Housing · Plans · Zoning and permits
Sea can homes, also called shipping container homes, turn one or more steel containers into a dwelling through structural work, insulation and interior finishing. Start with your lot and the rooms you need, then compare layouts, approvals and the full project budget. Building requirements depend on your province or territory and municipality; confirm the project location before choosing a design.
Explore container home designs and layout ideas to compare module sizes and floor areas before commissioning detailed drawings.
Request container-home quotes: describe your project once and compare any quotes received. Supplier participation and the number of responses are not guaranteed. ContainerFox does not build or sell homes.
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4 containers 40ft standard side by side: 1,218.5 sq ft of bare-shell internal floor area, before linings, and 1,279.8 sq ft of footprint measured on the outside of the shells, with no gap or overhang. Each module provides 304.6 sq ft of bare-shell area.
External length: 40 ft. Combined width: 31 ft 11.9 in (4 modules, each 8 ft wide). Display values may be rounded; the drawing uses the original dimensions.
Finished dwelling area and usable room sizes require a dimensioned design; this diagram does not demonstrate permission or building compliance.
Your project, a clear brief.
From one professional to another, the prices of containers, their conversion and installation differ. Compare any quotes received against the same scope, specification and exclusions.
Independent supplier matching service, free for the requester.
You need 4 containers of 40ft standard (1,218.5 sq ft bare-shell internal) or 8 containers of 20ft standard (1,194.8 sq ft) to reach 1,076.4 sq ft bare-shell internal area. The table adds together the internal floor areas of the containers and the footprint of modules placed side by side.
| Number of containers | Bare-shell internal area | Single-storey footprint | Quote request |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 304.6 sq ft | 319.7 sq ft | Get a quote |
| 2 | 609.2 sq ft | 639.4 sq ft | Get a quote |
| 3 | 913.9 sq ft | 960.1 sq ft | Get a quote |
| 4 | 1,218.5 sq ft | 1,279.8 sq ft | Get a quote |
| 5 | 1,523.1 sq ft | 1,599.5 sq ft | Get a quote |
| 6 | 1,827.7 sq ft | 1,919.2 sq ft | Get a quote |
Bare-shell area is measured before linings and does not describe the finished rooms. The footprint sums the external areas of the modules at ground level. Show courtyards, gaps, terraces, projecting roofs and any overhang separately; the rectangle enclosing an L-shaped or U-shaped layout is not the same measure.
On two levels, 4 containers occupy the footprint of 2, i.e. 639.4 sq ft. The 40ft high cube keeps the same internal length and offers more height: 8 ft 10.3 in instead of 7 ft 10.3 in on the models mentioned. The dimensions of the 40ft vary by manufacturer.
Compare container home plans and calculate the bare-shell areaConfirm residential land use and a coordinated building design before ordering a converted shell. Approval for an accessory storage building, a transport certificate or a small footprint does not authorize an independent home.
Planning. Ask the municipality about residential use, additional units, setbacks, lot coverage, access and servicing.
Building approval. Use Ontario's Building Code and the municipal building-permit process. Establish the evidence needed for a converted container's intended occupancy.
Planning. Check the parcel's zoning and current local bylaw before buying. A storage-container permission does not automatically permit residential occupation.
Building approval. Use the BC Building Code where applicable. Vancouver has its own building bylaw; check the local permit route.
Planning. Check land-use approval and building permits separately with the municipality or accredited authority.
Building approval. Calgary's 2018 container advisory identifies structure, fire, services and permit checks. Its old code references are historical: use today's Alberta code and authority instructions for the actual project.
Planning. Check municipal land use and the building authority responsible for the address. Confirm whether the provincial Building chapter and any municipal provisions apply to this building.
Building approval. Quebec's Construction Code, Chapter I – Building, uses the National Building Code 2020 with Quebec amendments. The scope of that chapter and municipal enforcement need to be established for the proposed home.
Planning. Identify the municipality or planning district responsible for land use and building permits. Where the province is the building authority, contact Inspection and Technical Services; the route depends on the location and building.
Building approval. Send the proposed residential occupancy, site plan and factory-work details to that authority. A permit exemption for a different kind of structure does not establish that a container home is exempt.
Planning. Start with the local authority and its appointed building official. Local building bylaws address construction, placement, use and occupancy, alongside the land-use decision for the parcel.
Building approval. Ask the official to identify the permit documents and inspections for the converted shell, foundations, services and finished occupancy. State whether the work is a new home, relocation or alteration.
Planning. Ask the local government or regional service commission which service handles land-use approval and building permits for the address. Describe the proposed dwelling, not simply a storage container.
Building approval. Have the building official confirm the design submission, inspections and authority for the project. An exemption for an accessory structure without overnight accommodation cannot be assumed to cover a home.
Planning. Check municipal land-use permission and the building-permit route before ordering. Identify whether the work is a new dwelling, a relocated building or a change of use.
Building approval. For factory work, ask the building official how Section 10A applies to the proposed module and its inspection or certification evidence. Factory documentation does not resolve site foundations, connections or occupation.
Planning. Confirm the building-permit office for the property's parcel identification number (PID) with provincial Inspection Services or your municipal planning office. Establish development approval separately; the land-use and building authorities can differ.
Building approval. The provincial service includes homes of all sizes, including tiny homes. Provide the site and building drawings and ask how the converted container, factory work and on-site connections will be reviewed.
Planning. Check the local land-use and building-permit route, then ask the provincial fire and life-safety plan-review service whether a separate review applies to the proposed dwelling.
Building approval. The Fire Protection Services Regulations distinguish building classes, including provisions affecting one- and two-family dwellings. Do not apply a general provincial plan-review statement to every home without checking that scope.
Planning. Within Whitehorse, start with the city; outside Whitehorse, use the Government of Yukon building-permit service. Confirm the land-use authority and any separate development permission for the parcel.
Building approval. Yukon identifies moving or installing a modular building as work requiring a building permit. Give the authority the actual construction, intended occupancy and site-servicing information before transport.
Planning. Check local development and land-use permission separately from the territorial fire and building-code review. Ask the Office of the Fire Marshal which submissions are required for the building and proposed use.
Building approval. The Fire Prevention Regulations distinguish buildings that must submit a description of work. An exception from submitting that description is not an exemption from the applicable code; a change of use can alter the review route.
Planning. Obtain the municipal or hamlet development permit first where required. The Office of the Chief Building Official handles most building-permit applications; confirm the authority for your address.
Building approval. Ask the office for the drawing package, review, inspection and occupancy requirements for the proposed home. A permit exception for an accessory building does not establish a housing exemption or remove applicable design requirements.
The detailed guide explains provincial and territorial codes, local permits, site checks and the completion process. A supplier should identify the rules and edition used for your home in writing.
Planning and building checks for your projectThese are the items to give your architect or designer, engineer and specialist contractors. Resolve them together before openings are cut or concealed factory work is closed.
Confirm the rules for the project address. National model codes need adoption by the relevant jurisdiction. Use the provincial or territorial requirements and local bylaws, and agree the evidence for the completed home with the permit authority. Certification of an individual material or shipping container does not establish building compliance.
Openings, removed walls, stacking and cantilevers change the load path. Assess the actual shell condition, connections and lifting sequence.
Ask for: Site-specific foundation and structural design addressing ground conditions, frost, snow, wind and other applicable loads.
Use the locally adopted code and required professional design.
Coordinate exits, bedroom escape, alarms, separations, linings, insulation, penetrations and fire-service access.
Ask for: A fire-safety design and material evidence for the complete assembly.
Steel alone does not establish the finished home's fire performance.
Resolve thermal bridges, air and vapour control, weatherproofing and condensation at roofs, floors, openings and joints.
Ask for: Climate-specific envelope details coordinated with ventilation and local energy requirements.
There is no single insulation thickness suitable for every Canadian location.
Select heating, cooling, hot water and electrical supply for the finished design. Plan freeze protection and maintenance access.
Ask for: Required energy calculations, trade permits, approved equipment and commissioning records.
Confirm provincial and local requirements before specifying equipment.
Plan fresh air and extraction around occupancy, moisture and the airtight envelope. Assess summer heat as well as winter operation.
Ask for: Ventilation design, installation details and commissioned operation.
Use the requirements adopted for the site's climate and occupancy.
Measure clear rooms after insulation, structure and services. Allow for doors, stairs, washrooms, exits, headroom and the raised entrance.
Ask for: Dimensioned finished plans addressing applicable room and accessibility requirements.
Bare-shell floor area is not a permit exemption or occupancy approval.
Investigate soil conditions, flooding, contamination and drainage. Check previous cargo, coatings and timber floors when selecting a used shell.
Ask for: Site investigations and required environmental, wastewater, stormwater and utility approvals.
Confirm additional local and public-health requirements.
Address soil-gas entry in the foundation and service-penetration design using the code adopted for the site. Coordinate any required provisions for later radon mitigation.
Ask for: Foundation details and a plan for long-term radon measurement after occupation, following Health Canada's protocol under normal living conditions.
Health Canada recommends testing every home; the container shell and preventive measures do not establish the indoor radon level.
Before contracting, establish whether provincial builder or vendor licensing, home registration and mandatory warranty protection apply to the actual construction arrangement.
Ask for: Verify required licences, project enrolment and coverage, or the conditions of a valid exemption, with the responsible regulator or program.
Factory-built and owner-built homes can have different rules. These legal checks are separate from a lender's or insurer's requirements.
Fabrication can conceal critical details before inspectors see them. Allocate responsibility for site joints and transport damage.
Ask for: Inspection plans, photographs, certificates, test results and required occupancy documentation.
Factory delivery and warranties do not replace local approval.
Send the authority the address, site plan, proposed occupancy, duration, modules and servicing needs. Check zoning, title restrictions and access before ordering.
Identify the adopted code, permits and required professionals. Check provincial builder licensing and new-home protection before contracting. Record finished-room needs and responsibility for coordinating the design.
Resolve structure, foundations, fire, energy, moisture, ventilation and access together. Budget for site work and services.
Obtain required permissions and agree factory and site inspections before fabrication. Refer design changes to the permit authority.
Complete inspections and commissioning, obtain required occupancy clearance and hand over drawings, certificates and operating instructions. Include a plan for long-term radon testing after occupation.
Explore a sourced selection of Canadian builders and manufacturers offering residential container projects. Compare their published models or project examples, location and scope, then confirm who handles foundations, delivery and utility connections for your site.
Explore container home buildersA container home price may cover construction only. Ask for a line-by-line breakdown of the shell, conversion, site works and completed installation, including what is excluded or left to you. This page does not publish any home prices.
Land purchase and related costs, to be budgeted separately when the price only covers the construction.
Geotechnical survey of the site: it is used to size the foundations.
Use a foundation design for the ground conditions, frost exposure, loads and anchorage. Container weight alone does not determine supports.
Access roads and utilities: access, earthworks, trenches and drainage.
Electricity, water, drainage and telecommunications to the house.
Budget for project insurance and contractor cover. Separately, check provincial builder licensing, new-home registration and mandatory warranty requirements, including any owner-builder authorization or conditional exemption. Confirm the lender's and insurer's acceptance of the construction system.
Ask the relevant authority which application fees and project-specific contributions apply; these depend on the location and proposal.
Delivery of each module, truck access and lifting method to the site. Prepare delivery.
Compare quotes on the same scope: same area, same level of finish, same items included. Two displayed prices may cover very different services.
New-home protection differs by province and project. Confirm the requirements at your project address before signing the construction contract.
The scope of the contract changes what remains your responsibility. Whatever the option, ask for a written list of what is included.
The company delivers the finished home. Ask suppliers to specify what remains outside the contract: land, connections, surroundings.
Agree the roof, wall and opening assemblies included in the shell package. Specify airtightness and moisture-control work separately; a closed shell is not proof of tested air leakage or completed insulation. List the interior and site work still required.
You buy the containers and organise the studies, works and contractors yourself, trade by trade.
Get a quote for the containers
Request quotes for your container home.
Package, number of modules and site location: describe your project once and compare any quotes received on the same basis. Responses depend on participating suppliers. Free and without obligation.
Only the containers? Get a quote for purchasing 40ft high cube containers (format can be changed in the request).
A single container offers 304.6 sq ft of bare-shell internal floor area in 40ft standard and 149.6 sq ft in 20ft standard. A permanent independent studio, an ancillary room and a garden office are different planning and building proposals. Identify the actual use before choosing a specification; one module does not establish a small-home exemption.
Check the shell and finished design separately. This page does not publish any lifespan figures.
External dimensions of containers are set by ISO 668; internal dimensions, published by manufacturers, vary from one model to another. Areas can therefore be calculated before purchase, to be confirmed on the specification sheet of the container offered.
Container shells are available one-trip or used. A used shell should be chosen based on its structural condition, watertightness and flooring, checked before purchase.
Points to check on a used shellInsulation can help control surface condensation, but its performance depends on the complete construction and indoor conditions. For occupied conversions, coordinate insulation, air leakage, vapour control and ventilation; have the designer assess condensation in the proposed assembly. Have insulation, ventilation and cold spots around the joinery assessed together.
Ask for the actual container's dimensions, construction details and condition survey. Record the corrugated walls, corner posts, door frame and any previous repairs before designing openings or connections. A general container standard does not supply the measurements or structural design for your particular shell.
Allow for insulation, linings and structural work when drawing the finished rooms. Have a structural engineer assess the proposed alterations and supports.
Each opening cut into a container wall alters its structure: have the reinforcements and supports checked before any work. For international container transport, modified units may also need reassessment under the CSC Convention; that transport regime does not approve a home.
Specify corrosion protection, moisture control and accessible inspection details. Ask for a maintenance plan covering the roof, floor underside and module joints, and distinguish the finished building warranty from the shipping history of the shell.
Compare sourced residential offers, published projects and the scope to confirm with each business.
ReadCompare 20ft, 40ft and High Cube layouts, then calculate bare-shell area and footprint.
ReadZoning, building codes and land: the guidance and what to confirm with your local authority.
ReadSpecify the shell, fit-out and installation for a residential, office or workshop project.
ReadStandard and High Cube dimensions, delivery and offloading.
ReadGeneral project checklist reviewed on . The jurisdiction entries identify their edition and verification limits separately. Guidance editions can have a future start date; use the jurisdiction and transition rules for your application. The design checklist applies these requirements to a container project; it is not a set of structural calculations.
Shell areas use the model dimensions on the 40ft container page, before deductions for insulation, partitions or structural work.
Updated · Official guidance reviewed · Areas calculated from dimensions of listed models, before insulation. ContainerFox does not build or sell homes and publishes no home prices; nothing on this page replaces advice from your local planning authority.
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