How To Convert a Portable Classroom into Office Space

How to convert a used portable classroom into an office in California
Matt Banes
Written by Matt Banes

Can a used 24′ x 40′ California DSA Portable Classroom be remodeled and converted into an office?

Yes. If you use an Architect with experience, you can properly design and build out the Portable Classroom and recertify the structure from its existing status as a DSA (Division of the State Architect) Portable Classroom into an HCD (Housing and Community Development) certified Commercial Modular office. This process is required by law and can be completed within a reasonable amount of time.

I find myself addressing this topic monthly, and its popularity is on the rise as the availability of these used portables in California increases. A typical 24’ x 40’ portable classroom offers 960 square feet, which can easily be redesigned into an office layout. This design can include private offices, restrooms, storage, and conference rooms, along with new windows and doors. The process is both quick and cost-effective, presenting an excellent opportunity for businesses in need of office space.

Various California companies are adopting this modular building approach because it’s quick, adaptable, cost-efficient, and often environmentally friendly. Reusing buildings instead of tearing them down always benefits the environment.

Some Common Uses for Converted Portable Classrooms

Over the past few years, I’ve modified used portables into office space for public and private companies in the following industries:

Gas and Power
Residential and Commercial Construction
Real Estate Development
Retail Sales
Transportation
Special Events
Agriculture
Automotive Sales
Non-Profit
Professional Sports Franchises

Businesses in various sectors require modular offices for a range of purposes including specific projects, off-site work areas, administrative tasks, dispatch functions, scaling their operations up or down, seasonal activities, and often for initiating new business divisions. Consequently, the concept of moving into a refurbished, almost-new office within just 4 to 6 weeks of ordering became increasingly popular. This surge in interest coincided with our promotion of the idea that purchasing a revamped used Portable Classroom is an efficient solution to rapidly address facility needs.

Here’s how to convert a Portable Classroom into functional office space

STEP 1. The crucial step in this procedure is ensuring that the used Portable is re-certified in California as a commercial modular building approved by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Typically, the owner or seller of the used portable manages this process either directly or via a third-party inspection service, or through an Architect experienced in commercial modular buildings. This certification process includes submitting building plans, undergoing a physical inspection, and engaging in a detailed discussion between the state’s HCD official and the Architect or Engineer responsible for obtaining the certification.

HELPFUL HINT: You can learn more about this process on the California HCD web page for Permits and Inspections.

STEP 2. The second essential step in converting a Portable Classroom into an office involves securing the necessary building permits from your local building and planning department so it can be legally installed at your location. This standard protocol applies whether you’re setting up a modular structure for temporary or permanent use. It’s important to know specific details about the Portable Classroom’s installation: its location, intended use, duration of use, inclusion of restrooms, sources of utility connections, and whether it will be open to the public. Typically, a professional Architect or Engineer experienced in modular construction handles this process and can guide you through site selection and permitting. However, for your initial planning, having these details ready is helpful.

HELPFUL HINT: You can also download the Free iModular Modular Building Planning Guide for help planning your project.

If you’re in California and urgently require office space, consider renting or purchasing a modified California Portable Classroom, or customizing one to meet your specific requirements. You have the freedom to create your ideal floor plan and choose the precise interior and exterior finishes that will create a comfortable and efficient environment for you and your team. Don’t worry about your future office’s origins as a Portable Classroom from a California school; rather, see it as a potential good omen for your business’s success. It represents a clever utilization of space!


About the author

Matt Banes

Matt Banes

Call me directly and I will help you make the smartest decisions before you buy, rent or sell a modular building or portable classroom anywhere in the United States. (800) 806-7485.
Since 1988, I have helped thousands of businesses, public and private schools, and places of worship with decisions concerning planning, permitting, floor plan design and financing of temporary and permanent modular spaces. So, why wait? Call me directly at the Modular Building Help Line today!