diff --git a/readthedocs/doc_builder/environments.py b/readthedocs/doc_builder/environments.py
index 8a40d389885..30821c157c1 100644
--- a/readthedocs/doc_builder/environments.py
+++ b/readthedocs/doc_builder/environments.py
@@ -1025,6 +1025,7 @@ def create_container(self):
                 host_config=self.get_container_host_config(),
                 detach=True,
                 environment=self.environment,
+                user=settings.DOCKER_USER,
             )
             client.start(container=self.container_id)
         except ConnectionError:
diff --git a/readthedocs/settings/base.py b/readthedocs/settings/base.py
index 3cf62523d59..8cde20a7c00 100644
--- a/readthedocs/settings/base.py
+++ b/readthedocs/settings/base.py
@@ -276,6 +276,15 @@ def USE_PROMOS(self):  # noqa
 
     # Docker
     DOCKER_ENABLE = False
+
+    # User used to create the container.
+    # In production we use the same user than the one defined by the
+    # ``USER docs`` instruction inside the Dockerfile.
+    # In development, we can use the "UID:GID" of the current user running the
+    # instance to avoid file permissions issues.
+    # https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/run/#user
+    DOCKER_USER = 'docs:docs'
+
     DOCKER_DEFAULT_IMAGE = 'readthedocs/build'
     DOCKER_DEFAULT_VERSION = 'latest'
     DOCKER_IMAGE = '{}:{}'.format(DOCKER_DEFAULT_IMAGE, DOCKER_DEFAULT_VERSION)