How to Get Certificates for Container Houses

Container houses require declaration and approval, and in some cases, approval may not be necessary. For exported container houses, relevant certifications are also required.

Domestic Use Approval

• General Cases: Container houses are a type of movable panel house, built to provide temporary accommodation. When they occupy public spaces or involve business transactions, they fall under the category of buildings and require declaration and approval. The specific process involves first going to the land bureau to determine the land nature of the site and signing a land contract. After the land bureau has planned the site, take the planning-related documents to the local planning bureau to handle the record-filing and approval procedures. Additionally, approval for temporary buildings is required, usually with a term of two years, which can be renewed for another two years upon expiration (usually handled at the urban management bureau and land bureau).
• Special Cases: If you have land use rights within the red line and the container house does not cause disturbance to residents or pollution, approval may not be necessary. However, local policies should prevail.

Illegal Construction Determination

• Whether a container house is considered illegal construction is mainly determined by local decisions. Some places regard it as a temporary building, for which no building permit is required, and it can be freely erected and dismantled. Some places, however, consider it an illegal building.
• If a container house is placed in public areas or open spaces without planning approval procedures or a land use certificate, it is considered an illegal building, and the urban management law enforcement department can demolish it according to law. If the ground is hardened or permanent foundations are built during placement, or if its nature is changed for business or residential purposes, it may also be determined as illegal construction.

Export Certification

• If container houses are exported to regions such as Europe and North America for sale, customs clearance certificates such as CE, UL, ETL, and CSA are required. Different products correspond to different directives and regulations. For example, steel structural frames correspond to building materials, electrical appliances correspond to the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) for household appliances, and kitchen gas equipment involves gas appliance testing standards.
• Certification requires providing house drawings, product explosion diagrams, lists of all materials, etc. Some countries also require signed drawings from locally qualified architects or architectural firms and testing or certification reports recognized by the importing country. Certification costs are high, and the cycle is uncertain.