Questionaire

LOCAL REGULATORY PRACTICES AND MANUFACTURED HOMES

Please answer the following questions about your jurisdiction’s practices regarding manufactured homes which we refer to as HUD-Code homes. A manufactured home (formerly known as a mobile home) is built to the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (HUD-Code). Manufactured homes are built in the controlled environment of a manufacturing plant and are transported in one or more sections on a permanent chassis. These questions have been approved by the United States Office of Management and Budget, number xxxxxx, expiration xx/xx/xx. Answering is completely voluntary and information provided will be protected. If you believe there is another person better suited to answer questions on regulations related to manufactured housing, please ask that person to complete this questionnaire. After answering all the questions, please promptly return the questionnaire in the envelope provided. Thank you for your valuable input and time. 

Q1. In the past 5 years has your jurisdiction approved the placement or location of any new HUD-Code homes (please check the answer that best fits)?

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 No  Not Sure,  Not Sure,  Yes

Probably Not Probably Yes

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If you answered Q1 as No or Not Sure, Probably Not:

Q1a. Does your jurisdiction ever allow HUD-Code homes to be used?

 Yes  Rarely  No

If you answered Q1a as Rarely or No, please skip to Q8 at end.

If you answered Q1a as Yes:

Q1b. Please check which one of the following best describes your jurisdiction’s regulations on HUD-Code homes?

 HUD-Code homes are allowed as a by right use in single-family zones, but there have been no requests to locate HUD-Code homes in the past 5 years.

 HUD-Code homes are allowed in single-family zones on a temporary basis or with special or conditional use permits, but there have been no requests to locate HUD-Code homes in the past 5 years.

 HUD-Code homes are restricted to designated “mobile home parks”, communities, or subdivisions, but we haven’t received any proposals for new parks in the past 5 years.

Please skip to Q6.

If you answered Q1 as Yes or Not Sure, Probably Yes, please continue:

Q2. Approximately how many HUD-Code homes have been placed or located in your jurisdiction in the past 5 years?

 1-10  11-20  21-30  31-40  41-50  51-99  100+

Q3. Does your jurisdiction:

1. Restrict HUD-Code homes to special zoning categories such as “mobile home parks”, communities, or subdivisions?  Yes  No

2. Require a special or conditional use permit for HUD-Code homes to be placed or located in single-family zones?  Yes  No

3. Allow HUD-Code homes as a by right use in one or more single-family zones if design standards are met?  Yes  No

4. Allow HUD-Code homes as a by right use in one or more single-family zones subject to the same rules as other housing?  Yes  No

If you answered Yes to #3. above:

Does the planning staff or building department have any discretion in the administration of these design standards?

 No, the standards are fixed and clear.

 Yes, describe ______________________________________________

 Not Applicable

How difficult is it for HUD-Code homes to meet these design standards?

 They are easily met.

 They can be met, but the standards significantly affect unit costs.

 They are hard to meet.

 Not Applicable

Q4. Has your jurisdiction approved any new “parks”, communities, or subdivisions for HUD-Code homes in the past 5 years?

 Yes  No

If Yes, how many “parks”, communities, or subdivisions for HUD-Code homes were approved?

_______________ (please write in the number)

Q5. Approximately what proportion of HUD-Code homes placed or located in your jurisdiction in past 5 years have been in:

HUD-Code parks, communities, or subdivisions?

 0-24%  25-49%  50-74%  75-89% 90%+  Don’t Know

In-fill in older single-family neighborhoods?

 0-24%  25-49%  50-74%  75-89% 90%+  Don’t Know

New single-family subdivisions (not restricted HUD-Code homes)?

 0-24%  25-49%  50-74%  75-89% 90%+  Don’t Know

Q6. Does your jurisdiction require a special or conditional use permit or other permit if HUD-Code homes are placed or located in single-family zones (other than designated mobile home parks, communities, and subdivisions)?

 Yes  No

Q7. Does your jurisdiction promote the use of HUD-Code homes through any special incentives or programs?

 Yes  No (Please skip to Q8)

If you answered Yes to Q7:

Are these incentives or programs targeted to redevelopment or in-fill?

 Yes  No  Not Applicable

If Yes, please describe the incentives used:__________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Do you use Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME or other federal funding in these programs?

 Yes  No  Not Applicable

Of the HUD-Code homes placed or located in your jurisdiction in the past 5 years, what percentage of homes were placed in areas targeted by these programs?

 Less than half  50%-74%  75-89%  90%+  Don’t Know  Not Applicable

Q8. For your jurisdiction, please rate the following potential barriers to HUD-Code homes (please check one box per barrier):

Not Not a Minor Significant Prevent

Applicable Barrier Barrier Barrier HUD-Code

Homes

Fees   1  2  3  4

Permits   1  2  3  4

Deed restrictions/covenants   1  2  3  4

Wind standards   1  2  3  4

Snow load standards   1  2  3  4

Fire codes   1  2  3  4

Zoning codes   1  2  3  4

Subdivision regulations   1  2  3  4

Architectural design standards   1  2  3  4

Citizen opposition   1  2  3  4

Environmental regulations   1  2  3  4

Historic district regulations   1  2  3  4

High land costs   1  2  3  4

Not much land (built-out)   1  2  3  4

No new HUD-Code parks,

communities, or subdivisions

approved   1  2  3  4

Insufficient demand for

HUD-Code homes   1  2  3  4

THANK YOU! Please make sure you have answered all the questions and return the questionnaire in the business reply envelope provided (no postage required) or, if envelope misplaced, to:

Casey Dawkins, Ph.D.

Center for Housing Research, Mail Code 0451

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia 24061

Optional: To receive the results of this survey, provide your email or mailing address:

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