Space is overrated. After examining the rising popularity of shipping container homes, that’s the conclusion we’ve drawn. These houses forgo traditional space for durability, convenience, and versatility. And they look good doing it, too.
Sounds appealing? If you’re toying with the idea of buying a shipping container home, then you might want to know one thing first: what states allow shipping container homes, anyway?
Today, we’ll answer this very question, along with many others. Read on to find out more interesting details!
What States Allow Shipping Container Homes?
Most states allow shipping container homes. However, regulations differ from state to state, and from city to city. It would help if you could check with your local building department first.
The International Code Council (ICC) is an association that dedicates moral codes and standards employed in structures. By giving their guidelines a quick look, you can tell which states are most welcoming to shipping containers.
For example, Oregon enjoys a wealth of terrain all while housing a relatively low population. These features make it ideal for shipping container homes.
Meanwhile, California isn’t that lenient when it comes to shipping container homes. Even though they allow alternative housing options, finding welcoming land for shipping container houses isn’t easy.
Here are the top seven states that allow shipping container homes:
- Alaska
- Louisiana
- Missouri
- Tennessee
- Oregon
- California
- Texas
Shipping Container Home Rules
If you’re interested in owning a shipping container home, there are regulations and rules by which you must abide. They include zoning codes, building codes, and structure types.
Zoning Codes
Have you ever wondered why bars are tucked far away from suburban and residential areas? It’s due to something called zoning codes.
Zoning codes are what separates urban land into different “categories.” These categories serve as a reference for the choice of structures built in the respective area.
When looking for an area to accommodate your shipping container home, you must make sure you’re in line with its zoning code.
Usually, zones are either divided into either residential or commercial areas. There are more “categories,” but residential and commercial are the two main ones you should know.
Building Codes
While zoning codes are concerned with the type of structures built on urban land, building codes are more concerned with the construction process.
Building codes are dictated by the International Residential Code. Like the ICC’s guidelines, these codes are often updated.
Shipping container homes need to pass the required regulations to receive construction permits. To do so, you must make sure the materials used in your home are in accordance with your state’s guidelines. Of course, there are other aspects you must pay attention to, such as the quarter of your shipping container home.
Manufactured, Mobile, & Modular Codes
Different regulations apply to different homes. It’s the same thing with shipping container homes. Manufactured, mobile, and modular houses don’t get the same treatment.
Here’s one example: because they’re not permanent structures, some regulations ban mobile shipping containers.
But what’s considered a “permanent structure?” Anything that’s mounted onto a trailer chassis. Such homes, like manufactured homes, are federally regulated and are governed by the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standard.
On the other hand, modular homes aren’t governed by the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standard. They’re instead governed by an ICC-supplied set of regulations called the International Building Code.
Are Shipping Container Homes Affordable?
The number one appeal of shipping container homes is that they don’t cost as much as other traditional types of residence. Are they really that budget-friendly?
The trick is to set your shipping container home in a state that has a low cost of living. Alaska is a perfect example, as it supports low-cost housing.
Buying a Container Home
The cost of buying a shipping container home depends: there’s size, utilities, and hardware to consider.
Looking around, you’ll find that a used container home costs about $2,000 on average. From there, the price goes up. A brand new container home could cost about $6000, for example.
Building a Container Home
What about building a shipping container home? Well, now you have to add the cost of the plot of land. And then there’s the insulation system and other necessary house installations.
Land cost varies from area to area. The price you pay for it will differ depending on size and location. It can be even sometimes higher than the shipping home’s cost itself.
Insulation Systems
It’s not an exaggeration to say that an insulation system is one of the most critical aspects of any shipping home. It’s even more important than the home itself.
The price of installing an insulation system fluctuates depending on the service you’re hiring. However, you can safely expect it to range between $0.45 to $2 per square foot.
Other Installations
Other necessary shipping home installations include doors and windows. All in all, the hardware installation will cost you about $6000.
Installing a plumbing system, in addition to an electrical system, will cost you about $7000.
Installing floors and roofs will most like cost $5000 and $3000, respectively.
Are Shipping Container Homes Long-Lasting?
Shipping container homes are unbelievably durable. They can withstand poor weather conditions, are flood and fireproof, and offer excellent stability.
Those qualities are due to their nature: after all, they’re designed to carry impossibly heavy cargo across long distances. So, can you expect longevity from a shipping container home if you’re living in it?
Yes. However, the lifetime of a shipping container home is hugely dependent on its environment. These homes are prone to rust, and if they’re left carelessly in humid climates, their lifespan decreases.
People use their shipping homes for about 10-15 years on average. But if you regularly maintain your home, it can remain liveable for much longer than that.
Conclusion
Shipping container homes are the height of convenience. They can bear the most extreme of conditions and remain upright. Not much can shake them, except state laws. Whether you like it or not, you’ll have to abide by those.
Luckily for you, most states allow using shipping container homes. The tricky part is finding the right place inside the state.