Shipping containers were created for the storage of materials, tools, goods, and equipment. They were not mainly created for human occupation.
Due to people’s constant search for unique experiences, they give up traditional house designs and pursue instead the versatility and convenience of alternative housing. Using shipping containers is one of the housing alternatives.
For the past decades, tiny homes’ popularity has exploded. Creative manufacturers are constructing 300-square-foot homes as accessory dwelling units or stand-alone homes on a piece of property.
Container manufacturers are selling, designing, and customizing shipping containers for storage, offices, and cafes. Simple containers are installed with doors, windows, and utilities like typical residential or commercial buildings.
Building a shipping container home is exciting and rewarding, yet can also be a challenging undertaking as there are regulations needed to be understood and followed. These regulations have a great impact on the house project because they determine what and where you can build.
Despite the many benefits of using shipping containers as a home alternative, not all United States localities allow this type of alternative housing.
There are certain zoning laws and building regulations distinct to every state that you need to check first before building your very own home.
Find Out if Your State Allows Shipping Container Homes
In building a house, it is important to know its legality to avoid penalties, additional fees, and worst, a possible demolition.
While most states are allowing shipping container homes, regulations vary from state to state and from city to city. There are cities and counties that do not allow the construction of container homes.
But even if other states are allowing shipping container homes, they only allow a certain structure of container homes. Some just allow modular, while some only allow manufactured.
How do you find out if your state allows shipping container homes? What do you have to do to be able to build a home that is abiding by the laws and regulations of the city and state?
Usually, to get the true scope of the rules in your own area, it is best to do the research yourself.
1. Check the zoning codes
Zoning is utilized by city governments to design the development of their city in advance to keep comparative kinds of structures gathered and control density. Zoning is what separates enormous areas of metropolitan land into various kinds of zones that decide, at a significant level, the sorts of things that can be worked there.
Zoning codes separate urban land into different “categories”. These categories serve as a reference for the selection of structures built in the respective area. It is the reason why bars are tucked away far from churches and residential areas.
So, when looking for an area to build your shipping container home, make sure you’re in line with the area’s zoning code.
2. Review the building codes
The next thing you have to research to know if your state allows shipping homes is the building code.
While zoning codes are concerned with the kind of structures built on urban land, building codes are more concerned with the development process. Building regulations specify the principles of development that will be applied, how homes are to be fabricated.
Your shipping container home needs to pass the building code requirements to receive construction permits. Building permits are what you ordinarily apply for to demonstrate your compliance with appropriate construction regulations and gain approval to proceed with development activities.
To be granted a building permit, you must ensure the materials to be used in your house project are in accordance with the state guidelines.
3. Contact your city planner or local building department
While you can check the zoning and building codes by yourself, it would be best to really approach the local planning or building department to ensure you know the latest update regarding building codes.
The county planners assess how to use space in towns and rural areas. Also known as urban planners and planning officers, county planners balance the needs of communities with laws about protecting the environment and heritage.
As the population grows, city or county planners need to come up with increasingly innovative ideas. Their typical tasks include planning for new housing and commercial developments, designing urban spaces to meet community needs, and writing policies on land.
City planners are also responsible for consulting residents and local businesses about how the land in their local area be used. They provide advice to the public and developers.
So, before the construction begins, it is necessary to go to the local planning office to determine how receptive they are to the idea of shipping container homes. If you are the first one to try to build it in the area, you might need to persuade them further.
The only time you don’t need city planning permission is when you are outside your city’s zoning laws. If this is the case, you generally have the freedom to construct your dream container home, given the structure is safe.
Yet, it is still recommended to speak with your local planning office to confirm that you are indeed outside the zoning limits.
4. Ask for advice from shipping container contractors
While you can directly go to the city planning office or check the state regulations by yourself, it would also be helpful to ask for advice from shipping container contractors.
As the people who are into the business, they may know the different regulations of each state. They may know if shipping container homes are allowed in your area.
Conclusion
No matter what type of house you are building, it is always necessary to know the local regulations.
Whether it is a shipping container or a traditional home, it is always important to abide by the state rules as failing to do so can mean disaster. It is even more important when constructing shipping container homes as not all cities or counties may have experienced the situation before.
Always start your house project by researching your area. Investigate whether there are nontraditional houses like shipping container homes built there. If you see one, then, there is a high possibility that your shipping container home is allowed.
