This article explains the requirements and data contents in labels or data tags found on mobile homes, trailers, doublewides, and other manufactured housing or cottages. We explain where to find the label or data tag on your home and how to decode its contents.

This article series provides mobile home inspection, troubleshooting & repair procedures, defect lists, & references to standards. We explain where to look for costly or dangerous problems on mobile homes, trailers, or double-wides.

In this article series we address mobile home, trailer, or double wide foundation problems with supporting piers or continuous foundations, slabs, tie-downs, hurricane or wind damage, roll-over prevention, and rot or similar structural damage to walls, floors, roofs.

Manufactured Home Labels & Mobile Home Labels & Manufactured Housing Labels & Certifications

The data tag shown here identifies a 1989 Supreme, a Park Model Trailer in the RV family produced by Northlander Industries, A Canadian company who has produced manufactured homes, cottages, RVs, and trailers since 1964. This tag is on a Canadian RV.

Contacting Northlander with the label's model number and serial number allowed the company to give us details about the construction of this trailer as we discussed with a reader at WINTERIZING the TRAILER below in this article.

At page top is an RPTIA industry sticker used for RV Park Trailers in the U.S. and observed on a trailer in an RV park in southern New Jersey.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Is it a "Mobile Home" or a "Manufactured Home" ?

The term “manufactured home” is the common term used in the industry to describe homes built after June 15, 1976 (the date national building standards were implemented by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The industry currently uses the term “mobile home” to describe homes built prior to implementation of the HUD standards. (U.S. EPA 2011)

Article Contents

• HUD CERTIFICATION LABEL DESCRIPTION & same information on the HUD Data Plate: what does it look like, where is it found
• HUD CERTIFICATION LABEL REGULATIONS
• HUD LABEL SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP / REPLACEMENT SERVICE
• RVIA & RPTIA LABEL vs HUD CERTIFICATION LABEL - what's the difference?
• WINTERIZING CLUES FOUND on HUD or RV LABEL

Label Requirements for Manufactured Homes / Mobile Homes

Photo: an example of the 2" x 4" HUD Certification Label that should be permanently-attached to a manufactured home. The HUD label should be permanently attached such that it can not be easily removed without damaging or defacing it, such as by blind rivets.

Usual Locations of the HUD Certification Label & HUD Data Plate

The HUD certification label is usually found riveted to the end of the home or it may be fastened to the tongue or the home or the corner of its steel frame. The same information should also be found on the home's "Data Plate" - a paper label that is usually on an interior sidewall of the kitchen sink base cabinet or on the inner surface of the cabinet door, or in some homes the data plate is found on the wall in the master bedroom closet.

For U.S. Manufactured homes, doublewides, trailers, and similar constructions, Sections 3280.5 Data Plate through 3280.11 of HUD Regulations for manufactured homes include language that describes the labeling requirements for this housing.

The label number on a HUD Certification Label must be etched or stamped with a three letter designation of the production inspection primary inspection agency assigned by the HUD Secretary, combined with a unique 6-digit number provided by the label supplier for use on manufactured homes.

The HUD label is decoded as follows:

• 3 Letters indicate the state where the home was manufactured
• 6 Numbers identify the manufacturer of the home
• The following required text:
  
  The manufacturer certifies to the best of the manufacturer’s knowledge and belief that this manufactured home has been inspected in accordance with the requirements of Department of Housing and Urban Development and is constructed in conformance with the federal manufactured home construction and safety standards in effect on the date of manufacture. See data plate.

Details of HUD certification labels are given below.

The following information must be provided for manufactured homes:

• Mobile Home INSTALLATION MANUAL -
  
  For new/recent mobile home, every manufacturer is required to provide instructions on site preparation, installation and anchoring.
• Mobile Home Manufacturer's CERTIFYING LABEL -
  
  (illustrated above) on rear section outside or near the main entry door, HUD Insignia

• Mobile Home DATA PLATE -
  
  near the main electrical panel or other visible & accessible location (under sink for many manufactured homes): name of mfg., serial and HUD ID, zone information (see Structure discussion).
  
  A Certification Label must be permanently affixed to each transportable section of each manufactured home manufactured for sale in the United States. Other countries have similar regulations.

• Mobile Home DAMAGE DURING TRANSPORT -
  
  if the unit was damaged during transport it no longer conforms to the standards and should not be accepted by the code official

...

HUD Regulations for Manufactured Home Labeling

(4) Data plate requirements for Manufactured Homes & Mobile Homes [including wind & roof load zones]

The Data Plate posted in the manufactured home (see §3280.5) [for homes built after 1976] shall designate the wind and roof load zones or, if designed for higher loads, the actual design external snow and wind loads for which the home has been designed.

The Data Plate shall include reproductions of the Load Zone Maps shown in this paragraph (c)(4), with any related information. The Load Zone Maps shall be not less than either 31⁄2 in. by 21⁄4 in., or one-half the size illustrated in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Excerpts from U.S. HUD CFR › Title 24 › Subtitle B › Chapter XX › Part 3280 › Subpart A › Section 328

HUD § 3280.1 Scope.

This standard covers all equipment and installations in the design, construction, transportation, fire safety, plumbing, heat-producing and electrical systems of manufactured homes which are designed to be used as dwelling units.

This standard seeks to the maximum extent possible to establish performance requirements. In certain instances, however, the use of specific requirements is necessary.

HUD § 3280.2 Definitions

See MANUFACTURED & MOBILE HOME DEFINITIONS under Title 24

Watch out: Data tags are also used on other mobile homes or manufactured homes that are not intended for year round use, such as the RPTIA data tag from the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association, shown here on a home located in New Jersey. RPTIA was the predecessor to RVIA cited below.

See details at RVIA / RPTIA ASSOCIATION & Information on Park Homes, RVs, Tags, Contact Information

HUD § 3280.5 Data plate Code

Each manufactured home shall bear a data plate affixed in a permanent manner near the main electrical panel or other readily accessible and visible location.

Each data plate shall be made of material what will receive typed information as well as preprinted information, and which can be cleaned of ordinary smudges or household dirt without removing information contained on the data plate; or the data plate shall be covered in a permanent manner with materials that will make it possible to clean the data plate of ordinary dirt and smudges without obscuring the information.

Each [HUD] data plate shall contain not less than the following information:

(a) The name and address of the manufacturing plant in which the manufactured home was manufactured.

(b) The serial number and model designation of the unit, and the date the unit was manufactured.

(c) The applicable statement:

This manufactured home is designed to comply with the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards in force at the time of manufacture, or [older text below, newer text given earlier on this page]:

This manufactured home has been substantially completed in accordance with an approved design and has been inspected (except for the components specifically identified in the instructions for completion on-site) in accordance with the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards and the requirements of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in effect on the date of manufacture.

(d) A list of the certification label(s) number(s) that are affixed to each transportable manufactured section under § 3280.8.

(e) A list of major factory-installed equipment, including the manufacturer's name and the model designation of each appliance.

(f) Reference to the roof load zone and wind load zone for which the home is designed and duplicates of the maps as set forth in § 3280.305(c). This information may be combined with the heating/cooling certificate and insulation zone map required by §§ 3280.510 and 3280.511. The Wind Zone Map on the Data Plate shall also contain the statement:

This home has not been designed for the higher wind pressures and anchoring provisions required for ocean/coastal areas and should not be located within 1500′ of the coastline in Wind Zones II and III, unless the home and its anchoring and foundation system have been designed for the increased requirements specified for Exposure D in ANSI/ASCE 7-88.

(g) The statement:

This home has - has not - (appropriate blank to be checked by manufacturer) been equipped with storm shutters or other protective coverings for windows and exterior door openings. For homes designed to be located in Wind Zones II and III, which have not been provided with shutters or equivalent covering devices, it is strongly recommended that the home be made ready to be equipped with these devices in accordance with the method recommended in the manufacturers printed instructions.

(h) The statement: “Design Approval by”, followed by the name of the agency that approved the design.

[ 59 FR 2469, Jan. 14, 1994, as amended at 80 FR 53727, Sept. 8, 2015]

§ 3280.6 Serial number or "VIN" (Vehicle Identification Number)

(a) A manufactured home serial number which will identify the manufacturer and the state in which the manufactured home is manufactured, must be stamped into the foremost cross member.

Letters and numbers must be 3/8 inch minimum in height.

Numbers must not be stamped into hitch assembly or drawbar.

§ 3280.7 Excluded structures.

Certain structures may be excluded from these Standards as modular homes under 24 CFR 3282.12.
[52 FR 4581, Feb. 12, 1987]

§ 3280.11 Certification label.

(a) A permanent label shall be affixed to each transportable section of each manufactured home for sale or lease in the United States.

This label shall be separate and distinct from the data plate which the manufacturer is required to provide under § 3280.5 of the standards.

(b) The label shall be approximately 2 in. by 4 in. in size and shall be permanently attached to the manufactured home by means of 4 blind rivets, drive screws, or other means that render it difficult to remove without defacing it. It shall be etched on 0.32 in. thick aluminum plate. The label number shall be etched or stamped with a 3 letter designation which identifies the production inspection primary inspection agency and which the Secretary shall assign.

Each label shall be marked with a 6 digit number which the label supplier shall furnish. The labels shall be stamped with numbers sequentially.

(c) The label shall read as follows:

As evidenced by this label No. ABC 000001, the manufacturer certifies to the best of the manufacturer's knowledge and belief that this manufactured home has been inspected in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment and is constructed in conformance with the Federal manufactured home construction and safety standards in effect on the date of manufacture. See date plate.

(d) The label shall be located at the tail-light end of each transportable section of the manufactured home approximately one foot up from the floor and one foot in from the road side, or as near that location on a permanent part of the exterior of the manufactured home unit as practicable.

The road side is the right side of the manufactured home when one views the manufactured home from the tow bar end of the manufactured home.

[ 42 FR 960, Jan. 4, 1977. Redesignated at 44 FR 20679, Apr. 6, 1979, as amended at 52 FR 47553, Dec. 15, 1987. Redesignated and amended at 58 FR 55003, Oct. 25, 1993]

The full text is at

• PART 3280—MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS [PDF] newer copy retrieved 2017/07/13 - faster-loading
• PART 3280 MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS, PART 3280 [PDF] Complete text of 24 CFR Part 3280 - MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS contains 10 subparts pertaining to General (data plate and certification contents and locations), Plans (dimensions, exits, etc), Fire Safety, Body and Frame, Testing, Thermal Protection, Heating/Cooling and venting systems, Electrical, and Transportation (axles, springs, drawbar). It's about 90 pages of regulations.

...

Manufactured Home / Mobile Home Serial Number Look-up Service & Replacement Data Tags / Data Plates

Mobile Home serial numbers or "VIN" numbers in popular language, can be used to find more information about any specific home.

A HUD third party contractor, the Institute for Business Technology and Safety (IBTS) maintains a database of HUD-Code manufactured homes (mobile homes, doublewides, trailers) from 15 June, 1976 to the present. The IBTS will charge a service fee for providing information about your home but can provide a VIN look-up service.

• Contact: IBTS (Institute for Building Technology & Safety) Manufactured Home Certifications, IBTS Headquarters 45207 Research Place Ashburn, VA 20147 Phone: 703.481.2000 Website: https://www.ibts.org/what-we-do/verification-letter-certificate/
  
  Manufactured Home Services Phone: 866.482.8868 Email: labels@ibts.org
  
  Website excerpt:
  All manufactured homes built after June 15, 1976 are required to have one or more label(s) attached to them: a manufactured home HUD label(s) and a Data Plate/Compliance Certificate.
  
  IBTS is the only agency that can provide manufactured home owners, real estate agents, brokers, and other stakeholders with a Label Verification Letter, which can suffice for missing HUD labels.
  
  IBTS can also provide a copy of the original data plate or a Performance Verification Certificate in its absence. The Performance Verification Certificate contains the zoning information in effect at the time the home was manufactured, including the location of the home’s destination (usually the retailer).
  
  Manufactured home owners or other relevant agencies that need a replacement for missing HUD labels or Data Plate/Compliance Certificates should contact IBTS [the Institute for Building Technology], not HUD.

...

RVIA (successor to RTPIA) - Data Tag Information

• Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA) now RV Industry Association (RVIA) 2465 J-17 Centreville Road #801 Herndon, VA 20171 USA, Email: memberservices@rvia.org Tel:  703-620-6003 Web: www.rvia.org/ - for additional information and resources regarding park model homes, RVs, and RV association.
  
  RVIA Elkhart Indiana Office / RV Technical Institute, 3333 Middlebury Street Elkhart, IN 46516 574-549-9080
  
  Website excerpts:
  
  Membership is available to companies and businesses actively engaged in manufacturing RVs and Park Model RVs as well as those providing a product or service, directly or indirectly, to an RV manufacturer, Park Model RV manufacturer, component supplier, aftermarket supplier, or other wholesale participant in the industry.
  
  There are membership categories for RV Manufacturer, Park Model RV Manufacturer, Supplier, Manufacturer’s Representative, Finance Firm, and Associate.
  
  A Park Model RV is a single living unit that is primarily designed and completed on a single chassis, mounted on wheels, to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or seasonal use, and is certified by the manufacturer as complying with all applicable requirements of ANSI A119.5. Park Model RVs have a gross trailer area not exceeding 400 sq. ft. in the setup mode, or width greater than 8.5 ft. in transport mode.
  
  For information on RVIA park trailer membership, contact Matt Wald at (703) 620-6003 ext. 313 or mwald@rvia.org.
  
  Note that older RPTIA websites found in some documents like rptia.org are no longer functional.
  - source: U.S. HUD, FAQs, original source: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/rmra/mhs/faqs
• RPTIA, LEGAL DEFINITIONS FOR RECREATIONAL PARK TRAILERS [PDF] Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association, Inc.
  30 Greenville St Fl 2, Newnan, Georgia, 30263 USA
  Tel: 770-251-2672 n FAX 770-251-0025
  Web site: www.rptia [dot] org - Website not functioning 2023/05/03 - Ed; E-Mail: rptia@mail2.newnanutilities [dot] org
  
  Excerpt:
  
  In summary, Recreational Park Trailers are Recreation Vehicles designed and intended to be used for recreational, camping and seasonal use. These units are sold by Recreational Vehicle dealers who are licensed to sell RVs. Recreational Park Trailers are primarily used by their owners as seasonal dwellings which are typically sited in RV parks and campground resorts on sites that are owned, rented or leased and are then occupied by their owners as seasonal or vacation dwellings.

...

Winterizing an RV, Trailer - Label Gives Clues

Reader Question: is my 1989 Northlander a Seasonal or "All Season" Trailer?

I have a 1989 Northlander 43x12 home. I need to know if it is a Seasonal or All Season trailer for insurance.

It was sold to me as an All Season to live in year round but too many say it is not. I can not have any insurance problems because of this. I have included a photo of the manufacturers plate.

I have seen other Northlander trailers were the model number ends with an S like mine means seasonal and AS means All Season. I saw on your page that disabled and fixed/low income there is no charge [for limited consulting for people of limited means or ability - Ed]

I am on WSIB (WCB) and CPPDIS for PTS and PCS since 1992. This is really causing me stress because I can not get an answer. I just need something that I can have to show what my home is so I can put this to rest.

Any help in identifying the type of trailer would be greatly appreciated. Even an email PDF showing the specs or something that I can print out or get in the mail. A hard copy. I just don't understand why there is no information on this?! Thank you in advance.

- Anon by private email 2017/03/21

[Click to enlarge any image]

Reply: The model on your trailer data tag indicates seasonal use

We contacted Northlander Industries (that information is given below) with the model number and serial number of your trailer to ask about the model and its specifications. In an example of superb customer service, we got a very useful response from Northlander: here's the information about your home:

The “S” at the end of the plan no. only refers to the model which was “Supreme” so it has nothing to do with the seasonality of the unit.

This Northlander unit was built with the following specifications:

• Insulation (All fiberglass batt)
• Floor: R-20 Walls and Ceiling: R-12
• 4 mil Poly vapour barrier on walls and ceiling
• 2”x4” walls, 2”x8” floor joists, Bow string roof truss
• Double slider aluminum windows (not a true thermopane)
• 4 panel aluminum patio door (not a true thermopane)
• Furnace: 36,000 BTUH forced air propane
• Water Heater: 10 gallon propane
  
  This unit was built with reasonable insulation, windows, doors and the furnace is capable of heating during the winter months and providing the necessary level of comfort to the occupants.

The Supreme is a Park Model Trailer which clearly falls in the RV Family, it is not a residential home.

Now Anon, based on these specifications and on information provided by Northlander, in my OPINION a seller such as the person who sold the trailer to you should not have marketed it as a year round home - nor did Northlander Industries ever do so for the model we identify above.

However my understanding is that there are Northlander Supreme’s with the same construction specifications that are occupied year round.

Winterizing Advice for Your Northlander Supreme Park Model Trailer

I follow with some advice about winterizing your particular trailer.

Northlander has been in business for a long time, since 1964 but the only "owners manual" the company currently provides online

• NORTHLANDER PARK MODEL OWNER'S MANUAL [PDF], (April 2013) Northlander Industries, 165 Thames Road East, Hwy. 83, Exeter, Ontario, Canada N0M 1S3, retrieved 2017/03/21, original source: http://northlanderindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Product-Manual-April-22-2013.pdf and is for a recent model.

The manual above is for a newer model (2013) than your Park Model trailer - those instructions include a warning about attempting to use the home in winter (search the PDF for "season") as they expect the water heater to be drained to protect from freezing.

Keep in mind that it's highly likely that Northlander has made product changes between your 1989 model and the 2013 Northlander Park models described in the manual they provide above.

Watch out: The text which I will excerpt below is to me a red flag warning and suggests that the company may also have experience with the use of their seasonal-use park model trailers in freezing conditions:

The unit you have purchased from your dealer may not be intended for 12 month, continuous or sub-zero winter occupancy. The purchaser has sole responsibility and discretion to ensure safe winter use. The plumbing drainage, water supply system and park connections (if available during off season use) must be kept from freezing.

You'll want to review the possible freeze points and take care to address them.

Watch out: injudicious use of heat tapes or heaters can in turn be a fire hazard as we explain in our pipe freeze protection article listed below

Generally, keeping heat on and fixing drafts and insulating are what make an otherwise perhaps marginal structure able to survive through freezing weather. But if the home isn't intended for winter occupancy that means there is indeed risk of freezing if its plumbing and water heater aren't drained.

If your concern is principally risk of damage from freezing, you'll want to look at some of the freezeproofing articles at InspectApedia.com including those I list below.

You'll also want your heating system inspected and serviced to be sure it's reliable before cold weather arrives.

• HEAT SOURCES to AVOID FROZEN PIPES - that may be particularly important for your Northlander
• PIPE FREEZE PROTECTION - home
• WINTERIZE A BUILDING - topic home, giving an overall strategy
• WINTERIZE - HEAT ON PROCEDURE - things that might let you set the thermostat down without catastrophe
• Northlander offers some winterizing advice for their units at WINTERIZING your UNIT - http://northlanderindustries.com/winterizing-your-unit/
  
  Readers will find at that link additional links to Northlander's Plumbing System, a Storage and Winterization checklist, a general maintenance guideline checklist, and an owner's manual

Home Insurance including for water or freezing damage

I'm told that the S/AS distinction you've heard of indicating Seasonal or "All Seasonal" is be correct. Rather the "S" is described by Northlander as a suffix to the plan number and indicates the model "Supreme".

It would make sense to me, as you say you want to avoid any insurance issue, to ask your insurance agent for advice about how to insure the home. You can indicate that you intend to occupy the home all year round - if that's the case, and want it insured appropriately.

Or you can accept insurance for a "seasonal use" building and then you will be responsible for losses that occur if the home is used during winter.

Contact Northlander Industries

• Northlander Industries, 165 Thames Road East, Hwy. 83, Exeter, Ontario, Canada N0M 1S3, Tel: 519-235-1530, Website: http://northlanderindustries.com

Guide to Demolition & Removal of a Manufactured Home, Mobile Home or Trailer

This discussion has moved to MOBILE HOME DEMOLITION / REMOVAL / RELOCATION

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2024-01-01 by David Dodds - published requirements that trailers must have a label indicating utilities connections?

Regarding Labels on Trailers and Mobile Homes. Are there any published requirements that trailers must have a label indicating where the gas, electrical and water connections are located? On many of the older homes in our Park, these labels are missing. I'd like to print up new labels for all the tenants for their service connections and I'd like to be able to reference a document with requirements or recommendations if there is such a document. So ... Not the HUD label or HUD data label. I'm looking at the service connection labels. Thanks. David

On 2024-01-01 by InspectApedia Publisher

@David Dodds,

I haven't found a published requirement for trailers that states that the label has to indicate the plumbing, mechanical systems or electrical systems hookup points.

I'll do some further research on that question.

I think the problem is that there are a number of acceptable ways for connecting those systems to the home itself.

The label is identifying the home's construction but it's not indicating any standard means of connection the home to these supporting systems.

Still your idea is a good one and you could certainly design your own standard form that indicated the hookup points for each structure.

Separate from that, and depending on the age of the homes involved, you'll find in this article series that there is a procedure for replacing missing mobile home or manufactured home labels.

As a side point the location of the labels themselves varies depending on the home type and age.

On 2023-08-21 by Kim Franklin - data plate on California Mobile Home - how do we get a new one?

Found the plate on DoH State of California. Manufacture date 1974, S-148, 3367, DoH No A58601.Purchased thru auction with no title. Camping Association now requires up to date plates and title.
How can we get ?

On 2023-08-21 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Kim Franklin,

Try this

HUD LABEL SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP / REPLACEMENT SERVICE

inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/Mobile-Home-Data-Tags.php#Lookup

and let me know what success you have

On 2023-06-06 by marialena martin - where to get replacement data plate for mobile home - want to sell trailer

Where to plate or information for a permit mobile home outside plate gone need to know immediately selling trailer

On 2023-06-07 by InspectApedia Publisher

@marialena martin,

If after reading through this article you still can't find the data tag for your home, see

HUD LABEL SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP / REPLACEMENT SERVICE

https://inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/Mobile-Home-Data-Tags.php#Lookup

On 2023-05-03 by Lindsay Roberts - How would I find out the Title or VIN number for a Park Model home?

How would I find out the Title or VIN number for a Park Model home? I have the RPTIA number but nothing else.

On 2023-05-03 by InspectApedia Editor

@Lindsay Roberts,

Here's the problem: when you see an RPTIA tag and number we think that the "vehicle" on which it has been affixed was never intended to be a full-fledged mobile home or manufactured home.

Rather that was a recreational vehicle - think "camper".

Consider that "RPTIA" stands for Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association.

So you could contact RPTIA for information about the vehicle, but if it's parked in a mobile home park as a "mobile home" it may have been mis-classified, mis-used, and will not and can not be assured to meet the standards set for year-round home living function and safety.

A Recreational Park Trailer is a recreation vehicle that is primarily designed to provide
temporary living quarters for recreation, camping or seasonal use. Built on a single chassis
mounted on wheels which has a gross trailer area not exceeding 400 square feet in the set -up
mode and is certified by the manufacturer as complying with ANSI A 119.5.

source:

- LEGAL DEFINITIONS FOR RECREATIONAL PARK TRAILERS [PDF] Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association, Inc.
30 Greenville St Fl 2, Newnan, Georgia, 30263 USA
Tel: 770-251-2672 n FAX 770-251-0025
Web site: www.rptia [dot] org - Website not functioning 2023/05/03 - Ed; E-Mail: rptia@mail2.newnanutilities [dot] org

Copy here at

https://inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/RPTIA-Legal-Definitions.pdf

On 2023-02-03 by Vicki Collins

Serial number for a 2003 flletwood double wide location

On 2023-02-03 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Vicki Collins,


If you don't find an obvious data tag riveted to one end of your doublewide, let's look next in the "Standard" data tag location reported by the US HUD - as the serial number is on the data tag.

HUD says

The Data Plate is a paper label affixed inside the home and is the size of a standard sheet of paper (8 ½” x 11”). The Data Plate can be found in a kitchen cabinet, an electrical panel, or a bedroom closet.

Excerpted from

MANUFACTURED HOME HUD LABEL LOCATIONS [PDF] US HUD

On 2022-07-25 by Edward Steenbergen - look under mobile home where someone removed the hitch

Sometimes owners of trailer park or the owners will loosen the hitch and move the hitch back. They do this to make the trailer look better, rather than having a big hitch sticking out. It is a judgement call on this, If this has been done to your trailer look underneath of the front of your trailer on the frame. Hope this helps !

On 2022-07-26 by InspectApedia-911 (mod)

@Edward Steenbergen,

Thank you, that's a helpful suggestion.

On 2022-05-09 by Lynn - how to apply for a home-made "trailer" registration

I live in Georgia. My county has no codes for building my own mobile home 16x56. I will build it to mobile home codes. How do I get a VIN number. Also, my yearly decal for tax purpose.

On 2022-05-09 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Lynn,

Take a look at the explanation above on this page as we give details about where to find the data tag for your mobile home. Also attach a photo of your home if you like as that may be helpful.

Below we quote the Georgia code on tax decals or stickers

2019 Georgia Code
Title 48 - Revenue and Taxation
Chapter 5 - Ad Valorem Taxation of Property

Article 10 - Ad Valorem Taxation of Motor Vehicles and Mobile Homes
Part 3 - Mobile Homes

§ 48-5-492. Issuance of mobile home location permits; issuance and display of decals
Universal Citation: GA Code § 48-5-492 (2019)

(a) Each year every owner of a mobile home subject to taxation under this article shall obtain on or before April 1 from the tax collector or tax commissioner of the county of taxation of the mobile home a mobile home location permit. The issuance of the permit by the tax collector or tax commissioner shall be evidenced by the issuance of a decal, the color of which shall be prescribed for each year by the commissioner. Each decal shall reflect the county of issuance and the calendar year for which the permit is issued. The decal shall be prominently attached and displayed on the mobile home by the owner.

(b) Except as provided for mobile homes owned by a dealer, no mobile home location permit shall be issued by the tax collector or tax commissioner until all ad valorem taxes due on the mobile home have been paid. Each year every owner of a mobile home situated in this state on January 1 which is not subject to taxation under this article shall obtain on or before April 1 from the tax collector or tax commissioner of the county where the mobile home is situated a mobile home location permit. The issuance of the permit shall be evidenced by the issuance of a decal which shall reflect the county of issuance and the calendar year for which the permit is issued. The decal shall be prominently attached and displayed on the mobile home by the owner.

On 2022-05-10 by Lynn

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, thank you for the response. I want to build my own. After I build my 16x56 mobile home. How do I obtain a vin number.

On 2022-05-10 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Lynn,

To apply for a home-made "trailer" registration you'll need to follow the procedure described
at

https://dor.georgia.gov/homemade-trailer-registration

Quoted entirely below

Homemade Trailer Registration
Homemade trailers are required to have a serial plate affixed before the trailer can be registered and a license plate issued. Serial plates and license plates can be applied for at your County Tag Office. The following process is required:

Submit a signed and notarized Form T-23 Homemade Trailer Affidavit.
Get that at https://dor.georgia.gov/t-23-homemade-trailer-affidavit
or download it here
at

https://inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/Georgia-MV_Homemade_Trailer_Affidavit_Form_T23_0.pdf

The County agent will give you a Form T-22C (Permission for County Assigned Serial Plate for a Homemade Trailer) and serial plate.

Serial plate must be permanently affixed to the trailer with rivets and a Georgia Law Enforcement Officer must complete Form T-22C certifying that the serial plate has been affixed to the trailer.

Submit the completed Form T-22C to your County Tag Office with:
$12.00 license plate fee.
Applicable Ad Valorem tax.

The serial plate number is used as the vehicle identification number (VIN) or serial number in any subsequent motor vehicle transactions.

Note: Georgia does not issue titles for homemade trailers.

Continuing...

You might want to do some additional investigating with your state before putting money into your project - one which we admire and respect - to find out what homeowner's fire, casualty, property-loss, and liability insurance will be available to you. In general in most states including GA, without a HUD sticker you may have trouble buying homeowner's insurance.

Separately, Georgia also has standards for mobile home manufacturers, though that material is clearly written for manufacturing companies, not individuals. You can see those standards at

https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/120-3-7

Finally, to the extent that you can stomach it, I recommend that you review the various codes and standards for mobile homes to be sure that your project home is safe and functional.

See https://inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/Mobile_Home_Codes.php
MOBILE HOME CODES & STANDARDS

In particular, look at the HUD standards for mobile homes as given in that list of documents.

Question: where can I find the HUD Section 184 Red Tag on my Home?

Where would the section 184 Red Tag be located on a 1983-West single wide? - Suzanne

(Apr 16, 2014) Sharon said: how do I find the mobile home manufacturer information?

How can I find the name of the manufacturer and model, and possibly a serial number of a 1971 manufactured home? The title says Make: MALB, Body: HS. The home now has vinyl siding so any label is concealed.

Reply:

Sharon, in this article at MOBILE / MANUFACTURED HOME LABELS we list some locations where you might find the data tag on your mobile home - that's where the manufacturer should be identified. On a home as old as yours there may be no tag. At that point I'd start asking my neighbors who have similar-aged homes.

Reply: See if your home qualifies under HUD Section 184 financing rules

Suzanne,

Section 184 refers to manufactured home financing assistance available in the United States from HUD. A red tag indicating that the home qualifies for financing under Section 184 is installed on homes that are eligible.

If the Section 184 red tag is missing, the house is not eligible for Section 184 financing. Only manufactured homes built after June 15, 1976 qualify. The tag is mounted outside on the rear of the unit.

This HUD financing pertains to manufactured homes sometimes referred to as "doublewides". So even though your 1983 single wide is newer than the 1976 cutoff year, it may not qualify as qualifying housing by the HUD rules, and it won't bear the RED TAG you are asking about.

Other HUD Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program rules that determine if a home qualifies for 184 financing (and thus will bear a red tag) include: [1]

• The manufactured home bears a red tag certifying that its construction complies with the Federal Manufactured Home Construction & Safety Standards
• The home mortgage term is for 30 years or less, covers the unit and its building site or an appropriate site lease document was executed
• The home was built after 15 June 1976
• One- to four-family principal residences that qualify as standard housing under Section 184 (including units in condominiums, planned unit developments, and manufactured housing that is permanently affixed to the property, but not including cooperatives), fee simple properties located on Indian trust land or land located in an "Indian area"
• The home is classified and taxed as "real estate" - this will exclude
  • single-wides
  • homes lacking a suitable skirt and adequate insulation (in freezing climates) to protect the mechanicals
  • homes that are not new and/or that were moved from another site and homes not mounted on a permanently-attached foundation system with their transportation axles and tongue removed (i.e. the home can't easily be simply towed to another site)
  • homes located in a 100 year flood plain (including the level of ground below the home or its basement or crawl space

Examples of mobile home labels are found

at MOBILE / MANUFACTURED HOME LABELS.

On 2021-12-22 by Jayesh Patel - I have a VIN number but no data plate for my mobile home - can I make my own?

HUD Plate on Mobile Home is missing but I do have VIN# for that home. I want to apply title for that home but ned VIN Varification from Law Enforcement Office. My question is...where can I make plate like attached phot? Please contact me on rexmhp@gmail.com

On 2021-12-22 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator: no

@Jayesh Patel,

Please see MANUFACTURED / MOBILE HOME DATA TAGS https://inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/Mobile-Home-Data-Tags.php

and the regulations cited there.

Making your own data tag may be illegal.

On 2021-04-06 by Jim Aumack - I need an IBC sticker

All,

I live in New Jersey and am in possession of an office trailer made by Markline. They've gone out of business and I need an IBC sticker for this unit in order to use it in NJ.
Does anyone have any idea how I might be able to get one from someone other than Markline?
Any information will be helpful.
Thank you.

On 2021-04-06 by (mod) - what HUD says about the problem of needing an IBC sticker

@Jim Aumack,

Thanks for a helpful question.

Here is what HUD says about the problem of needing an IBC sticker for an older mobile home that doesn't have one:

Regardless of the upgrades made to your park model, it is not possible to obtain a HUD label on any structure that was not produced and inspected as a manufactured home in accordance with HUD's Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards and Regulations during its original construction

. You may contact the

• Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association https://www.rvia.org/ for additional information and resources regarding park model homes.
  - source: U.S. HUD, FAQs, original source: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/rmra/mhs/faqs

On 2020-12-06 by Debra Roberts - can't find the numbers on my mobile home

I cant find the numbers for my mobile home, they are not in it or on it.

On 2020-12-06 - by (mod) - can't find the numbers for my mobile home

Debra

Above we list the common locations of mobile home data tags. But of course a tag can be elsewhere, or torn off entirely.

How old is your home?

Where is it located?

Be sure it's not carrying an RPTIA label

On 2020-11-12 by Ken Howard

How to request a manufacturer data label from 1979 mobile home made be R-Anell Homes in Denver, NC.

On 2020-11-13 - by (mod) - Contact information for Arnell Homes

Ken

Try contacting Arnell homes _ they promise to answer email and phone calls promptly but I could find no email nor phone number at their web page (given below)
but there is a mailing address.


Arnell Homes (Commodore Corporation)
235 Anthony Grove Rd.
Crouse NC 28033
https://www.r-anell.com/

On 2020-05-28 by Mary Kelleher - missing data tag for General Mobile Home - we have S/N

Hi all
Hope everyone is well. I am looking for some help urgently re a General mobile home We have a serial # but that’s all we are looking to sell . I believe the Co is no longer in business but hoping these records would be available somewhere.

We desperately need CSA label information from the home, which has been extensively renovated and the sticker is nowhere to be found. Thank you in advance mkelleher@toh.ca

On 2020-05-28 - by (mod) - Contact information for General Manufactured Housing - for CSA label

Mary

I'm doubtful that the company has retained records but try contacting:

General Manufactured Housing
2255 Industrial Boulevard
Waycross, GA 31503
(912) 285-5068

Question: what are the wall and roof specs & insulation values for a 1980 Ramada Doublewide?

(Feb 2, 2014) Anonymous said:

I am looking at buying a 1980 Ramada Manufactured Doublewide and was wondering about wall and roof specs for construction and insulation values.

Reply:

Anon, I did a quick search for 1980 Ramada Manufactured Doublewide specifications and found no active data source on building code compliance for the 1980's vintage Ramada manufactured homes, nor spec sheets. But I did find that the Skyline Corporation seems to be related, perhaps by keywords chosen by their website designer. You could contact the company at 800-755-6521.

Excuse the arm-waving but I think that on a 1980 Ramada Doublewide or any other manufactured home that is more than thirty years old, more critical would be a careful inspection of the present condition of the structure as well as the discovery of its leak history, repair history, and similar data. The specs are not going to promise us much about the condition of the home 34 years later.

Question: 1997 Commodore in Pennsylvania: what is my wind zone

(June 13, 2014) Lynn said:

I have a 97 Commodore 76 ft long and 16 ft wide. I live in Finleyville, Pennsylvania and need to know the wind zone. I tried getting home owners insurance, but the agent said it was not ackored and I need new skirting among several other issues. How many anckors do I need total on my mobile home? Thank you in advance for your help.
Lynn

Reply:

Lynn you can see HUD wind zone maps and wind zone rating requirements

Tie-down specifications that are driven by wind zones (and other risks ) are

at MOBILE HOME STABILIZING SYSTEMS

There you will see that for some states in the U.S. the HUD specified wind zone and required structural protections depend on the county in which you live, not just the state. All of Pennsylvania is in HUD Wind Zone Map Region I.

Additional structural requirements are

at MOBILE HOME WIND RATINGS

...

Continue reading at MOBILE HOME CODES, STANDARDS & MANUALS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see MOBILE / MANUFACTURED HOME LABEL FAQs - questions & answers originally posted to this article

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS - home
• MANUFACTURED / MOBILE HOME DATA TAGS
• MOBILE HOME BUYERS ADVICE
• MOBILE HOME CODES, STANDARDS & MANUALS
• MOBILE HOME INSPECTIONS
• MODULAR HOME or OFFICE LABELS & CODE COMPLIANCE - using a modular or mobile home label to prove code compliance

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MANUFACTURED / MOBILE HOME DATA TAGS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to MANUFACTURED & MOBILE HOMES

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