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HUD Proposes Manufactured Home Updates to Address Affordable Housing Concerns

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has announced proposals for updating the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards [1], commonly referred to as the “HUD Code.” “Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards” was published in the Federal Register [2], and marks the largest set of changes to the HUD Code in more than 20 years.

The aim of the proposals is to foster the Biden Administration’s goal of expanding the supply of manufactured housing as a component of its efforts to address the nation’s housing supply challenges.

“Manufactured homes are an important element of the nation’s affordable housing supply,” said HUD Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner Julia R. Gordon [3]. “These proposed updates, when final, will help to expand the availability of safe and affordable homes that align with current design trends and construction methods.”

Containing new and updated standards, including 88 standards incorporated by reference, the Proposed Rule [2] will bring the HUD Code in line with more recent manufactured housing industry standards, and further improve the quality and safety of manufactured home construction.

Key proposed additions and updates included in the Proposed Rule will allow:

When finalized, the updates contained in the Proposed Rule will enact a significant number of recommendations made by the federally-mandated Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC). Further, the updates will eliminate the need for manufacturers to obtain alternative construction approvals for frequently requested features and materials that already meet or exceed HUD standards.

The MHCC is a Federal Advisory Committee body [4] charged with providing recommendations to HUD’s Secretary on the revision and interpretation of HUD's manufactured home construction and safety standards, and related procedural and enforcement regulations. The MHCC is charged with developing proposed model installation standards for the manufactured housing industry. By regulation, HUD has included the MHCC in the process of revising the Manufactured Home Model Installation Standards, Installation Program Regulations, and Dispute Resolution Program regulations.

The proposed updates are available for public comment for 60 days [2]. Comments must be submitted via the methods described in the Proposed Rule.