Self-storage facilities universally prohibit four categories: hazardous materials, living things, perishable items, and illegal/stolen property. Beyond those, individual operators add facility-specific rules — typically prohibiting cash, jewelry over a value threshold, and certain types of vehicles. Here’s the complete breakdown.

The four universal prohibitions

1. Hazardous materials

Anything flammable, explosive, corrosive, or toxic. The full list:

• Gasoline, diesel, propane, kerosene — drain fuel before storing lawn equipment, motorcycles, etc.
• Propane tanks (full or empty — they still have residual gas)
• Fireworks of any kind
• Ammunition (most facilities prohibit; check facility-specific rules)
• Paint, paint thinners, varnishes
• Pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides
• Compressed gas cylinders (oxygen, welding gas, scuba tanks)
• Batteries containing acid (car batteries, marine batteries — most facilities prohibit; remove from stored vehicles)
• Asbestos, lead paint chips, other regulated hazardous materials

Why: fire and explosion risk in shared-facility environment. One leak or fire can damage hundreds of units and put lives at risk.

2. Living things

• No people (see Can You Live in a Storage Unit?)
• No animals — pets, livestock, fish, reptiles, anything alive
• No plants — they need light and water; both are unavailable

Why: ethical (animals suffer in storage units), legal (animal cruelty laws), practical (plants die quickly, animals get sick).

3. Perishable food

Any food that can spoil:

• Fresh produce, dairy, meat, frozen foods
• Open packaged goods that can attract pests
• Even sealed packaged goods that could attract rodents (questionable — most facilities prohibit even canned goods in large quantities for this reason)

Why: pest attraction (mice, roaches, ants), odor, hygiene risk to other units.

Note: sealed canned goods in small quantities (1-2 boxes for short-term moving storage) are typically tolerated. Bulk food storage requires a dedicated food-storage facility.

4. Illegal items and stolen property

• Drugs (illegal substances)
• Stolen property
• Unregistered firearms (regulations vary by state)
• Counterfeit goods
• Anything obtained through fraud

Why: storage facilities cooperate with law enforcement. Facility liability for knowingly storing illegal items is significant.

Facility-specific prohibitions

Beyond the universal four, many operators add:

• Cash over a stated value — typically $1,000 limit (use a bank)
• Jewelry over a stated value — typically $500-1,000 limit (use a safe-deposit box)
• Irreplaceable original documents (birth certificates, deeds) — safe-deposit box recommended
• Untitled or unregistered vehicles — must be currently registered to be stored
• Vehicles without insurance — required at most facilities
• Boats and RVs over a size limit — depends on facility’s outdoor storage configuration
• Items emitting strong odors — even non-perishable (extreme example: well-aged cheese, fermented foods)
• Items requiring temperature beyond climate-controlled range — most facilities maintain 55-80°F; items needing precise tighter ranges (museum-grade art, certain pharmaceuticals) need dedicated specialty storage

What IS fine to store

The vast majority of household and business items are fair game:

• Furniture, mattresses, household goods
• Boxed personal items, books, clothes
• Seasonal items (holiday decor, summer/winter clothing, sports equipment)
• Electronics (climate-controlled recommended for long-term)
• Important documents (climate-controlled, fireproof safe inside the unit recommended)
• Tools, equipment
• Business inventory (sealed, non-perishable)
• Vehicles (registered, insured, in good standing)
• Boats and RVs (size-permitting, registered, insured)
• Antiques, art (climate-controlled strongly recommended)

Vehicle storage specifics

Storing a vehicle at a self-storage facility requires:

• Current registration
• Current insurance
• Vehicle in working/operable condition (some facilities require this; some allow non-operable with disclosure)
• Battery either disconnected, on a tender, or removed for long-term storage
• Fuel system stabilized (fuel stabilizer additive) for storage > 60 days
• Tires inflated to proper pressure

When in doubt

Call the facility before signing a lease. Most operators are flexible about specific items if you discuss upfront. Hiding prohibited items is grounds for immediate lease termination — and “I didn’t know” doesn’t help because lease terms list prohibited items explicitly.

Frequently asked follow-ups

Can I store ammunition? Most facilities prohibit it. Some allow small quantities of personal-use ammunition. Always check before storing.

Can I store guns? Most facilities allow registered, legally-owned firearms. Some prohibit. Check facility-specific rules and your state’s laws (some states have restrictions on storage location).

What about CBD or hemp products? Legal in most US states but contains material some facilities prefer not to store. Check facility rules.

Can I store a motorcycle? Yes — drain or stabilize fuel, disconnect battery (or use tender), proper registration and insurance required.

What if I store something prohibited by accident? Contact the facility immediately. Most operators work with you to resolve cleanly (you remove the item, no penalty). Hiding it and being discovered later is grounds for immediate lease termination.

Ready to start storing?

Browse Forward Storage’s locations → or call 888-684-4933 to discuss specific items before you sign up.