The CMG container rental range in California runs to fourteen configurations, from a 20ft standard storage container at $100 a month to a 40ft refrigerated unit.
Our 20ft shipping containers for rent are perfect for various needs, from creating office spaces to securing your goods for transport.
Explore durable and versatile 40ft shipping containers for rent, designed to meet all your storage and transportation needs.
Choose our mobile office containers if you have no place to work and spending months on a construction site is unbearable.
Discover our top-quality 40ft office and storage containers for rent, designed to meet your shipping and storage needs.
Featuring standard cargo doors at both ends and an extra foot of vertical clearance, this 40ft high cube container provides efficient dual-access loading.
This 20ft full side-access container features bi-fold side doors and end cargo doors, providing unrestricted access for rapid forklift loading and oversized cargo handling.
Storage containers for rent in California cover Southern California, San Diego, the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and the Sacramento region. Rentals run month to month with no minimum period, and pickup is included in the rate. Two in-house IICL-certified surveyors inspect each container before dispatch.
A rented storage unit container puts the space on the site itself rather than in an off-site bay, and every rental is quoted against the site address.
Published starting rate for a 20ft standard container. A 40ft standard unit starts at $175 per month.
Standard, double door, open side, mobile office, office-storage combo and refrigerated units in one rental range.
Every California rental runs on month-to-month terms with no minimum period and no long-term commitment.
Southern California covers Los Angeles and Orange counties, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim and Santa Ana. Unincorporated Los Angeles County issues a Temporary Storage Container Permit through EPIC-LA, and only County approved vendors may place a container in the right of way.
San Diego County covers San Diego, Chula Vista and Oceanside. The City of San Diego requires a building permit for all cargo containers, not only a permit for the street. Street placement takes a separate right-of-way permit valid for up to seven days.
The Bay Area covers Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, including San Jose, Oakland and Fremont. San Francisco Public Works issues mobile storage container permits only to authorized companies, for a maximum of seven days per location.
The Central Valley covers Fresno, Kern, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, including Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton and Modesto. Agriculture, food processing and distribution drive container demand here. Placement rules are set by the city or county building department.
The Sacramento region covers Sacramento and Placer counties, including Sacramento, Elk Grove and Roseville. Construction, public agencies and regional distribution account for most rentals. Requirements differ between incorporated cities and unincorporated county land.
A 20ft storage container rents from $100 a month in California and a 40ft from $175 a month. The table below lists CMG published starting rates by size and type.
| Size or Type | Estimated Monthly Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft storage container | From $100/month | Renovations, tools and smaller job sites |
| 40ft storage container | From $175/month | Commercial construction, restoration and large inventory |
| 20ft double door container | From $200/month | Drive-through loading on a tight site |
| 20ft open side container | From $400/month | Forklift access along the full side |
| 20ft mobile office | From $500/month | Site administration and meetings |
| 20ft refrigerated container | From $1,500/month | Temperature-sensitive inventory |
These are CMG published starting rates and not a final California price. The price depends on distance from the nearest CMG yard, container type and condition, rental length, inventory and site access. Multiple containers to one address are quoted as a single order.
Three groups account for most California container rentals: commercial operators, construction contractors and homeowners.
Renting commercial shipping containers in California covers retail overflow, inventory staging and industrial storage. A container adds secure square footage on ground the business already pays for, which is the argument for it in the Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland corridors. Retailers use containers for seasonal stock, industrial operators for parts and equipment.
Typical pick: 20ft or 40ft standard
Renting construction shipping containers in California keeps tools, fixtures and materials on the job site instead of in a truck overnight. A 20ft container suits a single-trade fit-out and a 40ft a phased commercial build. Contractors running crews on site also rent a 20ft mobile office from $500 a month.
Typical pick: 20ft standard + mobile office
Renting residential shipping containers in California covers renovations, moves and household overflow, with the container on a driveway or in a yard. Residential renters meet the permit rules first, because a driveway sits on private property while the street in front of it does not.
Typical pick: 20ft standard
California has no single statewide permit rule for placing a temporary storage container. The city or county sets the rule, and the four jurisdictions below differ materially. The California Building Code, Chapter 31, carries the provisions for intermodal shipping containers, and the City of San Diego cites Chapter 31, Section 3115 in its cargo container bulletin.
| Jurisdiction | Permit Required? | Maximum Duration | Who May Place It |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of San Diego | Building permit for all cargo containers. Separate permit for street placement | Up to 7 days, extended by the City Engineer | Property owner or contractor applies |
| Los Angeles County, unincorporated | Temporary Storage Container Permit, via EPIC-LA as a Road Encroachment Permit | Set by the issued permit | Los Angeles County approved vendors only |
| San Francisco | Mobile storage container permit under Public Works Code Article 15, Section 726 | 7 days per location, under an annual permit to operate | Authorized companies only, not the general public |
| Coastal zone, statewide | A coastal development permit can apply | Set by the issuing authority | Coastal Commission, or a local government with a certified local coastal program |
Two of these rules decide who may place the container rather than whether a permit exists. Los Angeles County restricts right-of-way placement to County approved vendors, and San Francisco to authorized companies. San Diego and San Francisco both cap street placement at seven days, so a monthly rental belongs on private property.
Under the California Coastal Act, development on land includes the placement or erection of any solid material or structure. Development in the coastal zone requires a coastal development permit, issued by the California Coastal Commission or by a local government with a certified local coastal program.
A coastal development permit sits in addition to any city or county permit for the same site. Not every container in the coastal zone requires one, and the answer turns on the site and the local coastal program covering it. Confirm the position with the local planning department or the Coastal Commission district office.
| Factor | Rent | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Monthly rate plus delivery, with no purchase outlay | Full purchase price and delivery paid at the start |
| Project length | Defined, phased or uncertain schedules | Multi-year use at one site or across projects |
| Maintenance | Condition handled under the rental agreement | Owner carries repairs, coating and inspection |
| Flexibility | Return the container when the project ends | Relocate, resell or modify the container |
| Modifications | Limited and subject to written approval | Insulation, doors, electrical and branding all available |
| Best for | Construction phases, seasonal peaks, temporary overflow | Permanent yards, recurring storage, custom builds |
Rent when the California project has an end date or a schedule that can still move. Buy when the container stays on one site for years or needs permanent modification. CMG rents month to month and sells outright, with no rent-to-own program. Check CMG’s California page for selling containers.
A 20ft storage container rents from $100 a month in California and a 40ft from $175 a month. The final price depends on distance from the nearest CMG yard, the rental term and site conditions.
It depends on the jurisdiction. California sets no statewide rule, and the City of San Diego requires a building permit for all cargo containers. Confirm the position with the local building department before placement.
Street placement requires a separate right-of-way permit. San Diego and San Francisco both cap it at seven days, and Los Angeles County and San Francisco allow only approved or authorized companies to place the container.
CMG rents containers month to month with no minimum period and sells containers outright. There is no rent-to-own program, so a California rental continues for as long as the project needs it.
CMG rents 20ft and 40ft containers in California, including 40ft high cube units. Standard, double door, open side, mobile office, office-storage combo and refrigerated configurations all sit in the rental range.
Delivery is arranged around site access. The site needs a clear approach, a firm level placement area, adequate gate width and overhead clearance. CMG schedules the date with you once the site details are confirmed.
Storage containers for rent in California start at $100 a month on month-to-month terms.
