HUD unveils plan to modernize manufactured housing standards

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released the ‘Next Generation Manufactured Housing Action Plan’ to modernize the federal construction code. This initiative follows the passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which removed the long-standing requirement for manufactured homes to have a permanent chassis.

Removing the permanent chassis mandate is expected to increase flexibility in design, allowing factory-built homes to more closely resemble conventional site-built housing. Industry experts note that the previous requirement could add as much as $10,000 to the cost of a new unit. The new framework aims to support innovation in multi-story, high-density, and multifamily construction to address affordable housing shortages.

The HUD action plan outlines seven specific steps, including updating energy efficiency standards and revising structural design, transportation, and lifting requirements to accommodate chassis-free construction. While the plan signals the start of the implementation process, industry leaders suggest it may take at least a year for these regulatory changes to fully impact the market.