Nowadays, suburban and rural areas are becoming more open to shipping container homes. There are already a lot of States that allow the use of shipping containers as a home alternative.
The states that are clearly more welcoming to alternative living include Oregon, California, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, and Alaska. They are among the more progressive states that have opened their doors to shipping container homes.
As alternative living lifestyles continue to rise, it’s just a matter of time before other states allow the construction of shipping container homes.
But what about in Florida? Are shipping container homes already allowed in Florida?
Shipping Container Homes Are Trending In Florida
Shipping container homes are gaining popularity in Florida according to the South Florida Reporter. Construction companies build these popular homes out of metal cargo containers, making them a good sustainable home choice.
As the houses in a popular city like Miami and in a suburb of Orlando are at a very high price, many homebuyers take shipping container homes as an alternative.
Here are some of the reasons why shipping container homes are trending in Florida.
1. Budget-friendly
One of the main reasons why shipping container homes is gaining traction is with their prices. Potential homeowners looking for houses in Florida often struggle to find options that fit within their budgets. Luckily, shipping container homes give them a more affordable option.
With shipping containers, they can save thousands of dollars on the main purchase. The building costs for these sorts of homes are much lower per square measure. In addition, they are usually more energy-efficient than the typical home, which keeps electric bills down.
2. Customization opportunities are endless
Potential homeowners also favor shipping container homes in Florida because of the customization options available.
Image Source: Dwell
The customization options with shipping container homes are limitless unlike with conventional homes.
Because shipping containers are modular and easy to ship, construction companies do not struggle to secure the necessary parts. Florida construction companies can easily take their creative ideas and turn them into reality.
3. Able to fit into smaller lots
Another reason why people in Florida love shipping container homes is their ability to fit into smaller lots easier than conventional homes can. The spaces for housing in Florida’s highly populated cities are really small. Moreover, they are expensive too.
Since shipping containers are not expensive and small themselves, they pose as good home-building materials. You can purchase a shipping container based on your preferred size. Some largest containers are usually available up to 40 ft long. By having different sizes, you can build your own dream house from the ground up.
4. Environment-friendly
Another reason for the growing trend of shipping container homes in Florida is that they are more eco-friendly than traditional ones.
As more people are becoming environmentally conscious, they want to make their living quarters more environment-friendly, too.
Since production companies build shipping container houses out of recycled containers, they serve this purpose really well.
If you strive to improve your influence on the environment, using reused materials for your home is a highly powerful solution. The weights of steel being repurposed by the construction businesses in building these kinds of houses is a major reason for this trend.
5. Easy to construct
Lastly, construction companies can build shipping container homes faster than traditional ones. After all, they can create all of the major foundation work at the same time.
The only other materials they need to find and use are the ones that the homeowners want to be part of their homes. Shipping container manufacturers can build all the parts required by the homebuyer in the factory.
Potential homebuyers in Florida look at shipping container homes for various reasons. They just don’t simply follow the trend due to its cool structure but also its monetary and ecological benefits.
Shipping Container Homes Faced Obstacle In The Tampa Bay Area
In an article published by ABC Action News in 2019, they have revealed that shipping container homes were not allowed in many Florida neighborhoods. Density rules and building codes held down container homes projects even though they could potentially offer a cheaper living.
But according to Mishou Sanchez of Studio Mishou, St Petersburg, Florida had revised some of its codes to include “tiny homes” that are 400-square feet or less.
Also, a new House bill was filed that could relax Florida’s building codes.
Are Shipping Container Homes Allowed In Florida?
While not all areas may have allowed the construction of shipping container homes in Florida, there are some cities that certainly allow the use of shipping containers as a housing alternative based on the information published by South Florida Reporter and ABC Action News.
But the best thing to do to ensure if a shipping container home is allowed in your area is to approach your city planner or local building department.
By knowing first if your dream container home is allowed, you are able to prevent unnecessary spending before the construction process and avoid potential penalties.
