Notes

Do Mobile Homes Require Planning Permission?
The mobile home is something new on the housing scene. It cuts across comfortable customs and imposes some difficulties.

Obviously it is not acceptable mixed indiscriminately with conventional single-family dwellings in residential districts, and there is the question of the proper means of segregation. In addition there is the problem of minimum size requirements and the layout of drives, parking areas and carports.
What is a mobile home?

Whether as permanent accommodation, vacation homes, or temporary accommodation for working people in the construction industry, mobile homes are one of the most widely used types of housing. They are prefabricated, manufactured homes that are placed on a site for a fixed period of time.

Most of us are familiar with apartment house arrangements, and there is good reason to think that the same kinds of arrangements should be used in zoning regulations regulating mobile home parks and subdivisions for individual mobile homes. However, these arrangements are different from conventional residential subdivisions in several ways.

The layout of a mobile home subdivision or park should be adjusted to the special characteristics of the living units, especially in terms of the size and location of windows in the dwellings. Parking areas and car shelters should not be located to interfere with desirable views from important windows in the living units or to break up open areas of the lot. In subdivisions for mobile homes, it is also appropriate to provide sheltered entrances and carports close to the street.
Do I need planning permission?

If you are planning to live in a mobile home, it is important that you check the local zoning requirements and laws. You can do this by contacting your city or county land use and planning office.

Zoning ordinances typically deal with the size, location (including flood plan), shape and height of a structure. They may also address the architectural features such as location of drives, parking areas or car shelters. These should be located so they do not interfere with desirable views from important windows or break up the use of important open areas on a lot.

Special districts for mobile homes in parks or subdivisions are another way to handle these matters. They may be permitted outright on any zoning map, "anchored" in those residential districts found appropriate for parks or subdivisions after satisfying specified requirements, or allowed as a special exception within the regular residential districts. These districts are generally easier to manage. They also give owners of lots a choice. Having a monopoly on a specific use is difficult to justify for the public good.

Do I need a building permit?

Whether or not mobile homes require building permits will depend on a variety of factors. These may include state or local laws and regulations governing the construction of such dwellings, as well as local zoning ordinances. It is best to check with your city or town’s zoning department to see what restrictions may be in place.

Most states and cities will have different building codes and regulations that must be followed by developers and homeowners. These will vary from state to state, but they generally dictate such matters as size requirements, setbacks, roads, drainage away from the structure, and other matters relating to the construction of a home.

If you are planning to put a mobile home on your property, it is vital that you consult the local zoning ordinances to ensure that all requirements are met before any work is started. This will help you avoid unnecessary headaches and expenses in the long run. Additionally, if Glulam Log house Glulife live in a community with a homeowners’ association (HOA), be sure to review the rules and regulations carefully. Some HOAs will forbid the use of mobile homes and instead favor traditional concrete block dwellings.
Do I need a sewage connection?

In general, mobile homes connect to the water and sewage system like any other house would. However, the sewage connections for mobile homes are often different and sometimes more difficult to maintain. This is because they are usually located in a mobile home park, where the infrastructure of the park may be more exposed and prone to damage.

Lower risk spills occur inside a mobile home, typically when sink drains overflow or toilets leak. These spills pose the least danger to health and are easier to contain. However, they should still be treated by a professional.

Higher risk sewage spills involve spills that extend beyond the property line of the mobile home and flow along ground or surface drainage. This presents the greatest danger to health and safety, and should be assessed by a trained, independent professional. Also, it’s important to document the spill by taking pictures, notes, getting names of companies and professionals involved, and describing (or having residents describe) the extent of the damage to their homes, possessions and vehicles.
Do I need a water connection?

The planning and installation of a mobile home on private property should take into account local zoning requirements, which are usually available in the city and/or county land use or planning offices. These regulations address such things as the location (including flood plan), size, shape and height of structures.

Mobile homes are often sited in land lease communities called trailer parks (also known as manufactured homes, mobile home parks, factory-built housing parks or trailer courts). These provide space for homeowners to rent and may offer services such as mowing, garbage collection and community rooms.

Whether a mobile home subdivision becomes a source of good or bad housing depends on the effectiveness of appropriate and timely controls that limit its growth. For the planner, the most important of these are zoning and subdivision regulation. The Federal Housing Authority has developed Minimum Property Requirements for Mobile Home Courts,7 and has prepared a valuable guide to mobile home subdivision regulation, Mobile Home Park Sanitation.8 Both of these should serve as a basis for local zoning ordinances and subdivision regulations.
Do I need a waste disposal connection?

Before purchasing a mobile home, it is important to consult with your local planning department and make sure the property is zoned for the purpose. You also need to look at the zoning ordinance to determine whether there are any requirements that apply to the placement of mobile homes, such as minimum lot size and skirting regulations.

Most mobile homes are connected to a septic system. As such, many people are hesitant to install a garbage disposal, fearing it will place too much strain on the system. However, there is no reason not to install a garbage disposal if the septic tank is designed properly and pumped regularly.

A separate sewage connection should be installed for each mobile home, with the building sewer pipe terminating a sufficient distance above ground level at not less than a forty-five-degree angle. The riser shall be firmly embedded in the ground and protected against heaving, shifting and surface water seepage. The sewage connections to the mobile homes should be inspected for leakage at least once every year and any defective joints or joints are to be repaired.
Do I need a fire safety certificate?

It’s important to know that mobile homes, or manufactured homes as they are more correctly called, are not subject to local building codes. They are regulated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and must comply with national construction and safety standards.

In addition, the HUD standards include strict fire safety requirements. For example, the use of flammable paints on exterior walls is prohibited and roof modifications that increase surface area are also a problem if the resulting increased number of layers of roofing material interfere with the ability of fire fighters to extinguish the fire.

Because of these and other safety requirements, zoning ordinances often require that they pass regular fire safety inspections. This is a good idea for anyone who owns one, but it’s particularly important for those who are thinking about selling them. A buyer will probably want to see proof of these inspections before they complete a sale, and lenders might require that such proof be presented before closing on a loan.
Do I need a building inspection?

It is very important for potential buyers to have a building inspection carried out on the mobile home they are considering buying. The inspector will look at a number of different areas, including the septic tank (if applicable), sewage pipes and drains, structural supports, insulating coverings, electrical wiring and more.

It may be a good idea to hire an engineer to inspect the foundations of the home as well. This will help to ensure that the structure is not in danger of settling and becoming unsafe in the future.

It is also important to check whether the home is zoning-compliant, as mobile homes and their sited land lease communities are often a source of local discontent. Typically, residences of any type (mobile or conventional) should not be placed in commercial districts except under special circumstances. This should be checked in the local planning office before any work is started.

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