I know there are some rules, and I plan to do plenty of reading and make sure I do this right. But I would like a Barn Owl Box. There are plans to build them and even companies that make them.

Does anyone have experience with a Barn Owl Box? Recommendations, pitfalls?

I am located in somewhat rural Central Virginia with about 5 acres of hardwood forest. I used to have an Owl nearby and loved listening to him "hoo hoo" at night. but he seems to have moved on.

My neighbor put one up a few years ago and a squirrel promptly moved in. I think I remember reading this is a common occurrence.
I know I have had squirrels chew out the opening in an ordinary bluebird box too.

A Barn Owl Box should be horizontal with the opening on one side.

The generally like to be up on the side of a structure overlooking an open field so they can hunt.

Man I wish I could post pictures here to show my baby Owls! I put up an Owl box a few years ago and we are the proud parents of 13 new Owl babies so far! I put my box on top of a palm tree I topped off. I got a box that has an attachment for a wifi camera which I highly recommend. The camera allows you to watch momma on the eggs, the chicks hatching, momma feeding them, them feeding themselves and then a few weeks of them venturing out of the box and back in during the day until they fly the coop.

Looking into the box and seeing rats and gophers lined up to feed the babies is very gratifying. This is the contact I could find on my box builder. At the time, he told me he did ship them. https://alpinecommunitynetwork.com