New York Container Construction Information

Most people think of New York City when they think of the State of New York, but there is much more than just the city to consider. New York is an incredibly diverse state, whether you're talking about people, geography, or culture. So odds are high that almost everyone can find something to love about living in New York.

Why would you want to build a container home in New York?

People from literally all around the world are attracted to the energy and opportunity of New York City. But even though the Empire State is home to the City that Never Sleeps, there's so much more here to discover.

It's a surprisingly large state, with a number of distinct regions like the Hudson River Valley, Adirondack Park, and the Catskill Mountains. Whether you want scenic mountains, grand forests, fertile valleys, or vast seashores, New York probably has it.

And despite how rural all of that sounds, it is surprisingly accessible. While the New York City metro area dominates the southern part of the state, further up in the 'Upstate' region are thriving smaller cities like Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany. New York has a robust system of state and interstate highways, plus an expansive rail network as well.

Let's talk about the opportunities you'll find in New York, for culture, education, and economic growth. You've got world-class museums and artistic institutions, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and Broadway. There are leading universities like Columbia University, NYU, and Cornell.

Economically speaking, New York is certainly a national leader. It's the 3rd largest state economy in the US and has the largest per capita GDP of any state. So what's not to like?

Well, taxes are one downside. According to the Tax Foundation, New York ranks #50, dead last, for state and local taxation. Still, you might come out ahead if you're able to make more money to cover the additional tax burden. But these and other factors are having some impact given that New York had the largest population decline of any state in recent years.

With all that said, we still think New York is a beautiful state full of excitement and a great place to build a container home. And others clearly agree, because there are several New York container homes you'll see later that are quite well known around the world.

Does New York Allow Shipping Containers Homes?

For anyone wondering, yes, container houses are allowed in New York. There are several that have been built over the years, with certainly more to come.

There aren't any specific requirements in New York that explicitly prevent you from building structures out of containers. However, you will definitely need to comply with any government agency rules that pertain to your area. And as we've discussed before, some of those regulations could impact container buildings a little different than traditional construction, just because they are a bit out of what's considered normal.

Building a New York Container Home: What to Know

Building codes in New York are created at the state level by the Department of State, Division of Building Standards and Codes. However, they are enforced by local jurisdictions. Everything is based on the model ICC building codes. So, you'll want to contact local regulators as discussed in our article linked in the previous sentence to find out what specific steps you'll need to take to gain approval.

Remember, most approvals are intended to keep your building safe with an inviting appearance. Most people want to see you succeed at building something cool and unique, so approach all your interactions with a spirit of partnership. By trying to work together with regulators, you'll be able to get to the safe and beautiful container home you ultimately want.

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

Building a container home in New York isn't too much different than in other US states. There is major container port traffic, so there should be plentiful access to empty containers. There are designers and architects here with world-class container project portfolios. And the cost of building shouldn't be far from average.

You may need to thoughtfully address snow loads on roofs in areas with heavy snowfall, and consider site access constraints in some rural areas. But other than that, we don't expect too much out of the ordinary as far as costs.

However, even having said that, there are still way too many stones left unturned before we can give you a clear price target for a New York container house. Luckily, we have a better option. Click through and check out our free Container Home Calculator to get some rough container home costs based on the specifics of your project.