Post #760153 by Veronica! on Fri, Mar 4, 2016 2:55 PM

On 2016-02-05 16:33, stevekh wrote:
anyone else already done this or thought about it?

Check with your municipal building inspector.

I am a northern girl and was thinking of shipping container for winter storage of my roadster and motorcycle. In summer it would serve as "teahouse" (that was before I encountered tiki). My house is on a suburban lot, approximately 50' / 15.25m X 150' / 45.75m.

The inspector explained that I cannot just plunk a shipping container in my garden. For example, a garage must be miniature representation of the house. I live in two-story Dutch Colonial. Generic white garage with basic gable roof is permitted. A barn with gambrel roof is not. Same applies if I were to construct a potting shed.

Then there is — I do not know how to say it — stipulation concerning area. If you were to fly over my property, only certain percentage can be built upon. You get the picture. Curiously, paving the entire garden and installing Astroturf for a croquet court is okie dokie.

Structures have setback requirements; cannot be placed on the property line. Poured concrete footings are necessary. Permits for electrical and plumbing are required. Work must be performed by licensed contractor.

At this point my eyes glazed and I stopped listening. But the guy kept talking. He was kind of cute in a nerdy way. Blue eyes. And smelled of Guerlain Heritage. Mmmmm.

Stevekh, I certainly hope you do not live in such a restrictive community and my experience does not discourage you. Not for me living vicariously. Your project sounds like a lot of fun.