The three wind zones for mobile homes are noted with Roman Numerals: I, II, and III. Most of the U.S. is in Zone I, with coastal and southern, hurricane-prone areas upgraded to Zones II (rated to withstand 100-mph winds) and III (up to 110-mph winds). See the map below for a general idea of the location of each zone. 

    All of the counties in Florida are in Zone II, except the following Zone III counties, which are primarily South Florida, plus two counties at the bump-out in the Panhandle Gulf coastline: Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Dade, Franklin, Gulf, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Manatee, Monroe, Palm Beach, Pinellas, and Sarasota.

    You should expect to pay several thousand dollars per step to upgrade to each higher wind zone. And, although you can’t place a mobile home constructed to Zone I standards in Zone II, you can upgrade to higher than the required rating: Zone II homes can be sited in Zone I (although there is no Zone I in Florida), and Zone III homes can be put in Zone II.

   Want a sturdier mobile home? Upgrade to the next higher wind zone rating. If you are checking out a used mobile home, the wind zone rating is noted on the home’s data plate. Click on the link below to How do I find out how old a mobile home is and who manufactured it? to find out where to find the data plate.

   There is also a special category for manufactured homes to be sited within 1500 feet of the coastline in hurricane-prone areas of the country. It’s called a “D-sticker” home, and means that it has been designed to meet the wind resistance requirement of ASCE 7-88,  Exposure D—which is a standard referenced in the HUD Code. To learn more, see our blog post What is a D-sticker mobile home? 

Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES:

• Where can I file a complaint if I have problems with my new or used manufactured/mobile home in Florida?

• What are the most common defects in mobile/manufactured home foundation piers?

• How do I determine the age of a very old mobile home?

• What is a "HUD label verification letter" for a mobile/manufactured home?  

• When did a ground cover vapor barrier (plastic sheet) become required under a mobile/manufactured home? 

• Is it safe to go under a mobile home? 

• Are older mobile homes unsafe? 

• What do I need to know about buying a foreclosed mobile home? 

• Does it make sense to buy an older mobile home and remodel it? 

• Where do I find the vehicle identification number (VIN) on a mobile home? 

• What is the right price for a used mobile home?

• How energy efficient is a mobile home?

• When were the first double-wide mobile homes manufactured?

• How do I upgrade my old (pre-1976) mobile home to meet HUD standards?

• What size air conditioner is right for my mobile home? 

• Can you move an older mobile home in Florida? 

• What does the HUD tag look like and where do I find it on a mobile home? 

• Can you put a zone 1 mobile home in Florida?

• How can I remove water under my mobile home?

• What's the differences between a trailer, a mobile home, a manufactured home, and a modular home? 

 • What are the tie-down requirements for a mobile home?

• How fireproof is a mobile home?  

• Can I install a mobile home myself?

• What is a Park Model mobile home?  

• Does an addition to a mobile home have to comply with the HUD Code? 

• What walls can I remove in a mobile home?

• What can I do to prevent dampness and mold in my mobile home? 

• How can I tell if a mobile home is well constructed?

• How can I tell the difference between a manufactured home and a modular home?

       Visit our MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES  page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.  

Photo - FEMA, Marvin Nauman