There are two levels of possible restrictions for locating a mobile home on a particular site that is not inside a mobile home park. The first is the local zoning for the land. Because of the bad name that mobile homes acquired in the past, many counties and cities have limited or no zoning designations where a mobile home can be sited. Although the quality of the homes has improved dramatically over the past decades, especially since HUD took over supervision of their construction in 1976, there is still a slowly fading stigma attached to mobile homes and their owners. Popular TV comedy shows like My Name is Earl and, even worse, Trailer Park Boys, that perpetuate that tawdry image certainly don’t help either.

    After checking to confirm that the county or city zoning allows a mobile home on the site that you want, the second hurdle is to get a copy of any deed restrictions if the land is part of a subdivision. And it’s good idea to read them very carefully, because even subdivisions that allow mobile homes often place restrictions on the minimum size and maximum age allowed. One that we know of in a country lakeside subdivision disallows older homes by not accepting ones with metal siding. Also, occasionally zoning or homeowner association standards change and, although a mobile home is currently located on the site, you may not be allowed to replace it with a new mobile home in the future.

   If you are moving a used mobile home to a new location, the local jurisdiction may require an inspection report on the condition of the home by a private inspector or an inspector with the local building department before allowing the home to be relocated. To read more about this issue, see our blog post “Can you move a mobile home that is 20 years old in Florida?” Also, if you are buying a mobile home to be moved to a new homesite, a moved home typically will not qualify for a mortgage from major national sources, even if just a few years old. So be sure to find your financing before proceeding with the deal.

    Also see our blog post Are mobile homes well built?

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Want to learn more about inspecting
manufactured/mobile homes? 
Get our  Handbook for 
Manufactured Home Inspectors 
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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? 

• 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? 

• 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.