As housing costs continue to soar, more and more Americans are searching for alternatives to traditional brick-and-mortar homes. These alternatives include tiny houses, camper vans, mobile homes, and even shipping container homes.
Though prefabricated options are increasingly available, you don’t have to purchase a ready-made shipping container home. Instead, you can build your shipping container home from scratch. All you have to do is find the right shipping container for sale and convert it into your perfect living space.
However, before purchasing any shipping containers, it is essential to determine whether constructing a shipping container home is legal in your state. Below, you can discover which conditions permit residents to build container homes without legal issues.
Which States Allow Shipping Container Homes?
Texas :
Texas is one of the most significant states for creating alternative structures such as tiny homes and shipping container homes. Shipping container housing can be built in big cities such as Austin and Fort Worth. However, approval will be easier in suburban and rural locations, with enough space to begin living in a 40ft shipping container house.
California :
California is another state that welcomes alternative housing. Constructing a shipping container home as a residential unit or Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is permissible there.
An ADU is a small residential dwelling unit that shares a lot with a larger dwelling unit (such as a detached single-family house). It is an addition to the property’s primary living space. ADUs are granny flats, secondary suites, auxiliary apartments, in-law suites, and backyard cottages.
Louisiana :
Another state that enables residents to build shipping container homes is Louisiana. The state has lax zoning restrictions, which might result in little government opposition to alternative home construction.
Oregon :
In Oregon, building houses out of shipping containers is permitted. The only prerequisite is that single-family residences made of shipping containers must be planned. They are therefore allowed to be built on land that has been set aside, especially for single-family homes.
Missouri :
Another state that is quite liberal when it comes to building alternative housing is Missouri. A building permit might be optional to construct your shipping container home.
Other States and Shipping Container Homes
State laws in Texas, California, Louisiana, Oregon, and Missouri permit people to construct dwellings from shipping containers. What states do not allow homes made of shipping containers?
Technically, there is no response. No state in the US has formally outlawed building with shipping containers. Many states, including Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New York, and Washington, are increasingly constructing shipping container residences.
Does this imply that you are unrestricted where you choose to erect a shipping container house in the nation? Not quite. The municipal and county governments may stop you from moving forward with the building, even though the state government might not.
Municipal and County Restrictions
It’s crucial to be aware of construction limits implemented by states, counties, and municipalities (which are frequently referred to as sub-regions).
Every county and municipality in the nation has its own restrictions and constraints on the number of residential dwellings that may be built there. Contact your local government to verify if your construction plans comply with the applicable zoning rules and building codes in order to determine whether you can legally build a shipping container home in the area.
Zoning Laws
Zoning regulations are important pieces of legislation that will affect your ideas for shipping container housing. These are local ordinances that control the whereabouts of properties. They’ll explain where your shipping container house can be placed and where it cannot.
One, in particular, is a law prohibiting mobile homes, which you might run across. Therefore, the location must suggest that the house is a permanent one rather than a transient mobile one if you want to build a shipping container home. Your shipping container home will need to be built on a slab foundation in such a situation.
How can you learn about the zoning regulations in your area that govern the location of shipping container homes? Contact your local zoning office or city hall to access your zoning ordinances.
Building Codes
Building codes are official regulations that dictate the construction of commercial and residential buildings. These codes are in place to ensure that buildings are constructed with the necessary safety measures to protect residents. These codes cover essential building factors such as insulation, plumbing, electrical connections, and HVAC. Builders must follow all rules outlined in the relevant building code.
Most states follow the standards set in the International Residential Code or International Building Code, with some modifications or additions to meet local residential needs. For example, Florida updated its building code to include more protections against hurricane winds due to the high risk of hurricanes in the state.
Although some states do not have building codes, this does not mean builders have free reign to do as they please. In these cases, local governments often leave building regulations to decide.
To find your building code, check with your local government. If your local government follows a state-wide building code, the necessary documents can be accessed through your state government website. State laws in Texas, California, Louisiana, Oregon, and Missouri permit people to construct dwellings from shipping containers. What states do not allow homes made of shipping containers?
Technically, there is no response. No state in the US has formally outlawed building with shipping containers. Many states, including Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New York, and Washington, are increasingly constructing shipping container residences.
Does this imply that you are unrestricted where you choose to erect a shipping container house in the nation? Not quite. The municipal and county governments may stop you from moving forward with the building, even though the state government might not.
Other Limitations You Should Consider:
Deed Restrictions :
A deed restriction is a stipulation in your property’s deed that governs how you can use it.
Where might there be restrictions on deeds? One frequent instance is when a person chooses to move into an area that is overseen by a Homeowners Association (HOA). An HOA is a community with deed restrictions that have established guidelines that all residents must follow. You cannot legally move forward with your ideas for a shipping container home or ADU location if your HOA doesn’t agree with them. The HOA has the authority to uphold its decisions and even to have contravening improvements removed.
Environmental Factors :
The ability of shipping container housing to adapt to any environment is one of its greatest advantages. As long as it is constructed appropriately, a shipping container home can be inhabited comfortably in any environment. To be safe and comfortable in the chilly climate, for instance, if you decide to build in Alaska, you must give insulation and heating first priority in your construction plans.
Find the best location to build your shipping container home by doing your homework. In your own state, you just might be able to accomplish it!