Chapter 15.18
MOBILE HOMES AND MANUFACTURED HOMES

Sections:

15.18.010    General installation requirements.

15.18.020    Installation permits.

15.18.030    Permit fees.

15.18.040    Inspections.

15.18.050    Building site preparation.

15.18.060    Foundation system footings.

15.18.070    Foundation skirting.

15.18.010 General installation requirements.

A.  All mobile homes and manufactured homes shall be installed in compliance with Chapter 296-150M WAC which is incorporated into this chapter by this reference.

B.  All mobile homes and manufactured homes shall have permanent landings with permanent steps or inclined planes provided at all entrances and shall have the tow tongue removed except that in identified floodplain areas it may be camouflaged to the extent that it is unrecognizable.

C.  In those areas that are recognized as floodplain by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, all manufactured homes must be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement, and shall be installed using methods and practices that minimize flood damage.  Anchoring methods may include, but are not limited to, use of over-the-top or frame ties to ground anchors (reference FEMA’s “Manufactured Home Installation in Flood Hazard Areas” guidebook for additional techniques).  All manufactured homes shall have the lowest floor elevated to or above the base flood elevation and shall be securely anchored to an adequately anchored foundation system.  In those areas that are recognized as hazardous because of the probability of earthquakes, the building official may set requirements that are necessary to lessen the hazard or may require that the installation be designed by an engineer or architect licensed in the state of Washington.  (Ord. 1142(part), 2006)

15.18.020 Installation permits.

Any person who installs a manufactured home must obtain an installation permit from the Yakima County permit services division before they install a manufactured home that will be used as a residence on a building site.  A dealer may not deliver a manufactured home to its site without verifying that an installation permit for the manufactured home has been obtained.

A.  The applicant must provide the following information on the application for the permit:

1.  The names, address, and telephone number of the owner.

2.  The manufacturer and dealer of the manufactured home to be installed.

3.  The title to the manufactured home showing manufacturer, serial number and date of manufacture of the mobile home.

4.  The names, address, and telephone number of the certified installer, and the certified installer’s certification number.

5.  The address or location of the proposed building site, including the parcel number if the manufactured home is going to be installed on private property and not in a mobile home park.

6.  Mobile homes which do not meet the applicable H.U.D. manufactured housing standards of June 15, 1976, must pass a fire safety inspection performed by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Mobile Home Division before an installation permit will be issued.

B.  If the manufactured home will be installed on private property, and not in a mobile home park, the application must provide a detailed site plan drawn to scale showing the relationship of the manufactured home to property lines, right-of-way, access and/or utility easements, other structures, and utilities.  (Ord. 1142(part), 2006)

15.18.030 Permit fees.

Permit fees shall be as established in Chapter 15.40 of this code.  An additional fee equal to and in addition to the permit fee shall be assessed if any manufactured home is installed or delivered to the installation site prior to the issuance of the permit by the building official.  The payment of any such additional fee shall not relieve any person, firm, or corporation from fully complying with any of the applicable requirements or provisions otherwise required by law.  (Ord. 1142(part), 2006)

15.18.040 Inspections.

A.  The installer shall request inspections at each stage of the installation as required by the building official.

B.  The building official shall approve the installation of a manufactured home, and allow the manufactured home to be occupied if the installation complies with the installation requirements of this chapter and the conditions of the installation permit.

If the installation does not comply with the installation requirements of this chapter and the conditions of the installation permit, the building official shall provide the installer with a list of corrections that the installer must make.  The list of corrections shall state a date by which the corrections must be completed.  The building official shall reinspect the installation after the corrections are completed.  If the items that require correction do not endanger the health or safety of the occupants, or substantially affect the habitability of the manufactured home, the building official may permit the owner of the manufactured home to occupy it.  (Ord. 1142(part), 2006)

15.18.050 Building site preparation.

A manufactured home may not be installed at a building site unless the ground at the site has adequate load-bearing ability to meet the support requirements of Section 15.18.060.  A manufactured home site must be prepared per the manufacturer’s installation manual or per ANSI A225.1--1994 Edition, Section 3.  The installer or, if the building site is in a mobile home park, the park owner must ensure that the ground on which the manufactured home is to be installed has been improved as necessary to provide a proper base for the manufactured home and that the area beneath the manufactured home has adequate drainage.  To provide adequate drainage, the installer may need to slope the finish grade or install drain tile.  (Ord. 1142(part), 2006)

15.18.060 Foundation system footings.

Foundation system footings shall comply with the requirements of Section 4, Foundations, of ANSI 225.1--1994.  (Ord. 1142(part), 2006)

15.18.070 Foundation skirting.

A manufactured home shall have approved foundation skirting around its entire perimeter.  The skirting shall be installed per the manufacturer’s installation or if the manufacturer is not specific, to the standards of this section.  The skirting must be vented and allow access to the under floor area per the manufacturer’s installation instructions or per the standards in this section.  Skirting must be of materials suitable for ground contact.  Metal fasteners must be galvanized, stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant material.  Ferrous metal members in contact with the earth, other than those that are galvanized or stainless steel, must be coated with an asphaltic emulsion.  Skirting must not be attached in such a manner that can cause water to be trapped between the skirting and the siding or trim.  The skirting must be recessed behind the siding or trim.

The skirting must be vented as follows except for manufactured homes sited in a flood hazard area.  Skirting must be vented by openings protected from the entrance of rodents by being covered with corrosion-resistant wire mesh with openings of one-quarter-inch in dimension.  Such openings must have a net free area of not less than one square foot for each one hundred fifty square feet of under floor area.  Ventilation openings must be located as close to corners and as high as practical.  Openings must be located to provide cross-ventilation on at least two opposite sides.  (Ord. 1142(part), 2006)