Effective date of HUD rule on Onsite Completion of Construction of Manufactured Homes

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has published a final rule [80 FR 53712] establishing a procedure whereby construction of new manufactured housing that is substantially completed in the factory can be completed at the installation site, rather than in the plant. Before this rule, a manufacturer would first be required to obtain HUD approval for on-site completion of each of its designs using the alternate construction provisions of HUD's regulations. This final rule simplifies this process by establishing uniform procedures by which manufacturers may complete construction of their homes at the installation site without having to obtain advance approval from HUD.

The rule applies only to the completion of homes subject to the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, not to the installation of homes subject to the Model Manufactured Home Installation Standards. Moreover, this final rule would not apply when a major section of a manufactured home is to be constructed on-site. The rule becomes effective March 7, 2016.