Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards

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Summary:
This program protects consumers through regulation and enforcement of HUD design and construction standards for manufactured homes.

Purpose:
In the United States, regulating building construction is traditionally a function of local government. However, unlike site-built housing, manufactured homes are usually built in a different jurisdiction than the one in which they will be occupied. This systemic gap in building regulation had a number of unfortunate effects in the middle decades of this century: the lack of regulatory oversight made the quality of "mobile homes" unreliable at best and prompted many local governments to ban or severely restrict their use. Since 1976, the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards have protected consumers and helped ensure the quality and availability of this important affordable housing resource by providing a system for regulating the design and construction of manufactured homes nationwide.

Type of Assistance:
Manufacturers who build manufactured homes for sale in the United States must comply with HUD-mandated design and construction standards. This program provides consumer protection through enforcement of these standards for manufactured homes, investigation of consumer complaints, and certifications, testing, in-plant inspections, and review of manufacturers' designs and quality assurance programs. Either HUD or State Administrative Agencies in 36 States may enforce these standards. The "HUD Code" takes into account existing State and local laws but preempts those that differ from the Federal standards.

Eligible Customers:
Any buyer of a manufactured home built for residential use on or after June 15, 1976, benefits from the program.

Eligible Activities:
HUD-approved inspection agencies review manufacturers' designs of manufactured homes for compliance with the standards and inspect homes during construction. If a manufactured home does not conform to Federal standards, the manufacturer may be required to notify the consumer. If the home has a defect that presents an unreasonable risk of injury or death, the manufacturer is required to correct the defect. Retailers are prohibited from selling homes that they know do not meet the federal standards. The program only regulates design and construction of factory-built manufactured homes; the Federal Government has chosen not to regulate the siting of manufactured homes or on-site improvements, including utilities, driveways and porches, which may be subject to local codes.

Application:
Manufacturers must have designs for each manfactured home model reviewed and approved. Each home must be inspected at least once during construction. Once certified, a manufacturer's certification label must be placed on the home, indicating compliance with the Federal standards. HUD or an SAA responds to purchaser complaints by asking the manfacturer or Retailer to investigate the problem and taking enforcement actions if necessary.

Funding Status:
This program is primarily funded by user fees, not appropriated funds. (Salaries and expenses) FY 1996, $943,000; FY 1997, $896,000 (est.); FY 1998, $930,000 (est.). (Contracts) FY 1996, $10,596,000; FY 1997 $11,884,000 (est.); FY 1998 $14,000,000 (est.).

Technical Guidance:
The program is authorized under the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, Title VI, Public Law 93-383 (42 U.S.C. 5401). Program standards are in 24 CFR 3280. The Standards and the Manufactured Home Procedural and Enforcement Regulations (24 CFR 3282) are available online through HUDCLIPS or in print and electronic forms from HUD USER, P.O. Box 6091, Rockville, MD 20849, 1-800-245-2691. The Standards are administered by the Office of Single Family Housing, Office of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Manufactured Housing and Standards Division, HUD, 451 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410; phone 1-800-927-2891.

For More Information:
Refer to the Ninth Report to Congress on the Manufactured Housing Program, available from HUD USER. Or contact the Manufactured Housing Institute, (703) 558-0400. FAQs and other program information and links are available through the MHCSS page on HUD's website.