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Michigan is a large, beautiful state for those who love both the outdoors and the history of unique cities like Detroit. It's a state for people who love the heritage of gritty self-reliance and appreciate truly having four seasons.
Michigan is a state that is often overlooked as a great place to live. Given its far north location and distance from either coast, it simply doesn't get as much attention as some more popular locations.
The vast majority of Michigan's borders are with the waters of the Great Lakes, not other states. This abundant coastline, along with many smaller interior lakes, makes Michigan a water-lovers paradise. Surprisingly, while nearby Minnesota is known as the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes', Michigan actually has over five times that amount!
And if you're not already from the Midwest, you may not know that Michigan is actually a popular vacation spot. There are beaches, islands, harbors, parks, and historical sites aplenty. But most visitors tend to head up to the less-populated north to just 'get away' and relax.
For those who appreciate a more urban environment, the southern part of the state is where most of the action is. Small and mid-sized cities like Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Grand Rapids stretch from east to west across the southern end of the state.
The majority of the population is in these and other metro areas, where residents find a strong economy and a great place to raise families. Michigan has a fairly low cost of living while still offering access to a lot of amenities.
The state is supported by a strong higher education system, with the jewel being the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (fun fact, it's also home to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library). But other schools like Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Wayne State University, and Kettering University offer great programs and research activities that help the state's economy.
A discussion of Michigan is probably incomplete without an in-depth look at its most famous city, Detroit. As the birthplace of the automotive industry, Detroit became a thriving metropolis in the early 1900s. The economic boom provided by the auto companies raised the tide of the entire city, expanding everything from arts and entertainment to architecture and infrastructure.
But the economic difficulties of the 1970s, consumer preferences for gas-sipping foreign automobiles, and government mismanagement all led to a less vibrant Detroit in the 1970s and beyond. More recently though, the city and private developers have worked to revive Detroit.
It's a city that deserves a revival, after all, given its many cultural institutions. Things like the city's storied sports teams, including the Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and the Detroit Pistons. And the rich musical scene, as the birthplace of Motown music.
With all that said, Michigan is truly a place worth considering to live, whether you choose a container home or a traditional house. Go for a small town lifestyle in the rural north, or head south for a bigger city environment. Either way, the state is a welcoming location.
And with a history of envelope-pushing architecture, container homes should be right at home in Michigan. Other than contending with the cold weather part of the year, there is nothing especially difficult about building a container home in Michigan.
We've already hinted at the answer to the question, but yes, container homes are allowed in Michigan. Plenty of existing container homes already in the state more than prove it.
Of course, you will need to be abide by relevant regulations in your area when constructing a Michigan container home. But, there aren't any statewide rules that in any way prevent shipping container homes from being built here.
In earlier paragraphs, we thoroughly covered why Michigan is a wonderful place to build a shipping container home, but you might be wondering how to actually do it. Both DIY and professional projects will more than likely require permission from the government unless you're in an extremely rural location.
Building in Michigan is governed by the Bureau of Construction Codes within the State Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Building codes in Michigan are based on those of the International Code Council (ICC) and implemented as the Michigan Construction Codes. These codes are adopted state-wide but enforced and administered locally.
Michigan has a strategic position in the center of the United States, with large cities and major transportation infrastructure. This means that access to building materials, including empty shipping containers themselves, should be relatively straightforward and economical.
The main thing that may significantly affect the cost of a container house in Michigan is dealing with the cold weather. Depending on your location in the state, you may have to design your roofs to accommodate potential snow loads, which can be significant with the flat roofs common with container homes.
Additionally, you'll want to ensure you use plenty of container home insulation to ensure that the interior climate is comfortable. And remember, environments with extended cold weather are particularly prone to container home condensation, so it's important to be thoughtful in the design of your insulation and HVAC systems.
If you'd like to get a better idea of container home costs, check out our free Container Home Calculator. With just a few quick inputs, it can give you some helpful cost information based on the specifics of your project.
Below are some of our favorite Michigan shipping container homes, restaurants, apartments, offices, and other container projects.