Quick Guide for Alabama Manufactured Housing Codes, Regulations, and Requirements

Quick Guide for Alabama Manufactured Housing Codes, Regulations, and Requirements

Before any significant investment, it is crucial to research and gain knowledge. This not only results in a smooth purchasing experience but also helps you steer clear of committing costly legal mistakes. And when it comes to buying a manufactured home, then having an insight into the local rules and regulations of the manufactured home industry is even more critical. 

If you are planning to buy a manufactured home in Alabama, then it is a must for you to know all the manufactured housing standards that your home would be expected to fulfill. This blog details the manufactured housing laws that you should know before making your big purchase. 

Alabama regulations for manufactured homes 

First off, let us look at the government’s definition of a manufactured home stated under Alabama Code § 24-4A-1. The government deems a manufactured home to be a residential dwelling unit constructed as per the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards. HUD set these standards to protect the quality, safety, durability, and affordability of the manufactured homes and facilitate the availability of these homes to increase homeownership for all Americans. 

While all manufactured homes—regardless of the state they are located in—have to be built according to the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (MHCSS), commonly known as the HUD code, the modular homes, and site-built homes have to follow the International Residential Code (IRC) standards.  

HUD Code 

Established in 1976, the HUD code is different from the IRC standards and overrides all local building codes. In case of any discrepancy between the HUD code and the local law, the local rules have to concede. Though the HUD code is a national standard, the manufactured housing industry still has some standards to meet, specific to the areas where the manufactured homes will be situated. HUD has divided the country into various Wind Zones, Roof Load Zones, and Thermal Zones, and manufactured homes are expected to adhere to their particular area standards. 

All the counties in Alabama are considered a part of Wind Zone I except Baldwin and Mobile Counties, which are deemed to be located within Wind Zone II. Alabama comes under the South Roof Load Zone (20 pounds per square foot), and the manufactured homes installed here cannot be located in either the Middle or North Roof Load Zone. On the Thermal Zone map, Alabama is in Zone I (0.116 BTU/hr·ft2·oF).   

The essential HUD code requirement is that all manufactured homes should have a permanent chassis attached to help transport the house to its final site. In contrast, the homes built to IRC standards are set on a permanent foundation and do not require a chassis.

The HUD code also dictates the minimum size of the manufactured homes, ceiling heights, number of outside doors and windows, and minimum square footage of bedrooms. Under the HUD guidelines, all manufactured homes must be a minimum of 400 square feet in size with an approximately 7-feet ceiling. The ceiling in hallways and storage areas should be at least 6 feet and 6 inches. 

There should be two outside doors located at least 12 feet apart from each other on single-wide units and 20 feet apart in double-wide units. All bedrooms—each with 50 square feet of floor space if meant for an individual and 70 square feet if meant for two individuals—are supposed to have a minimum of one window and easy access to the outside doorway. Lastly, all rooms, including the kitchen and bathrooms, should be well-ventilated and habitable. 

Fire alarms and fire retardant materials are mandatory in living rooms, above each stairwell, and in the basement. The HUD guidelines also cover electrical requirements, criteria for heating and cooling units, standards of insulation, wind and snow loads, and roof pitch and shingle types for all manufactured homes. 

Take help from Jaco Sales, LLC.

If you want to buy a manufactured home in Montgomery, AL, Jaco Sales, LLC. has got your back. Serving the people of central Alabama and the surrounding area for more than 15 years, we pride ourselves on offering the most affordable and high-quality manufactured homes. 

Want some assistance in purchasing a new manufactured home? Call us at (334) 283-1017 to learn more about our services.