Manufactured Housing
What is Manufactured Housing?
Manufactured housing, also referred to as factory-built housing, is housing that is prefabricated offsite and then relocated to the final site. Manufactured housing encompasses a variety of types that include, but are not limited to: modular houses, mini-homes, mobile homes, micro apartments, and ADUs. Manufactured housing can reduce material and design costs, making it more affordably priced than traditional stick-built housing; they also reduce risk for developers and limit problems created by labor shortages. However, shipping costs can increase the cost of manufactured housing and nearby supply chains need to be present for manufactured housing to be feasible.
Approaches Met
Develop housing options for seniors to age-in-community
Manufactured housing presents a diverse housing type for seniors. Manufactured housing units can be organized into senior living communities.
Create a range of price options for housing
Manufactured homes are lower cost options to other housing types.
Make it Happen
- Municipalities can plan for manufactured housing through planning policies, zoning ordinance standards, subdivision and land development ordinance provisions, design guidelines, and public education. Careful evaluation of municipal zoning language should be undertaken to ensure zoning barriers to implementing manufactured housing is minimized.
- As noted, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) requires municipalities to identify and zone land appropriate for mobile home parks. Local regulations should address appropriate standards in conformity to federal standards without creating unintended barriers for the development of mobile home parks.
Manufactured Housing in Practice
Chester County Ordinances
West Pikeland and Phoenixville have created ordinances for mobile homes which can be used as model ordinances.
Green Pastures Senior Cooperative, Oregon
Residents own the mobile home land in a cooperative format. The mobile home park is age-restricted.
Find Out More
- Mobile Home Parks eTool, Chester County Planning Commission A guide for promoting well-designed mobile home parks.
- APA Policy Guide on Factory Built Housing, American Planning Association A policy guide for planners on factory built housing.