Legal Definitions - manufactured home

A manufactured home is a type of dwelling constructed entirely in a factory under a specific federal building code: the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, often referred to as the HUD Code. Unlike traditional site-built homes or modular homes (which adhere to state or local building codes), manufactured homes are designed to be transportable in one or more sections and are built on a permanent chassis. They can be placed on private land or within dedicated manufactured home communities.

Here are some examples to illustrate this term:

• Example 1: A retired couple, the Millers, decide to downsize and purchase a new, two-bedroom home from a local dealer. This home was built in a factory, transported on its own chassis to a designated lot in a manufactured home community, and then professionally installed with utility connections. The Millers appreciate that their new home meets specific federal safety and construction standards.

  Explanation: This scenario describes a manufactured home because it was constructed entirely in a factory according to federal HUD standards, designed for transport, and then placed as a residence within a community specifically designed for such homes.

• Example 2: Sarah inherits a plot of rural land and wants to establish a residence quickly and affordably. She purchases a pre-owned, single-section home that was originally built in a factory in 2008, adhering to the HUD Code standards of that time. She arranges for it to be moved to her land, permanently affixed to a foundation, and connected to local utilities.

  Explanation: This demonstrates a manufactured home because it was factory-built to federal standards, designed for transport, and then installed as a permanent residence on private property, regardless of whether it is new or pre-owned.

• Example 3: A developer plans a new affordable housing community on the outskirts of a growing city. Instead of traditional stick-built houses, the developer opts to use homes that are constructed off-site in controlled factory environments, transported in sections, and then assembled and installed on individual lots. All these homes are built to comply with the federal HUD Code.

  Explanation: This project involves manufactured homes because the entire community is planned around residences that are built in factories to specific federal construction and safety standards, rather than being constructed piece-by-piece on each individual lot.