MHC News 07/15/2025
From zoning reform in Virginia to installer training in Arizona, and bill revisions in D.C.—manufactured housing policy is shifting fast. Here’s what to know.
MHARR Provides Washington D.C. Updates on Affordable Manufactured Housing Bills-Challenges-Enforcement Woes - Lakeland, FL Patch
The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) is actively engaging on key Congressional bills aimed at expanding affordable manufactured housing.
Housing Supply Frameworks Act (HSFA) – Introduced as H.R. 2840/S. 1299, this bipartisan legislation seeks to ease zoning barriers and promote a variety of housing types—including manufactured housing—while providing planning resources to states and localities. MHARR supports its goals but has raised concerns about ambiguous language that could unintentionally limit HUD Code manufactured homes. They submitted detailed amendments to ensure federal preemption, clear definitions, and recognition of manufactured homes as affordable housing, not merely "attainable" units.
Draft Manufactured Housing Bills – MHARR is also monitoring two pending House bills. One aims to make the chassis requirement optional, facilitating multi‑story HUD homes. The other seeks to centralize regulatory authority under the HUD Secretary. While supportive in principle, MHARR is recommending refinements to avoid negative impacts.
Their actions aim to safeguard both the industry's integrity and access to truly affordable manufactured homes.
Fairfax County to update rules for preserving and developing manufactured homes -FFXnow
Fairfax County, Virginia is preparing its first major zoning rewrite for manufactured home communities since 1978. The proposed changes, expected by year-end, aim to guide future development and protect the 1,770 households across seven parks—mostly located along the Route 1 corridor.
The plan builds on a 2021 Manufactured Housing Task Force report, emphasizing manufactured homes as vital affordable housing. While current communities would be grandfathered in, the new rules would influence redevelopment, require one-to-one unit replacement, and mandate relocation assistance for displaced residents.
Proposed updates include increasing density from 6 to 10 units per acre, boosting parking requirements to two spaces per home, and revising setback rules. County staff and supervisors stressed these changes won’t affect existing residents directly but aim to preserve affordability and encourage ownership pathways.
The initiative underscores Fairfax’s broader commitment to protecting mobile home residents from displacement amid redevelopment pressures, with further community engagement planned to ensure clarity and transparency.
Arizona Raises the Bar on Manufactured Home Installation - Manufactured Homes
The Manufactured Housing Industry of Arizona (MHIA) recently hosted a two‑day Authorized Installer Training at Cavco and Clayton factory sites, aimed at over 100 licensed and aspiring manufactured home installers.
The comprehensive program combined classroom instruction with hands-on demonstrations in:
Correct anchoring and tie‑down techniques
Proper skirting methods
Safe utility hookups
HUD Code compliance
Guidance was provided by Arizona Department of Housing officials and manufacturer experts, all to enhance installation safety, quality, and customer service.
Participants received certificates, shared best practices, and honed troubleshooting skills—showcasing how targeted training, with collaboration between industry, builders, and regulators, can quickly raise professional standards.
These efforts are significant for the manufactured housing sector: they build consumer confidence, reduce warranty issues, and help expand the installation workforce. MHIA’s initiative serves as a successful blueprint for other states looking to improve quality control and installer professionalism in manufactured home communities.