A permanently inhabited container home is a building and needs a building permit (Baugenehmigung), with or without wheels. Depending on the state and the local development plan, a simplified procedure or a permit exemption with notice may apply.[1]
Coming soon
Contentar is coming to Germany
Contentar shows what a shipping container home really costs before you commit: a cost calculator with VAT, floor plans checked against the building rules, the permit process and a step-by-step guide.
It is live for Portugal and Spain. We are now preparing the version for Germany: rules, costs and suppliers.
Notify me when it opensWhat we already know about Germany
Since 30 October 2025, municipalities can approve housing without a development plan or departing from it (§ 246e BauGB). If the municipality does not respond within 3 months, consent is deemed given.[2]
Minimum height for living rooms, depending on the state building code. A 40 ft High Cube container is about 2.70 m high inside.[1][3]
Typical price of a turnkey container home according to an industry guide (2025). Building a home carries the full 19% VAT, with no reduced rate.[4][5]
A summary of our research, October 2026. Rules change and can vary by region or municipality: check with your local authority before you buy or build.
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Already live
See how it works today, with the rules and costs of Portugal and Spain: