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What is the ICC G5 guideline for shipping container buildings?

NationwideReviewed October 2026

ICC G5-2019 is a non-mandatory guideline from the International Code Council for the safe use of ISO shipping containers repurposed as buildings and building components. It was developed with the modular building industry group MBI to help designers, builders, owners and code officials work through container projects consistently, at a time when rules varied widely between jurisdictions. It groups projects as single-unit or multi-unit and temporary or permanent, and references ICC-ES acceptance criteria AC462 for evaluating modified containers. Because it is a guideline, it is not law by itself; your building official decides how to use it. It helped lead to the container section added to the 2021 IBC.

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General information, written in our own words from the sources listed with each answer. It is not legal, engineering, tax or financial advice. Rules change and differ by state, county and city, so confirm with the office that issues your permit before you build. Last reviewed October 2026.