
Shipping Containers · West Kootenay & Boundary
Shipping Containers in Balfour, BC
Boat and Cabin Storage for Balfour
Serving Balfour and the Kootenay Lake West Arm
Valleyview Containers delivers new and used shipping containers to Balfour, on the north shore at the entrance to Kootenay Lake's West Arm, northeast of Nelson on Highway 3A. Its landing is the west terminal of the Kootenay Lake ferry, and the community has long been a retirement and weekend-retreat spot. Cabin owners, boaters, and year-round residents use containers for boats, dock gear, and everything that gets put away between seasons.
A 20ft or 40ft container, standard or high-cube, holds a small boat, kayaks, and lake gear, and double-door or side-door models make bulky items easier to load. Units are inspected wind and watertight, and the quote combines container and delivery in one all-in price. Balfour connects to Nelson by highway, so delivery does not need the lake ferry; on steep waterfront lots we confirm where the truck can unload.

Why Valleyview
Why Choose Us in Balfour?
Full-BC Delivery
We deliver right across British Columbia — ferry-served where needed — with the route and cost quoted before you commit.
Honest, All-In Pricing
Container plus delivery in one straightforward quote. Published prices, no negotiation games, no surprise fees.
Inspected Quality
Every container is inspected to be wind and water tight before it leaves the yard, so it arrives ready to use.
Container delivery to Balfour
Valleyview Containers delivers new and used shipping containers throughout Balfour and the West Kootenay & Boundary region, including nearby Trail, Castlegar, Nelson. Delivery is quoted separately based on distance and site access from our nearest depot, and most drop-offs use a tilt-deck truck that slides the container straight onto your prepared, level site. You'll get an all-in price — container plus delivery — before you commit.
For a smooth delivery, plan for firm, level ground and clear, straight access for the truck. Not sure your Balfour site will work? Send us a photo and we'll advise before you order. Or watch our 30-second delivery guide to see the truck, the clearances and what to check first.
Serving Balfour from our Kamloops yard
Valleyview Containers
D3-1764 Kelly Douglas Rd, Kamloops, BC V2C 5S4
Open 7 days a week, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Explore containers for Balfour

Custom Solutions
Custom containers, built for Balfour
Custom containers for work and for living: site offices, workshops, farm storage, cold storage, pop-up shops, bunkies and turnkey container homes — designed around your project, built in our Kamloops yard and delivered to Balfour. Insulated site offices from $14,600 CAD; bunkies and modular homes are quoted per project.
Popular here: Farm & Ranch Containers — Rodent-proof, frost-ready storage for feed, tack and chemicals — delivered to end-of-road ranch sites.
Balfour shipping container FAQ
Straight answers on buying, delivering and setting up a container in Balfour and across the West Kootenay & Boundary.
Buying in Balfour
Do you deliver shipping containers to Balfour, BC?
Yes. Valleyview delivers new and used containers to homes, businesses and job sites in Balfour and across the West Kootenay and Boundary, most of them set down by a tilt-deck truck that slides the container onto your prepared site. Distance changes the delivery quote rather than whether Balfour is served; what decides whether a particular site works is the route in and the access at the drop spot.
Do listed container prices include delivery to Balfour?
No. Listed container prices are in Canadian dollars plus tax and delivery, and delivery to Balfour is quoted separately. Each site is quoted on its own: the distance from where the container ships (the Kamloops yard or a partner depot) to your address in Balfour, the roads on the way in, and how easily the truck can line up and back in all count. Valleyview doesn’t publish a flat delivery rate or a free-delivery zone; what’s free is the delivery quote itself.
How long does it take to get a container delivered to Balfour?
The delivery date is agreed when you order rather than promised in advance. It depends on where your container is coming from, the distance to Balfour, your site, and road and weather conditions. With your quote, Valleyview confirms access, quotes the delivery and gives you a delivery window, so mention any deadline you’re working to when you ask.
Do I have to come to Kamloops to buy a container for delivery to Balfour?
No. You can request a quote by phone, email or the website’s quote form and confirm the order when you accept it, all without visiting. Valleyview’s only yard is in Kamloops, at D3-1764 Kelly Douglas Rd, and Valleyview doesn’t operate a depot in Balfour; your container comes from that yard or from a partner depot. When it arrives, you or someone you designate inspects it and signs the delivery receipt, noting any damage at that time.
What container sizes can I buy in Balfour?
All three sizes, 10ft, 20ft and 40ft, can be delivered to Balfour. The catalogue has the new 10ft; new and used 20ft units, new 20ft double-door and side-door units and a 20ft refrigerated container; new 40ft high cubes; and used 40ft containers in standard or high cube height. What’s in Valleyview’s yard now is on the live inventory page, other units can be sourced through partner depots, and availability is confirmed with your quote.
Compare all containersCan I see a container before it’s delivered to Balfour?
Yes, in a few ways. Each listing on the live inventory page is a unit physically in the Kamloops yard, with a photo when available, its recorded condition and its unit number when legible. For a unit sourced from a partner depot, ask what photos and condition details come with your quote. If you’re passing through Kamloops, call ahead to arrange a look in person, and inspect the container again when it arrives.
See the yard inventoryIs the listed price what I’ll pay for a container in Balfour?
The listed range is a guide to the container itself, and your quote confirms the exact figure. Where a container lands in its range depends on its condition, its colour if it’s new and where it’s sourced, which is why buyers in different towns can see different figures for the same container. Prices are in Canadian dollars plus tax, with delivery quoted separately.
How do I prepare my site for container delivery in Balfour?
A straight, clear approach for the truck and a firm, level spot for the container. For a 20ft, allow 72 feet of total clear length in a straight line, including where the container will sit, plus at least 10 to 12 feet of width and 16 feet of overhead clearance; a 40ft needs more, so ask. Compacted gravel, asphalt or concrete works, ideally with blocks under the corners. Before you book, walk the route in and measure the narrowest gate or gap.
Do you deliver to acreages and off-grid properties near Balfour?
Yes, and they’re quoted like any other delivery, by distance and by what the route and site need. Before booking, the route is planned the way it actually drives, including the approach, the turnaround and the set-down. Send GPS coordinates or a map pin for a site without a street address, describe gates, forks and creek crossings, and add photos of the access road and drop spot.
Should I get a 20ft or 40ft container for a property in Balfour?
A 20ft suits household, tool and job-site storage, and a 40ft suits larger loads if the site has room for the truck. A 20ft holds about 1,170 cubic feet on a footprint roughly the size of a single-car garage, while a 40ft holds about 2,390 cubic feet, or about 2,690 as a high cube. A 10ft has half a 20ft’s footprint for tight lots, though supply is limited.
Is winter container delivery possible in Balfour?
It depends on the roads in and the state of your site on the day. In the West Kootenay and Boundary, snow, ice and road conditions can move a date, and Valleyview’s terms exclude liability for weather delays. Frozen ground can make some sites easier to reach, and remote sites are planned around seasonal access windows. Clear snow from the route and drop spot, and choose a spot that stays firm after the thaw.
What should I do to keep a container in good shape in Balfour?
Plan for temperature swings and winter cold. Keep snow and wet leaves off the roof, keep the vents clear and use desiccants so condensation doesn’t drip on your things. Avoid heating it on and off, which is harder on a container than no heat at all. Before winter, put graphite or a dry silicone lubricant in the lock, and after the spring thaw check that the container is still level.
What are the rules for placing a shipping container in Balfour?
It depends on your property and how you’ll use the container, so ask the local government or other authority responsible for land use at your address before ordering; on First Nation reserve land, that’s the Nation’s own lands, housing or public works process. The answer can change if you modify the container or live or work in it. Ask about the zone, setbacks, lot coverage, any permit or siting plan, and whether ALR, a floodplain or a covenant applies, then get the answer in writing.
Read the permits guideCan you build a container office or workshop for a site in Balfour?
Yes. Site offices, workshops, cold storage and other builds are made in Valleyview’s Kamloops yard and delivered to Balfour like a plain container, with delivery quoted by distance and site access. Every build starts from an inspected, wind and watertight container, and one itemized quote covers the container, each modification and delivery before any steel gets cut. Timing depends on the spec and is confirmed in your quote.
Custom container buildsCan I rent a shipping container in Balfour?
No. Valleyview doesn’t rent containers anywhere in BC. If you’d rather not pay the full price up front, lease-to-own spreads it into monthly payments on a 20ft or 40ft container, with the payment, term and delivery to Balfour quoted together. Every payment builds toward ownership, you can pay out the balance early, and at the end of the term the container is yours rather than going back.
How lease-to-own worksDo you deliver to other towns in the West Kootenay and Boundary besides Balfour?
Yes. Deliveries in the West Kootenay and Boundary also go to Trail, Castlegar, Nelson, Rossland and Salmo, along with the rest of the region. Every delivery is quoted for its own address by distance and site access. Don’t see your community on the site? Call (778) 694-4050; Valleyview delivers to off-grid sites, ranches, First Nations communities and end-of-road locations across BC.
How do I get a quote for container delivery to Balfour?
Call (778) 694-4050, email valleyviewcontainers@gmail.com, or use the quote form on the website. Say which size and condition you want, how many, and where it’s going; a postal code is enough to start, and the full address or directions are needed before you order. Photos of the access help. The quote is free, doesn’t commit you to buy, and gives one all-in price for the container and delivery.
Sizes & specs
What are the dimensions of a 20ft shipping container?
A 20ft container is 20ft long, 8ft wide and 8ft 6in tall outside. Inside, a standard 20ft measures about 19ft 4in long, 7ft 8in wide and 7ft 10in high, for roughly 1,170 cubic feet, and the door opening is about five inches lower than the ceiling. On the ground it takes up roughly the space of a single-car garage. Double-door, side-door and refrigerated 20ft units share the same outside size, though the refrigerated unit has less room inside because of its insulation.
New & used containers
Should I buy a new or used container to convert into an office or workshop myself?
For a conversion, lean toward a one-trip container or a strong cargo-worthy unit: when you’re cutting in doors, windows and insulation, straight walls and minimal rust give you a better base to build on. Check a used unit’s walls, roof and floor closely before you start. A one-trip deck is new and unstained, but either way, seal or cover the factory-treated floor before anyone works in the space. If Valleyview does the build instead, the base container is confirmed with your custom quote.
Custom container buildsPrices
How much more does a high cube cost than a standard-height container?
In used 40ft containers, a high cube is listed at $3,500–$4,000 against $3,300–$3,600 for standard height, a difference of $200 at the low end of each range, before tax and delivery. For that you get a foot of extra height and about 300 more cubic feet on the same footprint, with the same site preparation. The extra headroom suits tall equipment, palletized goods and workshops that need room to stand and work.
Buying & paying
Can I reserve a container I see on your inventory page?
There’s no way to hold a unit online, but you can ask for that exact unit. Clicking a listing opens the quote form with that listing already named; add your delivery location and timeline, and Valleyview replies with a delivered price for your address. Listings can sell in the meantime, so call (778) 694-4050 if timing matters. An order is only confirmed once Valleyview accepts it and issues an invoice, and a deposit may be required to secure it.
Delivery
What if the delivery truck can’t reach the spot I want?
Then a tilt-deck can’t set the container there, which is why access is checked before delivery day. The truck must back in on a straight line with the clear length, width and overhead space the container needs. If your spot fails that test, call before delivery so the drop can be planned, whether that means clearing the route or choosing another spot. For custom homes, garden suites and bunkies, a crane lift may be quoted instead. Access problems found on the day can delay delivery.
Do I need to be there when the container is delivered?
Yes. You or someone you designate must be on site during delivery to confirm placement, inspect the container and sign the delivery receipt. If you can’t be there yourself, send someone who knows exactly where the container should go and which way the doors should face, and who will check it over and note any damage on the receipt before signing.
Preparing your site
Can I set a shipping container directly on dirt or grass?
It can, if the ground is firm and level, but for long-term placement Valleyview recommends a simple foundation. A compacted gravel pad keeps the steel frame out of the mud and lets water drain away, and blocks under the corners lift the frame so air moves underneath, which reduces the risk of rust. If the spot is soft or holds water after rain, choose firmer ground or call Valleyview before delivery day.
Owning a container
How do I protect the plywood floor inside my container?
Keep water off it. Container floors fail when water gets in and stays, so keep the container level on a well-drained pad up on blocks, keep the door gaskets sealing, and use vents or desiccant. For a cleaner floor, sweep, degrease, let it dry and apply two coats of floor enamel, garage-floor paint or epoxy while the container is empty. Valleyview also does floor sealing, overlays and deck replacement as modifications in its yard before delivery, so decide on the floor before you buy.
Container flooring guidePermits & bylaws
Who gets the electrical and plumbing permits for a container build?
The licensed trades do. Your electrician pulls the electrical permit when they make the final connection, and a licensed plumber handles the plumbing permit for any water or sewer tie-in, each separate from a building permit. Neither trade permit answers whether the container itself needs a building permit once it is wired, heated or used by people, so ask your local government that question on its own.
Custom builds
What modifications can you make to a shipping container?
Valleyview’s published modification menu covers a 36-inch steel personnel door with a commercial lockset, sliding windows with screens and security bars, steel or wood stud framing, four insulation types plus undercarriage foam, a basic electrical package and an HVAC pre-wire. Roll-up doors, vents, shelving, partitions, interior finishes, plumbing rough-in and paint are quoted per design. Every build is quoted line by line before any steel gets cut.
Business & lease-to-own
Can our company be billed in stages on a large order?
It can be requested, but it isn’t the default. Valleyview’s terms say full payment is typically required before delivery unless a different arrangement is agreed in writing. If a large or funded order needs milestone billing, ask for it when you request the quote, and give the company name the formal invoices should be made out to. Whatever is agreed, including any deposit, the payment method and the due dates, is set out on your quote and invoice.
Refrigerated containers
What happens to a reefer if the power goes out?
The refrigeration unit only holds your set temperature while it has power. The foam-filled walls help limit temperature swings, but how long the inside stays cold depends on the load, the set point and the weather, so plan for outages before you load product that can’t be allowed to warm up. Temperature monitoring can be added, quoted per design, so you know whether the box held overnight.
Uses
What does it take to turn a shipping container into a home or garden suite?
A dwelling needs much more than a storage container: engineered drawings, a building permit issued in your name, structural steel where walls are opened, insulation to the BC Energy Step Code target that applies to your site, and plumbing and electrical rough-in for licensed trades to connect. Valleyview builds garden suites and homes turnkey from new one-trip 40ft high cubes and quotes each one per design, with no listed price. Start by asking your municipality or regional district what your zoning allows.
Garden suites & ADUsStill have a question? Call (778) 694-4050 or see the full FAQ.
Get your Balfour container quote
Container plus delivery to Balfour in one straightforward quote — usually same day.


