| Summary |
Current law regulates the manufacturers, sellers, and installers of
manufactured homes. This regulation includes requirements for the
installation of manufactured homes, contract and disclosure requirements,
and the registration, escrow, reimbursement, bonding, and inspections of
the manufacturers, installers, and sellers. In addition, the state housing
board (board) sets standards for the proper manufacture and installation
of manufactured homes. The board consults with an advisory committee
when promulgating rules.
The bill adds tiny homes, which are typically manufactured, to this
regulation on substantially similar terms. This includes adding 2
representatives of the tiny home industry to the advisory committee. The
board is given the duty to regulate foundations for manufactured homes
and factory-built structures where no construction standards otherwise
exist.
In addition to adding tiny homes to these provisions, the bill
addresses tiny home regulation in the following manner:
• The board shall promulgate rules establishing specific
standards for tiny homes. When the national or
international standard is created, the board may use that
standard. The board may modify these standards as
necessary.
• The board shall establish standards for connecting a tiny
home to utilities, including water, sewer, natural gas, and
electricity;
• A local government may require the inspection of a tiny
home manufactured before July 1, 2023, if the tiny home is
not manufactured in accordance with the board's standards;
• A state electrical inspector or a local government may
approve the connection of a tiny home for electric utility
service if the tiny home is in compliance with applicable
codes and standards for connection for electric utility
service; and
• A state plumbing inspector or a local government may
approve the connection of a tiny home for water, gas, or
sewer utility service if the tiny home is in compliance with
applicable codes and standards for connection for water,
gas, or sewer utility service.
If a tiny home is approved for connection to utilities through the
process described above, the tiny home may be connected to the
appropriate utilities. Current law governing the connection to each utility
is amended to avoid conflicts with the process established in the bill.
Selling or installing a tiny home without complying with the bill
is declared a deceptive trade practice, which subjects a violator to
damages in a lawsuit, a class 1 misdemeanor, and civil penalties of:
• Up to $20,000 per violation;
• Up to $10,000 for violating a court order or injunction; and
• Up to $50,000 per violation if the victim is an elderly
person.
Current law regulates mobile home parks, including notice
requirements, lease termination limits and requirements, security deposit
regulations, entry fee prohibitions, antitrust prohibitions, selling fee
prohibitions, kickback prohibitions, retaliation prohibitions, regulation of
how and if park rules are established, a right of first refusal when the
owner wants to sell the mobile home park, a peaceful enjoyment right,
and remedy provisions. The bill includes tiny homes under these
provisions.
Current law exempts manufactured homes from sales and use tax.
The bill adds tiny homes to this exemption.
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