions.

Even stuff that's "kind of" legal can be problematic. We've had to turn away people wanting to store fireworks and firearms.

If you can't legally own it, you can't legally store it. If you're questioning whether something's okay to store, that's probably your conscience telling you it's not.

4. Creating a Fire Hazard Waiting to Happen

Storage facilities and fire safety go together like peaches and Georgia. They're inseparable, and for good reason. Yet we still get people who store stuff that makes our insurance agent break out in hives.

The list of "please don't bring that here" includes:

• Gasoline, kerosene, or other flammable liquids in open containers
• Propane tanks that aren't properly sealed
• Oil-soaked rags (these can literally spontaneously combust)
• Fireworks or explosives
• Running generators or space heaters
• Chemistry sets or reactive materials
• Old paint cans that are leaking

The thing is, when you sign your rental agreement, there's a whole section about prohibited items. It's not us being difficult. It's us trying to protect your stuff, everyone else's stuff, and the building itself from going up in flames.

5. Turning It Into Your Personal Junkyard

There's a difference between storing items and hoarding garbage, and we've definitely seen the line get blurry. We get that sometimes you need to clear out a house quickly. But a storage unit isn't a dumpster with a roll-up door.

We've opened units for delinquent accounts and found actual trash bags full of garbage, broken furniture that's beyond repair, moldy boxes that should've been thrown out years ago, and enough random junk to make you wonder if the person just backed up a dump truck and unloaded it.

Here's why this matters: decomposing materials attract pests, create odors that affect neighboring units, and can actually damage the unit itself. That "it'll be fine for a while" mentality turns into mold growth, structural damage, and a cleanup bill that's way more than your monthly rental ever was.

Final Thoughts from Your Friendly Storage Neighbors

We're not here to judge how you live your life. But we are here to maintain a safe, legal, and functional storage facility that serves our Suwanee neighbors the right way.

If you're ever unsure whether something's okay to store, just ask us. We'd rather have that conversation before you move stuff in than after we've discovered it randomly.

Storage should make your life easier, not more complicated. Use it for what it's designed for, follow the basic rules, and everyone wins.