{"id":6650,"date":"2024-05-28T17:13:42","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T15:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seabox.pl\/is-it-possible-to-erect-a-container-without-notification\/"},"modified":"2025-07-16T08:55:56","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T06:55:56","slug":"is-it-possible-to-erect-a-container-without-notification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seabox.pl\/en\/is-it-possible-to-erect-a-container-without-notification\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it possible to erect a container without notification?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/strong>When you decide to erect a shipping container, it is useful to know what rights and obligations this entails. On the one hand, we are dealing with objects that can serve as a building, and on the other hand, they are largely mobile objects. So how is it in the end with these containers? Is a container a building object? Is an application to erect a container necessary? We answer! <\/p>

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Container facility – definition and legal status<\/h2>

Let’s start with the basic issue, which is the legal status of the container. According to Article 3(5) of the Construction Law, a shipping container<\/a> can be considered a temporary structure<\/strong>. <\/p>

“[…]a building structure not permanently connected to the ground, such as: shooting ranges, street kiosks, street sales and exhibition pavilions, tent covers and pneumatic shells, amusement devices, barracks, container<\/strong> facilities[…].”<\/p>

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Analyzing the above passage (Article 3(5)), we can confidently classify shipping containers as container facilities. These, in turn, are classified as construction objects not permanently connected to the ground<\/strong> and are intended for temporary use<\/strong> during construction works or planned to be moved to another place or demolished. What does this mean? It means that if you want to put a container on your site, you do not need to apply for a building permit. <\/p>

All we need to do is to report this fact to the County or City Hall. This form of notification is the so-called construction application<\/strong>, which must include a description of the planned object. However, it is important to remember one very important thing that governs this rule. Article 29(1)(7) of the Construction Law says that we have the above right only if the foundation of the container will not exceed 180 days<\/strong>. Otherwise, we will be required to move the container building or obtain a building permit. This will be the case even if the container is still an object not permanently connected to the ground. <\/p>

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Notification to erect a container vs. a building permit – what is the difference?<\/h2>

Notification of the erection of a container<\/strong> is a simpler administrative procedure. All you need to do is to notify the relevant office (e.g., the district administration) of your intention to place a container on your plot, and if the office does not object within about 21 days – you can proceed. <\/p>

Permission to build a container<\/strong> is a more formalized process. It requires a construction project, an opinion and an administrative decision. Without obtaining it, the project cannot begin. <\/p>

The right choice of procedure depends on the purpose of the container, the duration of its use, the location and the method of foundation.<\/p>

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Application for placing a container on the plot – how does it look in practice?<\/h2>

In practice, the procedure for obtaining a permit or filing a notification depends on the type and purpose of the container<\/strong> and may involve additional administrative formalities. Sanitary, social or technical containers<\/strong>, which are construction facilities (e.g., a residential barrack, a social barrack, etc.), can be considered objects intended for temporary use during the implementation of construction work and do not require a decision on a construction permit. This means that when we are planning construction and for this purpose we need to erect a social container<\/a> on our site to serve workers, we only need to notify the relevant authorities and we can use the container for no more than 180 days at a given site.<\/strong> <\/p>

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What later? In order to legally continue to use the container another six months, then after this period we must move the container from one place to another<\/strong> on our plot. If, on the other hand, we plan to continue using it in the same place, a construction notification and a permit to erect the container<\/strong> is required under current regulations. <\/p>

The situation is similar when we want to build a summer house from shipping containers<\/strong>. Such a house from containers without a permit<\/strong> is possible if we meet certain conditions. The Polish construction law gives the opportunity to erect and inhabit buildings that take up less Than 35 sq. m. without a building permit <\/strong> – In this case, you only need to meet the 3 conditions we mentioned in our previous post on Building a summer house from containers<\/a>:<\/p>