Los Angeles Container Home Plans
QUESTIONS ANSWERED...

What are the pros and cons of living in a shipping container home?

Answer...

The world seems to continually become more creative with living spaces. The ongoing trend currently in office space appears to be following a more “industrial” look and this is transitioning into many current home builds as well. There is no denying that shipping container homes are a hot topic right now but it’s not as easy or straightforward as it sounds. Luckily, there are companies that specialize in container homes and can lead you on the right path. Much like anything, when the popularity of a item increases there are always corner cutters and false advertisers out there so it’s always advised for consumers to do their research and arm themselves with knowledge to protect themselves.

12 Things You Need To Know

1. See before you buy - You would never purchase a used car without first inspecting it? Older shipping containers, especially, might have several dents, issues with rust, or other structural problems that come with a lifetime of being tossed around on the high seas.
2. Know your building code restrictions - Towns and cities might have certain restrictions against building a shipping container home
3. Make sure you have a plan for insulating - Ask certain contractors about insulation ideas, and remember that you will have to heavily insulate the roof as well as the walls.
4. Find a complete contractor - It is best to search for one contractor that can oversee the entire process
5. Protect against harmful chemicals - Wood flooring could contain heavy pesticides (to deter rats and rodents) and the paint on these containers often contains chemicals to protect the containers from saltwater spray from the oceans.
6. Avoid cutting your containers into pieces - Each time you cut a hole into your shipping container for an extra door or window you are debilitating the structural integrity of the container
7. Plan ahead for plumbing and electric- Ask your contractor to cut the holes for plumbing and electrical lines before finishing the interior so that you can avoid complications
8. Know the difference between containers - While traditional shipping containers are eight-feet tall, high cube containers add an extra foot in height
9. Prepare for the wind and noise - Because of their rectangular shape, these types of homes are the opposite of aerodynamic
10. Avoid excessive welding costs - Shipping containers need to be welded together for added structural integrity so design accordingly to try to limit the amount of welding that needs to be done.
11. Consider local options first - Shipping container construction is most sustainable if you can find a used container that is being sold relatively close to your region
12. Be willing to spend the extra dollar - It is important to understand that completely finishing the exterior and interior of a shipping container home can add up in cost

Could a container home be a good choice for you? Here are some pros and cons to consider.

Pros

• Many are prefabricated
• Ease of transport and sitting
• Predictable Cost
• Recycling

Cons

• Not true recycling if it was made for one-use (made for this purpose)
• Potential structural issues
• hazardous industrial materials (can be corrected for home use)
• Space and shape could be limiting
• Can be difficult to insulate

Some photos from Honombo

Citation Source: www.quora.com

What type of California property zoning code would allow for shipping container homes?

Answer...

There’s no special zoning district for shipping container homes. Since they would be considered single family homes, they can be built on R-1 zoned parcels of land. R-1 zoning is the zoning code for single family residential properties.

If you already have a property in mind and want to see what it is zoned, you can always check out the zoning maps for that city/county.

Like Craig Weiler and Brady Westwater said, as long as the property follows the building codes/guidelines set by the city the land is located in, then you should have no problems building a shipping container home.

With that being said, that doesn’t mean you can just buy a piece of land and plop a shipping container on it.

If you like to know, what type of zoning code would allow single family houses built out of shipping containers that will already meet the building and safety codes in California, - then I would expect most R-1 zoned land would.

The major obstacles would likely be if the size of the container violated the minimum yard setbacks, or if they exceeded the height or square footage limits or violated the design guidelines in the area.

If you mean, having multi-unit buildings, that would require R-3 zoned land, though R-2 might take a duplex and you shouldn’t need need R-4, but you should still be able to build lower density with that zoning.

What type of California property zoning code would allow for shipping container homes?

Not California specific but anything zoned for residential. I have seen Shipping containers stacked 3 high and built as multi-family so structurally you have quite a few options.

This will be a non-traditional building method and I would expect you to have an easier time getting a permit as a non-traditional structure.

In an existing neighborhood I would expect most HOAs, home owner associations, to dis-allow shipping container architecture. Too much concern about property values.

Citation source: www.quora.com