Colorado is sometimes aptly referred to as the Rocky Mountain state, given that a substantial portion of the state is covered by this beautiful mountain range. It's a beautiful part of the central US, filled with pristine forests and mountains, along with surprising plains and foothills.
The eastern part of the state, before the mountains begin, is where you'll find the largest cities like Denver and Colorado Springs. But there's tons of charm in the mountain towns to the west as well.
Why would you want to build a container home in Colorado?
Colorado is a dream destination for many people, not just for a vacation, but to live. It's obviously got plentiful outdoor activities throughout the year, like skiing and hiking.
But it also has a strong economy, not only in tourism but in things like natural resources and the technology industry. If you want a place to make a good living and have beautiful scenery nearby, Colorado isn't a bad choice.
Some people have the goal of building a Colorado shipping container cabin to use on the weekends and holidays. But there are also a number of large single-family container homes that have been built in Colorado, so there's no reason yours couldn't be here too.
Does Colorado Allow Shipping Containers Homes?
Yes, Container Homes are allowed in Colorado! Scroll down and you'll see several Colorado Container Homes in our Project Database.
There are no statewide rules that prevent you from building a container home in Colorado. But you will have to abide by the regulations in your area.
Building a Colorado Container Home: What to Know
We've seen a ton of interest in container projects in Colorado, thanks to both the amazing scenery and the enterprising vision of the people there. Whether it's a remote weekend cabin or an architecturally poignant container home in town, Colorado has it all.
When it comes to getting things built in Colorado, everything is handled at the local level. While the Office of the State Architect mandates codes for state-owned buildings, privately owned structures have their requirements developed and enforced by the local municipality. As usual, they're almost always based on the model ICC codes, but which specific version and what amendments it containers are decided at the local level.
In other words, there isn't a state-wide Colorado building code that applies to individual homeowners. Rather, it's a local building code.
How much does it cost to build a container home in Colorado?
There are a few geographic issues that may impact the cost of a container home in Colorado. First, much of the state is fairly high in elevation, meaning it's cold and you'll probably need extra thermal insulation.
Second, depending on your location, you may have to deal with site conditions like a sloping lot, rocky soil, or limited access. All of these can affect the cost of your foundation, transporting your container, etc.
With so many variables at play, it's difficult to give a one-size-fits-all price range. Instead, we recommend using our free Container Home Calculator to get some rough costs based on the specifics of your project.
