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Hi all! We are strongly considering purchasing land (1 acre or less) to build an eco-friendly, non-traditional modern home ( shipping container home or metal pole barn style that basically looks like a modern metal/ wood home with a lot of windows)I know these type of builds have gained popularity over the past few years and I'm wondering where we would be allowed to build one in the triangle? I'm aware we need to look at building codes, but this is very new to us and I would love any knowledge on this topic, especially if you know of specific areas that would allow this, or how to find this information? The home would be around 2000 sq ft. We understand that a rural area might be best, but given some of the architecture we've seen popping up in Cary and Raleigh, we're wondering if these type of homes would be allowed?
Thank you for your help!
Hey there,
Your idea of building it within a shipping container can be more helpful. Storage containers can bring about more space than you actually think. I had a similar idea, but had to shrink it into a mini office room of 20ft height. It was built as like an extension along with the patio beside our lawn. It was one of the best things that we have ever done. My wife and I picked out the shipping containers required of 20ft each(ie, two of them) and we handpicked on the interior designing just like how we do inside a house. Go for a shipping container it will be a great investment and worth it.
Legally, NC law is clear: municipalities cannot regulate aesthetics alone. So if your architect can make your "non-traditional modern home" compliant with the residential building code, you're good to go from a municipal standpoint.
Several commercial modular-building manufacturers retrofit shipping containers into code-compliant structures on permanent foundations (considered equivalent to site-built for all building code purposes). Most of these manufacturers have industrial clients, and that building code is more strict than the residential code.
The bigger problem would be (private) homeowner associations, which are pretty ubiquitous in suburban areas. Many have strict aesthetic reviews, but others have either lax or even expired covenants. These vary by individual parcel, so there's no general guideline.
The answer to your question of "where" is, as paytonc alluded to, pretty much anywhere there isn't an HOA. In other words, outside of a platted subdivision. Which, in fairness to him, does raise some of the issues Mr. Rational alluded to.
Hi all! We are strongly considering purchasing land (1 acre or less) to build an eco-friendly, non-traditional modern home ( shipping container home or metal pole barn style that basically looks like a modern metal/ wood home with a lot of windows)I know these type of builds have gained popularity over the past few years and I'm wondering where we would be allowed to build one in the triangle? I'm aware we need to look at building codes, but this is very new to us and I would love any knowledge on this topic, especially if you know of specific areas that would allow this, or how to find this information? The home would be around 2000 sq ft. We understand that a rural area might be best, but given some of the architecture we've seen popping up in Cary and Raleigh, we're wondering if these type of homes would be allowed?
Thank you for your help!
I think you'll feel more comfortable with your aesthetic and neighbor friendliness in areas of Orange County between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro, between Carrboro and Saxapahaw, or in/around Saxapahaw in Alamance County.
The whole idea of this makes me think of Chatham County or other fringe areas in the Triangle for a few reasons: 1) finding an acre in the Triangle these days usually means looking in the more rural areas. 2) I think that HOAs are going to be a bigger problem than might be immediately presumed. It's likely easier to find land in the secondary Triangle counties that isn't in a HOA. 3) Regardless of HOAs, you'll likely find more acceptance among neighbors for such a non-traditional house in areas that are less developed.
I wouldn't count on it given that pandemic thingie...
Well they are certainly not asking about it any more 10 months on.
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