It’s easy to become overwhelmed while researching the process of moving a mobile or manufactured home. Researching how to get a permit to move a mobile home and how to find a mobile home moving company can be tasking. Thousands of individuals successfully relocate their mobile homes each year, and you can too if you do proper research.
The transportation of these manufactured homes requires more than just a vehicle. So, are you prepared to relocate your mobile home? We’ll review the key information you need to know before getting your permit. Use the tips below to ensure everything is in order before getting a moving permit and avoid common mishaps.
Do You Need a Permit Before You Move a Mobile Home?
Yes! Nearly every state mandates that you get permission to relocate your mobile home to a different property. Most mobile home movers will get these licenses on your behalf if you engage them.
Your manufactured home cannot be simply picked up and moved whenever you want to. The state or county where you reside will determine the specific procedure for acquiring a moving permit for a manufactured home.
However, you will probably need to give the following information:
A declaration from the county treasurer that the property has no outstanding or past-due taxes.
A copy of the property’s certificate of title or the original certificate of title. On the other hand, a copy of the application for a certificate of title that you’ve submitted to your state’s department of motor vehicles can also be accepted by some counties.
Give yourself plenty of time to get your permit in order before your move, just as you would whenever you deal with your local municipal government. You don’t want sluggish paperwork or approvals to ruin your moving day.
Make sure you call the local permission office and inquire about the permits you need, for example, electrical, plumbing, gas connection, etc. Professional movers frequently take care of this process for you, but in the event that they don’t, you must make sure you handle it.
How to Get a Permit to Move a Mobile Home
1. Get the Necessary Information Needed for a Mobile Home Moving Permit Application
Although the information needed for the application may differ depending on the country or state, the most common ones required for a mobile home relocation include:
Name and address of the mobile or manufactured home
Date of purchase or the day of construction
Location of where you’re moving the mobile home to.
The model, make, size, and serial number of the manufactured home
Tax location decal to prove your taxes are up to date
Once you have all the necessary information, make the application and wait for the approval. The wait time may differ from one region to another.
2. Contact the Building Commissioner in the Town You’re Relocating
The age and construction code requirements, as well as any zoning restrictions, ultimately rely on where you’re moving to.
Before you choose the location you want to go to and which moving company you want to hire, get in touch with the local building commissioner. They can give you any information you need during the process of moving a mobile home.
The laws governing building standards and property age may be more strict in the city or municipality where you’re moving than in your present one. There are almost probably specific zoning regulations that you must follow.
Expect to put in some extra effort to prove your manufactured house’s structural and system integrity if it is older than 10 or 15 years. Modern building regulations exist for a purpose, and if your property doesn’t meet the standards, there is no going around them.
3. Get Your County Treasurer Certificate and Title Certificate
These records attest to your ownership of the property and the absence of any outstanding tax liabilities. Before transferring the structure, you must settle any taxes you may owe.
Your moving company should be able to assist you in collecting and sending out the documents necessary to receive your moving permit.
4. Find an Insured Professional Moving Company
It is required by law to use a licensed mover to transport a mobile home. However, one can hire a truck driver instead of a moving company.
To determine whether the moving company is the best candidate for the position, it may be necessary to conduct brief interviews or ask for recommendations.
It is most preferable to have the moving company dismantle the heavy furniture and electronics to prevent causing significant damage. However, this process cannot be started until a moving date is set and both parties have agreed to the specific time.
A certified electrician and plumber can also assist with this task. They can be found through referrals from reliable individuals or businesses.
Understanding the rules is the most important thing to know about the area one is moving to. This will help the homeowner adjust and help them decide if the park is the ideal place to stay.
5. Notify Your Mobile Home Park Manager
You must inform your park manager of your move if you live in a mobile home park. Check your rental agreement to learn how much notice you must give and how to do it.
Usually, you must provide written notification of your relocation intention at least 30 days before your move.
The rental agreement for the manufactured home should include details like your security deposit, the elements that will determine how much you get back, and how long the park manager should take to pay you back.
You may have ample time to make any repairs to the property required to receive the deposit back in full if you review this information in advance.
What Factors Affect the Moving Permit of Mobile Homes?
1. HUD codes
The HUD codes aren’t guidelines for only mobile homes but also other homes as well. They are legal requirements for listing any manufactured home, even the ones constructed before the codes were implemented.
You won’t likely be able to transfer your manufactured home if it was built before the HUD standards were implemented in 1976.
Additionally, most local governments support this rule with their own age restrictions and stringent guidelines for current building codes for houses and their internal systems.
A manufactured home constructed in the 1970s, 1980s, or even 1990s might not pass under those requirements.
2. Size
Both single-section and multi-section mobile houses come in a variety of sizes. It might be impossible to transfer your mobile home in one piece if it is larger than one part.
A double-wide mobile home can be moved; all you need to do is make sure the movers you employ are competent, reliable, and capable of doing it safely.
Professional movers often inspect your mobile home, take off the skirting, and then divide it into two or three portions as it was built in order to move larger houses. Obviously, you’ll need to have a higher moving budget for a large home.
The rules in each state are normally known to license and insured movers, so they should be able to obtain the required transportation licenses on your behalf.
3. Moving Company
Most people believe that when relocating a manufactured home, finding a mobile home transport should be the very first task on your list. It’s actually the last. Most movers won’t let you reserve their services before you get your moving permit.
This is because before you do this, they often won’t be able to help you lawfully in any way. However, a professional moving company could be able to assist you with some of the legal elements.
Before performing any of the two procedures above, it could be worthwhile to check their website or get in touch with them if you already know who you want to hire. It will save you effort if they can assist you in obtaining permissions or at least walk you through the procedure.
4. Location
This applies to both the labor-intensive activity and the quantity of gas the vehicle would need to travel between two locations.
Even if the driver wanted to travel faster, the weight of a mobile home would force them to slow down. Another factor in this is the price of the machinery required to manage the distance.
5. Weight
The weight of mobile homes varies, most of the time based on their age. Newer prefabricated homes frequently weigh between 40 and 45 lbs. per square foot, whereas older mobile homes typically weigh between 35 and 40 lbs.
Thus, a house of only 800 square feet may weigh as much as 40,000 pounds. More materials and moving tools will be required the heavier your mobile home is. Sometimes, the permit might be hard to get for homes with a very high weight.
6. Inspection
Inspections may need to be done if your mobile home is being moved to a different county or state. In rare circumstances, you might even need permissions for each area the moving vehicle passes through or enters.
Before the move, experienced movers should be able to assist you in obtaining these permits; however, this will add to the final cost. This guarantees that every mobile home is secure and up to code.
7. Insurance and Liability
Liability insurance for the move should be purchased if you’re hiring professional movers. This is a mandatory requirement in some states.
If you already have mobile home insurance, you should contact your provider to find out if relocations of mobile homes are covered. If not, you might get additional insurance or purchase liability coverage to cover any possible damage.
8. Overall Condition
The condition and age of a mobile home will determine whether you can get a permit to move and how much you will need to spend to move.
Before taking damaged manufactured homes on the road, the movers would need to set aside time to address these issues. In addition, getting a permit to move a mobile home is a bit difficult for an old home.
Mistakes to Avoid When Getting a Move Permit
Not doing proper research when it comes to zoning laws and restrictions. You need to comply with the local zoning laws.
Not getting proper permits. To get the proper permits needed for manufactured homes, you should seek help from your moving company and be willing to disclose all the information the authorities need.
When it comes to deciding the best moving company, avoid scams that will only mislead you when it comes to permits. Look for reviews, ask for recommendations from family and friends, and do proper research.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Mobile Homes Permits
1. Do mobile home parks have different rules?
The park bylaws, zoning, building requirements, and other laws and restrictions differ for most mobile home parks. If you were unaware of the state’s requirements, you should consult as you don’t want to end up paying a charge or getting into trouble.
While your mobile home moving business should know the licenses and certifications you require, it’s also crucial to do your own research.
2. Can moving companies help you get moving permits?
Yes. Working with experts who do it regularly has the benefit of reducing the difficulty of obtaining permits. For example, moving firms for mobile homes know how to acquire all relevant licenses for your new location.
You’ll need to ensure the title certificate, paid taxes, etc., are in order, then the mobile home moving business should handle the rest.
3. Will my mobile home movers need a police escort?
Different states have different regulations for the transportation of oversized cargo. Your professional movers may require a police escort in some circumstances.
