[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 86 (Monday, May 5, 1997)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 24337-24338] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-11535] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 24 CFR Parts 3280 and 3282 [Docket No. FR-4223-N-01] Manufactured Housing: Statement of Policy 1997-1, State and Local Zoning Determinations Involving HUD-Code AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner, HUD. ACTION: Statement of policy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This Statement of Policy provides notice to the public concerning HUD's application of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (Act) to certain zoning decisions being made by State or local government. These cases typically involve State or local actions to prohibit the siting of HUD- code manufactured housing while permitting the siting of other types of manufactured housing built to State or local building codes. If a locality is attempting to regulate and even exclude certain manufactured homes through zoning enforcement that is based solely on a construction and safety code different than that prescribed by the Act, the locality is without authority to do so. This Statement of Policy is being provided to clarify and distribute HUD's existing policy determination concerning this matter. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David R. Williamson, Director, Office of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th St. SW, Room 9152, Washington, D.C. 20410-8000), telephone number (202) 708-6409 (this is not a toll-free number). For hearing-and speech-impaired persons, this number may be accessed via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Over the last few years, HUD has received a number of questions concerning the application of the Federal preemption authority in the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5401-5426) (Act) to actions by State or local government. HUD recently published a nonbinding notice of staff guidance, which it hoped would assist the public on some of these questions (62 FR 3456, January 23, 1997). In certain cases involving questions of preemption and zoning, the State or local government is imposing more limitations on the placement of manufactured homes that are built to the Federal manufactured home construction and safety standards (24 CFR part 3282) (Federal standards) than on other types of factory-built single family housing. In the past, HUD has sent letters to various communities in such cases, where local zoning laws are in direct conflict with the Federal Act and regulations. II. Increasing Homeownership and the Supply and Availability of Affordable Housing The elimination of barriers to the expanded use of affordable housing, including manufactured homes, has been one of the primary objectives of the President's National Homeownership Strategy. HUD coordinates the National Partners in Homeownership, which now has over 60 national organizations participating, including State, county and local governments, and other groups, to identify and promote ways to increase homeownership and the supply of affordable housing. The Strategy includes the following goals and objectives in Action Item 27:The partnership should identify and promote zoning and land development policies that are more conducive to manufactured housing. As part of this initiative, partners should develop model legislation for States and localities to adopt that prohibits exclusion of manufactured housing solely on the basis of HUD certification (manufacturer certification that the home has been constructed to the Federal standards). The partners also should produce design and land development criteria and guidance materials for use by housing developers and local governments, to facilitate inclusion of manufactured housing in their jurisdictions. To supplement these efforts, the partnership should offer a cooperative program of education and technical assistance to encourage nationwide acceptance of the model legislation within 6 years. HUD strongly endorses this Action Item, particularly making available sites for manufactured housing outside of parks and largely rural areas. On March 22, 1996, the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and the American Planning Association (APA) convened a National Partners in Homeownership Forum to discuss zoning and other issues. The Forum drew over 100 attendees including planners, housing-advocacy organizations, and representatives from the manufactured housing industry. The attendees reached an almost unanimous consensus that very real zoning and other regulatory barriers exist that significantly hinder the full use of manufactured housing. The Forum produced a series of recommendations to HUD and the National Partners in Homeownership, including APA and MHI. This Statement of Policy is being issued as an initial step toward the elimination of barriers to the use of manufactured housing and in furtherance of the goals and objectives of the National Homeownership Strategy. III. Requirements of Act and Regulations Section 604(d) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 5403(d), states: Whenever a Federal manufactured home construction and safety standard established under [the Act] is in effect, no State or political subdivision of a State shall have any authority * * * to establish, * * * with respect to any manufactured home covered, any standard regarding construction or safety applicable to the same aspect of performance of such manufactured home which is not identical to the Federal manufactured home construction and safety standard. The term ``manufactured home'' is defined in section 603(6) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 5402(6). In addition, Sec. 3282.11(d) of the Manufactured Home Procedural and Enforcement Regulations (24 CFR part 3282) prohibits any State or locality [[Page 24338]] from establishing and enforcing rules or taking any action that impairs the Federal superintendence of the manufactured home industry. Conversely, section 623(a) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 5422(a)) provides: Nothing in this [Act] shall prevent any State agency or court from asserting jurisdiction under State law over any manufactured home construction or safety issue with respect to which no Federal manufactured home construction and safety standard has been established. * * * IV. Statement of Policy 1997-1 Generally, the adoption and enforcement of a local zoning ordinance regulating the location of manufactured homes has not been subjected to the regulatory authority of the Act because such actions are exercises of the locality's authority to determine proper land use. Under section 604(d) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 5403(d)), however, the locality is without authority to regulate or exclude certain manufactured homes through zoning ordinances or enforcement decisions that are based solely on a construction and safety code that is different from the Federal standards prescribed under the Act. For example, assume two structures are brought into a locality and both structures are: 320 or more square feet when erected on site; built on a permanent chassis; and transported in one or more sections. If the locality only allows the structure that is built to the State or local building code to be sited outside an approved mobile home park, the locality would be acting without authority. If under the local zoning laws the locality accords the same treatment to all structures that meet the Act's definition of a ``Manufactured home'' (42 U.S.C. 5402(6)), the locality is not in conflict with the preemptive provisions of the Act. Therefore, a locality cannot exclude or restrict manufactured homes that meet the Federal standards if the locality accepts manufactured homes meeting other standards. By excluding or restricting only manufactured homes built to the Federal standards and accepting manufactured homes built to State or local codes, the locality is establishing standards for manufactured homes that are different from the Federal standards. To the extent that the provisions or enforcement of local zoning regulations require that manufactured homes meet standards other than the Federal standards for manufactured homes, those local actions are preempted by section 604(d) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 5403(d)). Furthermore, such a system of local regulation and enforcement would interfere with Federal superintendence of the manufactured home industry, in contravention of 24 CFR 3282.11(d). Dated: April 24, 1997. Nicolas P. Retsinas, Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner. [FR Doc. 97-11535 Filed 5-2-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-27-P