“If I wanted to put a mobile home on my property, what would I need to do?” If this is something you have said recently, you’re probably looking into the rules that govern putting mobile homes and manufactured homes on your land.
What are the legal requirements? What about other regulations? These are things you’ll need to know before installing a mobile home on your land.
I want to put a mobile home on my property. What are the legal requirements?
To put a mobile home, modular home or a manufactured home on a piece of land that you own, you’ll need to look into state regulations, zoning regulations, and restrictions caused by private covenants.
State regulations
Typically, state regulations will focus on legal requirements of a mobile home installation. First of all, you’re most likely going to need a permit in order to put a mobile home on your land. Additionally, your home must be attached to a foundation. You’ll have the foundation built first, and then you’ll have the mobile home delivered to your site, where it will be attached to the foundation. In other words, it has to be what is technically referred to as a manufactured home.
State and federal laws also dictate that your home must be built in accordance with the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards. Among other things, that means your home will have to meet certain size requirements. Additionally, you may have to use the same building materials as stick-built homes in specific areas.
A warning: check your state law and city or county building codes well before you start the process of putting a mobile home on your land. Different regulations may apply to each state and city. Because of this, it’s a good idea to visit with a city or county building code enforcement officer before you get too far into your project.
Zoning regulations
Zoning regulations deal with topics like the size and appearance of a mobile home. You’ll probably want to get information on what the zoning regulations are in your area before you even buy your home. If the plot of land you own only allows for your home to be a certain size, it would be a big setback for you. Especially if you’d already purchased one that was too big.
It’s a good idea to talk to a zoning administrator about zoning requirements early on in the process of putting a home on your land.
Get A Free Quote for Manufactured Home Insurance
*Save $250 per year, on average!
Restrictive Covenants
Restrictive covenants are statements in the property deed that contain conditions on how you can use your land. When you’ve found your deed, look for any restrictions. Some restrictive covenants may not even allow you to put a mobile home on your plot of land.
If you haven’t bought your land yet, but you’re planning to put a mobile home on it, you’ll want to look the property deed over very carefully for any regulations.
Other things to consider for putting a mobile or a manufactured home on your own land
At this point, you might be saying, “I’ve checked state regulations and zoning regulations, and I’ve looked at my property deed to see if there are any restrictive covenants. But what else do I need to do if I want to put a mobile home on my property?”
Mobile home hookups
First, make sure that you have sufficient access to electricity and telephone hookups on your property. Depending on how far your land is from developed areas, it may cost more for you to have access to these things. Internet access and cell phone signal may also be a concern for you, so you’ll want to check into those as well.
There are two ways that you can deal with sewage. One option is to have a septic tank put in on your property. However, before you do so, you’ll have to get your soil tested. You’ll need to make sure that it passes all the necessary regulations. If your soil doesn’t pass these tests, you won’t be able to legally put a home on your piece of land.
City over septic
If a septic tank doesn’t work out, your other option is to hook up to a city sewage line.
Of course, you’ll also need to obtain a water supply for your mobile home. Again, there are two ways to make this happen. Your property may already be well supplied with water if it’s connected to city water lines. However, if you aren’t hooked up to city lines, you’ll need to have a well made. Before drilling a well, though, tests should bedone to ensure that your land has a water table that’s capable of supplying you with water.
This article can give you more insight on the mobile home hookups you’ll need.
Can I put a mobile home in my backyard?
It is generally possible to place a mobile home in your backyard, but there are several factors to consider before doing so. Some things to consider include:
Zoning regulations: Check with your local zoning department to determine if it is allowed to place a mobile home on your property. Some areas have specific regulations about where mobile homes can be placed, so it is important to check before making any plans.
Building permits: Depending on your location, you may need to obtain a building permit before placing a mobile home in your backyard.
Utility connections: Make sure that the mobile home will have access to electricity, water, and sewage services. You may need to have these utilities extended to the mobile home or make arrangements with the utility companies to have them connected.
Property size and layout: Consider the size and layout of your property to ensure that the mobile home will fit and be placed in a safe and suitable location.
Other considerations: Think about things like access to the mobile home, parking, and privacy. You may also want to consider the appearance of the mobile home and how it will fit in with the overall look of your property.
It is a good idea to consult with a lawyer and/or a local planning department before making any final decisions about placing a mobile home in your backyard as it is not legal everywhere.
How many mobile homes can I put on my land?
To determine the number of mobile homes that can be placed on your land, it is necessary to consult with the appropriate regulatory agency in your state or community. In some areas, this may be the Department of Economic and Community Development Local Planning Assistance Office, or a similar department that is responsible for establishing laws and regulations related to residential and commercial complexes.
This office can provide information about the specific laws and regulations that apply to mobile homes on your property, including any restrictions on the number of homes that can be placed on a single acre of land. By contacting this department and following the appropriate guidelines, you can ensure that you are in compliance with local regulations when placing mobile homes on your land.
Follow these steps to begin your adventure!
With these tips in mind, you should have a better idea of what you’ll need to do to put a mobile home on your property. Now, instead of saying, “I want to put a mobile home on my property, where do I start?” you can say, “What’s the next step to putting a mobile home on land?” And for that, we encourage you to take a look at the different types of mobile home foundations. You’re well on your way to putting that mobile home on your land!
FAQs
Can I put a mobile home in my backyard Florida? ›
It depends on the zoning of the property, and you need to check with your city or county building/zoning department first. Most residential lots are zoned for only one residence and do not allow mobile homes. So your property zoning must allow both two residences and mobile homes. Sometimes a variance can be obtained.
How do I prepare my land for a mobile home? ›- Good Drainage Is Important. ...
- Selecting the Right Spot. ...
- A Note of Caution about Using a Cement Slab for the Installation. ...
- Make Sure the Land Is Accessible. ...
- Check with the Manufacturer for Installation Instructions.
Manufactured homes may be installed on a permanent basis on private property subject to a permit and approval by the Building and Safety Division. Whether a manufactured home is permitted or not is determined by the land use zoning district of the intended location.
Can I put a manufactured home on my property in Michigan? ›Can I put a manufactured or modular home on private property? Yes! Your home retailer can help you find property (if you don't already own land) and you will need to know the local zoning requirements for single-family homes in the area.
Do I need permission to put a mobile home on my land? ›Private Land – Without an existing dwelling present
You will need to apply for full permission before your development begins. Again, it's important to emphasise that different local authorities can have different rules surrounding planning permission.
A mobile home can be used in a garden without planning but you will need to justify how the use of the caravan supports the use of the house and how it will not become a separate or independent dwelling. For example the people who sleep and wash in the mobile home will use the cooking facilities of the main house.
What foundation is needed for a mobile home? ›Pier and Beam Foundation
The pier and beam system is the most popular foundation type for manufactured homes. With it, anchors are driven into the ground to hold the home down and protect it against wind. Then, steel straps connect the anchors to a main beam of the home's steel frame.
A basic caliche pad the cost can vary from $2,500-$5,000, a price dependent on the size of the pad, required height, and distance from the contractor and materials.
Can a mobile home be built on site? ›In terms of construction, Mobile Homes can be assembled onsite from many prefabricated pieces so long as they conform to the construction and mobility test.
Can I put a park home on my own land? ›Buying a lodge or park home on your own land is a great value way to add luxury accommodation to your existing property or land. With a much lower cost than a traditional bricks and mortar extension and more flexible design and build options, a Kingston lodge is perfect for providing extra space on your existing land.
How much money do you need to put down for a mobile home in California? ›
FHA loans with terms up to 30 years are available for manufactured housing. They require only a 3.5% down payment and are more flexible about credit score.
Do you pay property tax on a mobile home in a park in California? ›Mobile homes in California are taxed either through the local property tax system administered by the county in which the mobile home is situated or by payment of vehicle "in-lieu" license fees to the State.
Can I put a single wide on my property in Michigan? ›Singlewide Manufactured Homes must be set on a HUD approved site which includes piers with crushed aggregate, or a slab with piers. These manufactured homes often are placed in mobile home parks but can also be placed on your land (subject to local building codes).
Do you pay property taxes on a mobile home in Michigan? ›Mobile Home Tax. The State of Michigan requires the Township to assess personal property taxes on items that you own near or adjacent to your mobile home, such as awnings, porches, decks, carports or sheds. This only applies to homes in mobile home parks; residential homes are assessed for these items as real property.
Do you pay taxes on a mobile home in Michigan? ›A 6% use tax is due on the value of the mobile home. The park owner declares the mobile home's value when applying for the title. Once the new mobile home title is issued in the name of the mobile home park, the mobile home park is the legal owner.
What can I build on my land without planning permission? ›- industrial premises and warehouses.
- some outdoor signs and advertisements - though there are special rules around adverts.
- demolition - but before you begin you must get approval to demolish from your local planning authority ( LPA ) through your local council.
The 4-year rule covers any breach of building or operations development which has not been challenged by enforcement action for the period of at least four years.
What is the 10 year rule mobile home? ›You can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate for an existing use or development providing you can demonstrate that: the land has been in continuous use (other than as a dwelling) for more than 10 years. a condition or limitation on planning permission has not been complied with for more than 10 years.
Can you live on land without planning permission? ›It will normally* only become illegal for you to be living on the land when an enforcement notice against you comes into effect. If you appeal against enforcement, the enforcement order does not come into effect until you have lost the Appeal. The same applies if you take the matter to High Court.
Can I buy a plot of land and put a caravan on it? ›If you want to temporarily move into a static caravan whilst building or renovating a property, most councils will allow this. But only if it's on a temporary basis. If you want to permanently live in a static caravan on a piece of land, you will need planning permission.
Do you need planning permission for a park home? ›
Planning for park homes / lodges
If the park home / lodge is to be sited in your garden, quite often you don't need planning permission, however, we do recommend you get a 'Certificate of Lawfulness' for peace-of-mind (this is like planning permission but you don't need to submit plans).
Runner foundations are one of the cheapest types of mobile home foundations. They take more design and construction time than slab foundations. These foundations resist frost better than slab foundations. Runner foundations are more prone to damage than other ones.
What is the cheapest foundation type? ›What is the cheapest type of foundation for a house? The cheapest foundation is usually a slab-on-grade concrete foundation, followed by a crawl space foundation and a concrete block foundation.
What is the cheapest house foundation? ›Price: Generally, slab foundations are your cheapest option when it comes to foundations, an excellent choice if budget is front-of-mind. Low Maintenance: Of all foundation-types, slabs require the least amount of maintenance, adding to their pricing value.
How deep should a foundation be for a mobile home? ›Slab Foundation
Slab foundations for manufactured homes consist of a 4 to 6 inch deep flat, concrete foundation, with another 4 to 6 inches of gravel or sand beneath it. Instead of the floor of the home, a slab foundation acts as support for the home.
It is recommended that all mobile and manufactured homes have a ground moisture barrier. A barrier is usually just a polyethylene plastic sheeting placed directly on the ground and secured under the home to act as another shield between earth and home.
What goes around the bottom of a mobile home? ›The skirting, also known as underpinning, goes around a manufactured home to enclose the crawl space underneath it and can be made of a variety of materials. Most of our home centers offer concrete, brick, vinyl and cinder block skirting options.
What is the legal size for a mobile home? ›The basic facts: The definition of a mobile home gives a maximum size of 20m x 6.7m (66ft x 22ft) external and 3.48m internal ceiling height. There is no external roof height.
Can you live permanently in a park home? ›A park home is a type of mobile home that you live in all year round.
What makes a mobile home have a permanent foundation? ›Permanent foundations must be con- structed of durable materials; i.e. concrete, mortared masonry, or treated wood - and be site-built. It shall have attachment points to an- chor and stabilize the manufactured home to transfer all loads, herein defined, to the under- lying soil or rock.
How long can you keep a park home? ›
People often assume that a park home will have a shorter life-span than a regular bricks and mortar house, but this is not the case. A well-built park home that is properly maintained can be expected to last 70 to 80 years, or longer with the right care.
Do you make money on park homes? ›If it's built in a sought-after location and sold in a good condition, you may even make money. The current state of the market also has a lot to do with the value. Like any other property, the sale price of park homes can rise and fall at any time based on factors out of your control.
Is it worth buying a park home to live in? ›Park homes can function as either a permanent residence or a holiday home. If you are considering downsizing and living full-time in a park home, it's often an excellent investment—as buying and running costs tend to be much lower.
What is the average credit score needed to buy a mobile home? ›Most lenders require a minimum credit score of 580 to 620 to buy a mobile home. In most cases, 580 is the minimum credit score for manufactured home loans but you might still get financing with a special program and lower score but you might need to make a larger down payment for it.
What is the longest you can finance a mobile home? ›How long can I finance a mobile home? The length of mobile home financing depends on the lender. However, you can expect to find loans of anywhere from five to 30 years, depending on the loan type.
Is it more difficult to get a loan on a mobile home? ›Financing a mobile or manufactured home can be difficult, particularly if you want to do so with a mortgage. Since many lenders don't consider manufactured or mobile homes real property, there are lots of requirements and stipulations you'll have to meet if you want to qualify for a mortgage.
Is a mobile home considered a home by the IRS? ›Yes, since owning a mobile home is the same as owning a house, you have the same taxable rights as all homeowners in declaring deductible interest and property taxes.
At what age do you stop paying property taxes in California? ›The requirements, as of April 1, 2021, for Proposition 19 exclusion include, but are not limited to: The principal claimant or the claimant's spouse who resides with the claimant must be at least 55 years of age at the time the original residence is sold.
What is the difference between a mobile and manufactured home? ›The Difference Between Mobile and Manufactured Homes
The only difference between the two types of homes is the date they were built. According to HUD, a factory-built home prior to June 15, 1976 is a mobile home and one built after June 15, 1976 is a manufactured home.
Tiny homes are legal in Michigan, but there are some restrictions. Your tiny house must follow the state's building codes. The code requires couples to build a 250-square-foot structure. Similarly, a family of four must build a tiny house of at least 450 square feet.
Can I live in an RV on my own property in Michigan? ›
The State Law concerning mobile homes, says that "travel trailers" and "camping trailers" are not to be used as permanent residences, but can be lived in on your property for short periods as emergency shelters.
Do you need a permit to put a shed on your property in Michigan? ›A shed under 200 square feet in size does not require a permit. Other sheds and accessory structures larger than that require a Building Permit with the Building Safety Office.
Can I put a modular home on my property in Florida? ›To be acceptable in Florida, a modular home must bear the insignia of the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) on the inside of the cover of the home's electrical panel and be installed by a contractor licensed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board to build site built homes.
Can I build in my backyard Florida? ›Most Florida zoning districts require a permit before adding a building to your property. The permit needs to include information about your new building — like size, location, property line setbacks, and any construction plans.
Can I put a tiny house in my backyard in Florida? ›Is tiny home communities in Florida legal? There is no statewide regulation of tiny homes in Florida. As a result, the tiny home community is generally well accepted in Florida. However, you should still verify with the county where you're moving to ensure that's the case.
Can you build a tiny house in your backyard in Florida? ›Answer. Florida is a relatively friendly state when it comes to the legality of tiny houses. For one thing, it has adopted something called "Appendix Q" within its Building Code. This sets forth basic rules for constructing houses that are 400 square feet or less.
Do you have to pay property tax on a mobile home in Florida? ›Mobile homes with a RP decal must be on the real property assessment roll and taxed annually as real property. The owner of a mobile home who does not own the lot or land on which the mobile home is affixed must pay an annual license tax by purchasing a MH (mobile home) decal.
Can I build another house on my property in Florida? ›You will need to get the approval of the municipality and county you live in. The remaining two lots both need to be big enough to meet zoning requirements, and you will also need to make sure no deed restrictions affect the minimum lot size in your community.