As housing prices are on the rise in the US, people are seeking alternative dwelling solutions like tiny houses, camper vans, mobile homes, and container houses. At TinyHouseMe, you connect with more than 100 tiny home builders across US and Canada. The tiny house container structures showcased on our platform are competitively priced and available directly from the builder. However, before you move ahead, you must determine whether you can have a tiny house container in your state.
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Can you live in a container home in your state?
Legally tiny houses and container homes are allowed in every state in the US, but there are many details to observe at a regulatory level. First, there are a bunch of building codes. You should abide by zoning requirements and permissions to make the structure official. Every county, city, and town have its own set of rules and regulations, but at a glance, there are a few basic things that you need to maintain.
- Zoning code: The rules are city-specific and determine the use of land and the kind of structure that can be placed in the area. This is important for separating residential and industrial zones by maintaining zoning codes and regulations.
- Building codes and permits: This doesn’t only ensure legalizing the building of a container home but also defines the rules for any structure that will be placed on the property. The international Building Codes and the International Residential codes govern the local building codes in the US. The codes are different for mobile homes and modular structures, and the tiny houses need to be manufactured as per federal construction and safety standards.
- Homeowner association: The rules and regulations of HOA outline certain requirements that you need to maintain in the specific area.
Considering these statutory regulations, building codes, and restrictions pertaining to specific territories, some states in the US do allow tiny house container structures.
10 states that allow container homes:
Texas
It is one of the best states for tiny homes and container houses. Major cities like Fort Worth and Austin easily approve of building tiny house container structures. However, getting approval in rural and suburban areas is easier as there is plenty of space to live in a spacious tiny house container. Interestingly, Houston has no zoning lawswithin its city limits, but building rules are stricter in this region, which makes an off-grid lifestyle a better choice.
California
Being a progressive state, California is more open-minded to tiny houses, and it’s easier to live legally in a container home here. A iny house container is aresidential unit or ADU in California,but it’s better to have the structure in the north and inland regions of the state.
ADUs are additional dwelling units and are like detached single-family houses. It is an addition to the property as a primary living space and is commonly called in-law suites, granny flats, secondary suites, backyard cottages, and accessory apartments.
Louisiana
State-wise, there are neutral zoning laws in Louisiana that are intended to support better housing variety and diversity. Because of this, you can expect no governmental interference for your tiny house project in Louisiana. In addition, this state has no minimum wage, and it has been ranked as one of the topmost states in the USA forland freedom options.
Oregon
Container homes are legal in Oregon, but the only restriction is that you might have to plan to live in this structure and design it as a single-family unit. However, if you are willing to purchase land, container homes are a great fit in this region. The state is quite progressive, and with no external interference, the alternative construction is a viable solution to many.
Missouri
The local zoning codes in Missouri view container homes as a great alternative to affordable housing. As a result, many tiny home dwellers in this state start living without acquiring a permit. The weather has warm summers and mild winters, which makes living in container homes comfortable. With this kind of weather, you do not have to spend much on insulting the tiny home, which again cuts costs when you build a container home.
Florida
No clear state-wide rules can prevent you from having a container home in Florida. However, you must have a permit and abide by certain regulations in your area before buying a container home from a trusted buyer. Although you can have a tiny house container in Florida, you must talk to the relevant authorities to get the permits and approval.
Alaska
Alaska has a low population, yet the terrain is expensive. However, the place is great for container homes as Alaska favors low-cost alternative housing, and you will find plenty of them in different parts of the state.
Minnesota
As long as the container homes comply with the building codes and you have a permit from the local authorities, this state will not have a problem. However, it’s advisable to check the zoning codes and building regulations before building the structure. The good news is that most building rules are liberal, and the government supports tiny house projects in the state.
Massachusetts
Compared to other states, the laws in Massachusetts are relaxed and have a system of its own. It is a tiny home-friendly state and welcomes innovative design ideas for container homes.
Mississippi
Mississippi is a great location if you want a container home near the coastal area. The towns have great localities for building your container home, but you must check the government’s website before starting the project. However, Mississippi allows container homes, so we have kept it on the list.
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Final Thoughts
Now that you have the list of states allowing container homes in 2023, the only thing left is to get started with buying a tiny house container. At TinyHouseMe, we have experts that will help you discuss the cost of the container home and also help you to finance the project. In addition, we showcase the most beautiful and functional container homes on our platform and help you connect with established and trusted builders across US and Canada.
