Give the local office a clear dwelling proposal
Describe the planned dwelling, the number of containers, the room layout and the location on the parcel. Mark access, utilities and any other buildings on an accurate site plan showing property boundaries and setbacks.
West Virginia's State Building Code rule 87CSR4 lists the adopted building codes. Sections 7.2 and 7.7 place enforcement and interpretation with the adopting local jurisdiction. Ask the city or county building department for the property which code editions, drawings, permits and inspections apply to the proposed home before buying a shell.
The DOE state energy code page lists residential 2015 IECC and commercial ASHRAE 90.1-2013. Plan the insulation, air sealing and building services alongside the structural design.
Permit guidance in Charleston, Huntington and Morgantown
In Charleston, Zoning Ordinance section 3-080 A.9 says that no part of an accessory structure, "with the exception of accessory dwelling units", shall be designed or used for sleeping, and that no cooking fixtures shall be placed or permitted in it. Section 3-060, item 54, allows an accessory dwelling unit only in a residential district, and only with a single-family home that its owner occupies. Describe the planned dwelling, including any kitchen, to Development Services, and ask whether the cooking-fixture limit applies to it and how the parcel and use will be reviewed.
Huntington's building permit page cites Article 1711.05 for construction and changes of occupancy, among other work. Its Planning & Zoning office reviews residential and commercial development. Ask both offices which drawings and approvals the home proposal needs.
Morgantown's accessory structure guidance requests a site plan and anchoring details for prefabricated structures. Tell Development Services that the proposal includes dwelling occupancy. Ask which plans and approvals the home needs.
Investigate the landing and foundation
The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey guide to geologic hazards identifies mine, karst and fill-related subsidence. It also discusses flooding and slope instability. Have a qualified site designer assess the actual parcel, including the history of any fill and the drainage around the proposed foundation.
Corner supports concentrate the load into small bearing areas. A storage landing and a permanent dwelling foundation require different design work. Give the designer the container arrangement, proposed openings and any roof or deck additions so the whole load path can be evaluated.
West Virginia State Building Code rule 87CSR4 section 7.3 leaves discretionary local conditions to the adopting jurisdiction. Ask the city or county building department for the required footing depth below ground and the wind and snow loads the building design must resist. Use those answers with the ground assessment when designing the foundation and anchors.
Resolve floodplain review before fixing the layout
Charleston's Floodplain Management page describes its check for Special Flood Hazard Areas before a building permit is issued or when requested. Huntington requires a floodplain permit and elevation certificate for development in a flood-prone area, as stated in its floodplain guidance. Ask Charleston's Floodplain Manager or Huntington Planning & Zoning to review the proposed home location.
For unincorporated Kanawha County, the county permit guidelines cover placing structures and floodplain documentation. Give Planning and Development the parcel and planned work before deciding the finished floor position.
Design structural changes before cutting steel
Show every window, personnel door and removed wall on the design drawings. Discuss reinforcement, corrosion protection and the connection between containers with the project's structural designer before modifications begin.
Plan service routes at the same time. Show where pipes and cables enter the container, and plan how to seal those openings during the insulation work. A coordinated drawing helps keep those openings away from structural details and leaves room for maintenance.
Fit the rooms around the finished walls, roof and floor
The U.S. Department of Energy county climate guide places Kanawha and Cabell in climate zone 4A and Monongalia in climate zone 5A, which has colder winter conditions. Give a qualified building designer the county and your planned indoor temperature. Include the roof and exposed floor along with the walls in the insulation plan.
Draw the finished thickness of insulation, framing and interior surfaces. Then check circulation, furniture and service space against the room dimensions. A high cube adds height to the shell, but the finished ceiling depends on what the design puts above and below the occupied room.
Review delivery as part of the site plan
West Virginia approaches can include hollows, switchbacks, low underpasses and one-lane creek bridges. Send the entire final route to the delivery representative, including the point where the truck turns onto the property. A clear landing at the end does not establish access through the earlier bends.
Container One requires 110 feet of straight unobstructed space for a 20ft container and 130 feet for a 40ft container, as stated in its delivery FAQ. Minimum clearances are 15 feet of driving height, 22 feet of height along the entire unloading path and 10 feet of width. Review placement before finalizing a foundation that would prevent the unloading truck from using that space.
Container One's Delivery/Dispatch department contacts you to schedule the date and time. Keep the representative informed if rain changes the ground or construction changes the entrance.
Prepare the project before ordering the shell
- Obtain the parcel and dwelling-use review path from the local office.
- Have the ground, drainage, foundation and anchors designed.
- Coordinate structural openings, insulation and building services.
- Check the finished interior layout and truck approach.
- Request the selected size, grade and configuration in a written quote.
The permit guide gives the three city contacts. The insulation guide explains the county and moisture questions to bring to the designer.
Government sources checked October 14, 2026.