HUD Finalizes Key Step in Expanding Availability of Affordable Manufacturing Housing

HUD No. 21-005 HUD Public Affairs [phone]

FOR RELEASE Tuesday January 19, 2021

HUD FINALIZES KEY STEP IN EXPANDING AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE MANUFACTURING HOUSING
Final rule published today updates Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards to eliminate decades-old regulatory barriers while protecting safety

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development published a final rule on January 12, 2021 in the Federal Register which revises the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974. The final rule represents the first substantive update to the Standards in almost a decade. The changes are designed to eliminate outdated regulatory barriers that have been an impediment to expanding the availability of this affordable housing type while protecting the safety of manufactured housing.

'This is another example of the sweeping changes this Administration has implemented to address the nation's affordable housing challenges,' said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. 'By eliminating the unnecessary red-tape barriers for manufactured housing, we're paving the way for more American families to benefit from the financial stability of homeownership.'

'Secretary Carson has been a champion of safe and affordable manufactured housing since he arrived at HUD. It's thanks to his leadership and dedication that today we have removed so many of the impediments to supplying this affordable homeownership option for the nation's working families,' said Assistant Secretary for Housing Dana Wade.

The final rule includes removing the requirement for manufacturers to submit approval for certain alternative construction features and adding requirements for carbon monoxide alarms in manufactured housing. In addition, the rule:

• Modernizes code provisions and allows for more optimal use of manufactured housing in urban areas, including Opportunity Zones;
• Adds provisions for manufactured homes designed for structures desired by consumers, such as attached garages and carports; and
• Includes provisions for design of attached manufactured homes such as zero-lot-line, townhome style housing, which increases design flexibility, reduces regulatory burden and expands consumer choice.