The HUD tag is a 2 inch by 4 inch red metal plate riveted to the exterior wall of each section of mobile home. Some folks call it a “HUD Label,” others say  “red tag,” and the official name used by HUD itself is “Certification Label.” Although the HUD tag starts off life bright red, the color gradually fades to pale red, like in the first photo below, and older tags sometimes have no color at all, as in the next photo down. Because everything is etched in the metal, the loss of color does not affect the readability of the tag.

   Here is HUD’s specifications for a tag:

"The Certification Label (also know as a HUD tag) is a metal plate that is affixed to the outside of the manufactured home.  Section 3280.11(b) states, “The label shall be approximately 2 in. by 4 in. in size and shall be permanently attached to the manufactured home by means of 4 blind rivets, drive screws, or other means that render it difficult to remove without defacing it. It shall be etched on 0.32 in. thick aluminum plate. The label number shall be etched or stamped with a 3 letter designation which identifies the production inspection primary inspection agency and which the Secretary shall assign. Each label shall be marked with a 6 digit number which the label supplier shall furnish. The labels shall be stamped with numbers sequentially."

  The tag is located near the bottom of the one of the short sides of a single-wide home, near the corner, and on a long side of each section of a double or triple-wide, also near a corner. Here’s what HUD says:

"The certification label/seal shall be located at the tail-light end of each transportable section of the manufactured home approximately one foot up from the floor and one foot in from the road side, or as near that location on a permanent part of the exterior of the manufactured home unit as practicable. The roadside is the right side of the manufactured home when one views the manufactured home from the tow bar end of the manufactured home."

   If the HUD tag is missing, you can find the HUD number for each section on the data plate inside the home. For more info the mobile home data plate and where to find it, go to our blog ”How do I find out how old a mobile home is and who manufactured it?"

   If you are trying to determine when the mobile home was built and the data plate has been painted over or is missing, there’s still hope. You can submit HUD number from the HUD tag to the Institute for Business Technology and Safety, a HUD contractor that maintains a database back to 1976 of HUD-code manufactured homes. There’s a fee of $100 for a replacement data plate by email, and it will include all the information about the home and date of manufacture. See our blog post ”What is a "HUD data plate/performance certificate" for a mobile/manufactured home?" for details.

    HUD does not issue replacement HUD tags if yours is missing, but you can also get a “letter of label (HUD tag) verification” from the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS). See our blog post ”What is a "HUD label verification letter" for a mobile/manufactured home?" to learn more. 

    Also, here is the full text of the HUD Code (24 CFR 3280) regarding the Certification Label requirements.

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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? 

• 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? 

• 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 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.