Manufactured Homes (AYU July 2023)
Question: What is considered a “manufactured home” in Virginia and how do you identify it?
Answer (from Associate Counsel Hayden-Anne Breedlove): “Manufactured housing” in Virginia is defined in the VA. Code § 36-85.16 and therefore by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) as follows:
- Transportable in one or more sections.
- Eight body feet or more in width and 40 body feet or more in length in the traveling mode, or when erected on site, is 320 or more square feet.
- Built on a permanent chassis.
- Designed to be used as a single-family dwelling, with or without a permanent foundation, when connected to the required utilities (including plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems contained in the structure)
- Constructed to federal standards.
HOW TO IDENTIFY A MANUFACTURED HOME*
To identify whether a property is considered a manufactured home, look for certain physical markers:
- Data Plate: this gives us make, model, year, VIN and HUD label number.
- This is noticeable by the picture of the United States Map
- Should be affixed to the tail-light end of each transportable section
- Usually found glued inside cabinets in kitchen or bathrooms or inside the wall of a closet. Can be near the electrical box inside the home.
- HUD Label Number: this number certifies the home was constructed and inspected by HUD.
- Approximately two by four inches painted red aluminum metal plat with HUD number etched into it. This is permanently attached to the outside of each unit.
- There will be a different HUD number for each transportable section. A doublewide will have two different numbers followed by “A” and “B”.
- What if the Data Plate and/or HUD label is missing?
- The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) maintains data regarding the required certification label numbers and data plates for manufactured homes, which can be found here: https://www.ibts.org/what-we-do/verification-letter-certificate/
- IBTS may be able to provide a copy of the data plate/compliance certificate if your home has certification numbers. If a copy is not available, they can provide a substitute Performance Verification Certificate based on the original destination of the home.
- Find VIN Number: These are cold-stamped into the metal on the front metal cross number or tow bar.
* Thanks to Michele R. Freemyers of Leggett, Simon, Freemyers & Lyon, PLC Fredericksburg, VA for this information.