Florida Container Construction Information

From Disney World to the Jimmy Buffet lifestyle, Florida is a tourist mecca that is also a great place to live. Most people know the big, famous cities like Miami, Tampa, and Orlando, but Florida also has a ton of rural real estate as well.

Why would you want to build a container home in Florida?

There are a ton of great reasons that drive people to move to and live in Florida. Obviously, there's the coastline, providing some of the best beaches in America for swimming and even surfing. It's also a great state for boating, with tons of rivers, islands, and other places to explore along the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway.

But even in the interior of Florida, you have beautiful freshwater springs, forests, and unique historical sites. There is also an almost immeasurable number of golf courses, plus the culture and amenities of the many cities in Florida.

There are certainly many reasons to come to Florida, but why would you stay? Well, the lack of a state income tax certainly doesn't hurt. Everyone likes to keep a little extra money in their pocket.

And Florida's economy is robust, with everything from agriculture to aerospace and defense supplementing the strong tourism industry. It's a location where you can earn a good living and have plenty of places to enjoy yourself outside of work.

So then, what makes container homes particularly well-suited for Florida? Well, for one thing, Floridians have a history of innovative architecture. But maybe even more important is the strength of container homes.

Florida has a reputation for occasionally intense weather, primarily high winds and hurricanes. It seems like every few years, a new storm enters Florida from the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico and devastates businesses and homes alike.

It's why Florida has such strict building codes, though these are only minimums. For people who want a building or home that can withstand the high winds and driving rains of inclement weather, a robust building is necessary.

And a durable shipping container home is an option many people are starting to gravitate to as a way of countering the power of mother nature. When built right, container homes are quite resilient and a good choice for Florida's seasonal weather.

Does Florida Allow Shipping Containers Homes?

Yes, Florida certainly allows shipping container homes. You can scroll down and find several Florida Container Homes in our Project Database.

Florida doesn't have any clear statewide rules that prevent you from building a container home. But you will have to abide by the regulations in your area.

Building a Florida Container Home: What to Know

We've made the case for why you should consider building a container home in Florida, but you might be wondering how to actually do it. Whether you do it yourself or work with a professional, you'll more than likely need to get permission from the government.

The Florida Building Code is in effect state-wide and sets a minimum standard that local entities can choose to exceed. Like most codes in the US, it is based on the ICC codes like the IRC. And due to the frequency of high winds and hurricanes, Florida tends to have some of the most strict building codes in the United States.

But don't fret, strict doesn't mean that container homes are in any way forbidden. It just means you'll need to work with local officials to come up with a way to ensure your project complies with all the requirements that will help keep you and your family safe.

Remember, despite having the state building code, enforcement and compliance are handled at the local level. And, your local area may have requirements that are even more strict, especially if you're on the coast.

And given the coastline proximity for much of the state, another thing to think about is saltwater corrosion. Metal homes, in particular, can be prone to rust that is accelerated by salt spray carried by the sea breeze, so adequate attention and prevention need to be given to your container home early in the process.

How much does it cost to build a container home in Florida?

There are several unique issues in Florida that may affect the cost of a container home. First, those warm summers that lead to sunny beach days also mean you'll need good insulation and an adequately sized HVAC system.

Additionally, much of Florida has very sandy soil. This means you may need additional analysis to come up with your foundation design to ensure your shipping container structure is adequately supported to resist settlement, uplift, etc.

With so many variables at play, it’s difficult to give a one-size-fits-all price range for container homes in Florida. Instead, we recommend using our free Container Home Cost Calculator to get some rough costs based on the specifics of your project.