Perth is one of those cities in Australia that have embraced the use of shipping containers as home. It is the capital of Western Australia situated where the Swan River meets the southwest coast. It is a city that has an open way for development hence, the numerous shipping container homes you see in Perth.
However, as long as building a shipping container home in Perth is concerned, there are several questions that people must surely ask and different procedures that need to be followed in order to do it right.
Therefore, in this article, we will be answering those questions and we will detail the procedures you need to follow if you wish to own a shipping container home in Perth. Now, the first question is:
Can I Build a Shipping Container Home in Perth?
You can build a shipping container home in Perth as long as you obtain planning permission from your local authority and follow all the necessary building codes while building the container home in Perth.
The fact that you can build a shipping container home in Perth doesn’t mean you won’t do the necessary things you need to first do. There are procedures to follow which if you don’t follow, will definitely land you in a problem.
Procedures to Follow While Building a Shipping Container Home in Perth
Planning permission is the first procedure to follow before building a shipping container home in Perth. That brings us to the question of whether you need a permit to build a shipping container home in Perth? The answer is simply yes.
After the permission is obtained, you can proceed with other procedures such as clearing the land, buying the number of containers needed, meeting a good shipping container home builder in Perth to do the construction work for you, and moving in after the building is completed. All Australian building codes must be followed respectively.
Do I Need a Permit to Build a Shipping Container Home in Perth?
You need a planning permit to build a shipping container home in Perth. Every local government in Perth has its own rules around obtaining a permit to build and live in a container home. Therefore, you need to contact your local authority for permits to build a shipping container home in Perth.
While some local governments in Perth may allow you to install a shipping container on your property for some days without a permit, some may not. Therefore, if you need a permit to put shipping containers on your property, you definitely need to obtain a permit if you’re going to use them for building purposes.
For example, the City of Fremantle requires you obtained a permit if you are going to place a shipping container on your property as it may cause obstruction and you must have to do that before placing the container and not after the container has been placed on your property.
With that being said, it is already obvious that if you wish to build your shipping container home in the City of Fremantle, you definitely need to obtain a permit to allow you to put those containers there.
The city however suggests you contact the City Planning Department before placing the shipping container(s) on your property. You can visit the City of Fremantle official website for more information or call 08 9432 9999
The City of Canning is another local government in Perth that does not issue permits to put shipping containers on your property if they are close to the border or edge/verge of the city. They won’t even allow you to do it let alone issuing a permit to do so.
The fact that shipping containers are not allowed to be placed on a verge in this city doesn’t mean they are not allowed to be used to construct a shipping container home. All you have to do is to visit the city website here for more information or call 1300 422 644.
The City of Joondalup is where everything becomes though. The city does not allow the permanent use of shipping containers in residential, special residential, mixed-use, urban development, and rural zones.
However, the city allows the temporal use of shipping containers which must be acceptable in any zone without planning approval. Even if the container is placed on a verge or private property, as long as the container is only to be used for a maximum of 7 days, for loading/unloading of goods, you will be allowed to place them on your property.
However, you are also advised to ensure that the container is not placed in a way it will obscure vehicle sightlines. You also need to submit a formal request and be given a letter of approval before doing so.
Do not panic yet. These rules do not stop you from building a shipping container home in the city. All you have to do is to contact the local authority and enquire more from them.
You can also visit the City of Joondalup’s official website or call 08 9400 4000 for more information about using shipping containers to build a home in the city.
Being a local government area in the outer southeastern metropolitan area of Perth, Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale allows a maximum of 7 days use of shipping containers for loading and unloading of goods only.
However, you can still use shipping containers to build a home in the city. The rule does not prohibit you from doing so.
All you have to do is to contact the local authority and inquire from them. They are in a better position to tell you what to do. You can also visit the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale official website of call 08 9526 1111
Be that as it may, it is important to note that these rules are subject to change at any time. That is why you are advised to call the local authority where you wish to use the shipping container to build a home and enquire from them. Like I always say, they are in a better position to tell you the accurate information you need.
Do not give up on your dream of owning a shipping container home in Perth simply because of some of the rules you read from this website. Please contact the local authorities to know what next to do and how to do them.
Are Shipping Container Homes Legal in Perth?
Shipping container homes are not known to be illegal in Perth except when the shipping container home is built without first obtaining planning permission from the local authority and without complete adherence to the state building codes.
Who Builds Shipping Container Homes in Perth?
Shipping containers Perth is a shipping container home builder in Perth that can use shipping containers to build a livable home for you. They are experts in converting sea containers into stylish and welcoming living spaces for Perth residents.
All you have to do is to contact them and discuss the business with them. Remember to ensure they are equal to the task before signing any contract giving them the money and chance to build your container home.
You can call them on 0861 663 596 or 0414 371 155. Please be careful of fraudsters. Since they are located in Perth, you can request to visit their company to be sure they actually exist before giving them money to build your house.
How Much Does it Cost to Build a Shipping Container Home in Perth?
It can cost between $35,00 – $60,000 to build a shipping container home in Perth and $130,000 and more to build a more luxurious shipping container home in Perth. It all depends on the kind of shipping container home you wish to build and the container home builder.
Final Thoughts
Building a shipping container home in Perth may not be as easy as you think it is. But you can only make it easier for you by following the necessary procedure such as obtaining planning permission and giving the construction work to a reputable shipping container home builder in Perth to do the building work for you as only you cannot design and build a shipping container home from scratch to completion.
