Can You Have Container Homes in Philadelphia?

Container homes have become one of the greatest game-changers in home construction due to their ease of use, endless adaptability, and eco-friendly development. Many appreciate that it provides a cheaper alternative to a prebuilt home or new construction, and it also helps to protect the environment by reusing metal that may otherwise be scrapped. 

Projects such as the Container Homestay Building in China prove that whether alone or as a greater complex, container homes are an attractive and affordable solution to a growing housing crisis. Philadelphia itself needs approximately 60,000 new homes in order to satisfy the needs of current and future residents, and container houses might be the perfect fit for this need.

However, this is not to say that container homes will suit any area, and this includes Philadelphia. While there’s no ban on these unique properties within the city or its suburbs, you still need to think carefully about whether a container home best meets your needs in the City of Brotherly Love. 

Zoning Restrictions

Zoning restrictions are a crucial consideration for potential container house owners. While shipping containers themselves are commercial products, you will be adapting them into a residential building, which means that you must choose a plot of land that is within a residential zone. Additionally, there may be specific restrictions on exactly where you can put it within a given plot of land

The Philadelphia zoning code includes a variety of different codes related to residential buildings, which include residential single-family detached, residential single-family attached, and residential two-family attached districts. If you are in a residential single-family detached district, you will need to double-check the rules about alternate dwelling units (ADUs) in your zone, as you may not be able to add a new property to the premises. 

Code Compliance

Those searching for pre-existing listings on MainlinePhillyHomes or other real estate sites don’t need to worry about local codes for the most part; it’s assumed that the previous owner or the developer will have considered this before selling the property. However, as you are converting a building shell into a living space, local codes become a paramount consideration.

Philadelphia building codes include things like sewer, heat, running water, electricity, and fire safety equipment, all meant to protect residents from harm. Failing to meet all of these codes can lead to thousands of dollars in fines or even your home being condemned, which is both expensive and heartbreaking.

As such, most container home hopefuls turn to local contractors who are familiar with all the facets of turning a shipping container into a real home. However, this can be quite expensive: the contractor agency HomeYou estimates that building a shipping container home costs between $45,000 and $65,000, with the average being around $56,000. 

Climate Considerations

Philadelphia straddles the boundaries between the humid continental and humid subtropical climate, meaning that it has warm summers and cool winters. It is typically quite damp, with some form of precipitation on at least 120 days out of the year. The weather ranges significantly; the record high is 106 degrees Fahrenheit, and the record low is a shocking -11 degrees Fahrenheit.

The humidity and dramatic temperature changes mean that you need heavy insulation and weatherproofing for a Philadelphia container home; otherwise, you may find your pipes freezing during the winter. You’ll also need to ensure that the shipping container itself is protected from oxidation.

Neighborhood Possibilities

You also want to consider how you will fit in with the neighbors and whether you may run into issues due to others judging your unconventional housing choice. Some areas, such as the more forward-thinking Fishtown, may be perfectly amenable to a container home, seeing it as a bright step toward a more eco-friendly future. Other places, like the more moneyed Rittenhouse Square, may prevent you from installing a container home, believing that it will damage the aesthetic integrity of the area.

Before choosing to purchase a container home, talk to your neighbors and pore over any local rules, such as homeowners’ associations, condominium associations, and deed restrictions. However, know that even if your container home is legal, it may not be popular amongst the other residents, and you might find yourself as the centerpiece of controversy in the community. 

The Future is Modular

When done correctly, a container home is a sustainable and sturdy home that can withstand extreme weather just as well as any other property. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is a suitable project for any area, including more dense urban areas like Philadelphia. Should you choose to purchase a container home, be aware of the local climate, both environmentally and socially. 

Do your research ahead of time to ensure that you are in compliance with local codes and regulations, and talk to others in your area to gauge their reaction to the idea of a shipping container being used as a home. With preparation and care, you can become a part of the new tiny house movement, which seeks to recycle industry’s castoffs into residents’ comforts.