The requirement for a plate installed at each tie-down anchor was part of the major changes to Florida’s Rule15C-1 for mobile home installation, which became effective on March 29th, 1999. The plates can be steel or ABS plastic, minimum of 180 square inches of surface area, and must be approved by the Florida Division of Motorist Services, Manufactured Housing Section. Steel plates should be hot-dip zinc galvanized at 0.60 ounces per square foot or zinc coated. While the specs are important, the most one thing is to be sure to confirm is that the specific manufacturer’s product you use is Florida-approved. Stabilizer plates are not required at vertical tie-downs that do not have a diagonal/frame tie attached (diagonal load).

    And for a listing of typical foundation and tie-down requirements and defects, see our blog post What are the most common defects in mobile/manufactured home foundation piers? and What are the tie-down requirements for a 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?

• 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? 

• How do I find out how old a mobile home is and who manufactured it?

• 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 is a D-sticker 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.