More Americans are looking for alternatives to traditional brick-and-mortar homes as housing costs continue to increase. Camper vans, compact houses, mobile homes, and obviously shipping container homes are some possibilities.

You don’t have to buy a prefabricated shipping container home, even if such are becoming more and more prevalent possibilities. You might instead construct your shipping container home from the ground up. Finding the ideal shipping container for sale and converting it into your ideal living area are both simple tasks.

But hold on! Find out if it’s legal to construct a shipping container home in your state before placing any orders for shipping containers. See which states formally permit citizens to erect homes made of shipping containers.

Texas

Dallas Texas Blog

One of the states where it is easiest to construct alternative housing, such as tiny homes and shipping container homes, is Texas.

Major communities like Austin and Fort Worth can provide permission for the construction of houses utilizing shipping containers.

Nevertheless, you will find it simpler to get approval in suburban and rural locations, where there is enough room to start living in a 40-foot shipping container house.

California

Los Angeles California Blog

Another state that welcomes alternative housing is California. Building a shipping container residence there as a residential unit or an Accessory Dwelling Unit is permitted (ADU).

ADUs are compact residential dwelling units that share a lot with larger homes (for example, a detached single-family house).

The major dwelling area on the site has an addition. Granny flats, supplementary suites, auxiliary apartments, in-law suites, and backyard cottages are just a few more names for ADUs.

Louisiana

Ne Orleans Louisiana Blog

Building dwellings out of shipping containers is legal in Louisiana as well. The state has lax zoning regulations, therefore there may not be much opposition from the government to the development of alternative housing.

Oregon

Portland Oregon Blog

Shipping container homes are legal in the state of Oregon. The one stipulation is that shipping container homes should be designed as single-family units. Because of this, they are allowed to be situated on land specifically reserved for single-family dwellings.

Missouri

Jefferson City Missouri Blog

Another state that allows for the construction of alternative housing is Missouri. To create your shipping container home, you might not even need a building permit.

Organizing and planning can make all the difference in the world, so talk to local authorities and learn the regulations related to constructing a shipping container home in your state. You should also get to know the local zoning codes and make sure you are aware of the building code restrictions. Work with an experienced architect or engineer who specializes in alternative housing, so you can ensure that your shipping container home meets all of the regulations. With the right planning and preparation, you can build your dream shipping container home and be living in it in no time.

Other States and Homes Made of Shipping Containers

Building dwellings out of shipping containers is legal in Texas, California, Louisiana, Oregon, and Missouri. In which states are shipping container dwellings not permitted?

There isn’t one, technically. Shipping container dwelling is not formally prohibited in any state in the union. Many states are seeing an increase in the number of shipping container residences, including Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New York, and Washington.

Does this imply that you’re allowed to erect a shipping container house wherever you want in the nation? Not precisely. The municipal and county governments may forbid the construction, even though the state government might not.

Municipal and County Restrictions

It is crucial to be informed of any construction restrictions implemented by states, counties, and municipalities (which are frequently referred to as sub-regions).

In the United States, there are tens of thousands of municipalities and counties, and each has its own regulations on the number of residential buildings that may be built there. The only way to know for sure if you can legally build a shipping container home in the area is to get in touch with your local government and verify if your construction plans are in compliance with the necessary zoning regulations and building codes.

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 where shipping container homes can be built?

You can find your zoning rules by contacting your city hall or local zoning office.

Building Codes

Official guidelines for the construction of new structures, including residential dwellings, are known as building codes. To protect the health and safety of occupants, these rules include fundamental building components like insulation, plumbing, electrical connections, HVAC, and more. The guidelines outlined in the applicable building code must be followed by builders.

The majority of states adhere to the International Residential Code or International Building Code requirements. To accommodate household demands, these standards will get some revisions or additions. For instance, residents of Florida are more likely to experience hurricanes there. As a result, Florida modified its construction code to include more hurricane wind precautions.

Some states have no construction regulations at all. However, this does not always imply that contractors in these states are free to act however they like. It frequently implies that local governments are allowed to make decisions on building laws.

What is the location of your building code? Consult the local government. You can find the documentation you require on your state government website if your local government adheres to a state-wide building code.

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 typical instance is when you opt 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.