The City Council on Tuesday issued a 45-day ban on new or expanded wooden pallet storage yards — citing fire danger, code violations and neighborhood impacts after a series of major fires across the city.
The urgency ordinance, unanimously approved, temporarily halts approvals for new pallet storage operations while city staff studies stricter zoning and safety regulations for the industry.
"This is something that's long overdue," Councilmember Chuck Conder said during the meeting. "These are a disaster waiting to happen."
City staff said Riverside's zoning code currently treats pallet yards like any other outdoor storage use and lacks regulations tailored to the unique hazards posed by large concentrations of wooden pallets.
Matthew Taylor, Principal Planner for the Community and Economic Development Department, told council members that improperly operated pallet yards create "a specific threat to public health, safety and welfare" because of fire risks, unsafe stacking practices and repeated code compliance problems.
"Pallets, obviously, are constructed of lumber, which is highly flammable," Taylor said. "They are stored in many cases at very high concentrations, which can create some pretty serious fire risk and intense fires should an incident occur."
Taylor said city inspectors have also documented pallet stacks reaching 20 to 30 feet high, sometimes towering above block walls and fencing.
"Without adequate regulation of the location, height and volume of these stacks … the health, safety and welfare of the public may be endangered," the report stated.
Since 2023, Riverside code enforcement officers have issued 36 notices of violation to 11 pallet storage businesses, with nine active cases still open, according to the report.
Residents who spoke during public comment largely supported the moratorium.
Mike McCarthy, speaking on behalf of the Sierra Club and Riverside Neighbors Opposing Warehouses, said Riverside's industrial areas often sit near high fire hazard zones.
"We need to make sure that we are not causing fires that affect larger portions of the city," McCarthy said. "We are in favor of anything we can do to reduce these type of incidents and protect our city."
McCarthy also urged the council to expand future restrictions to include other outdoor storage operations with combustible materials.
Resident Jason Hunter called in to support the moratorium as well, and recalled witnessing a pallet yard fire several years ago.
"It was so intense and so hard to fight," he said. "The embers … blow blocks and blocks and blocks."
Several council members said they want staff to eventually consider broader regulations for outdoor storage uses beyond pallet yards alone.
Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes said she would like the issue to return to the council's land use committee for further discussion.
"I think this was just the focus right now, because of these two recent very catastrophic fires that occurred," Cervantes said. "But yes, [I want] to see what more we can do after we get through this piece."
The moratorium takes effect immediately and will remain in place for 45 days unless extended by the council. During that time, city planning, fire and code enforcement officials will study potential zoning changes and operational standards for pallet storage businesses.
Civic Engagement Reporter who calls the Inland Empire home. Five years covering SoCal. APU journalism grad. Good conversations over coffee and stories that matter.
