HB 1207, sponsored by Rep. Cindy Ryu (D–Shoreline), would expand the ability of landlords and tenants to site manufactured homes in existing mobile home parks.

The bill authorizes a landlord or tenant to site any size new- or used- mobile/manufactured home on a mobile home lot in accordance with the lot sizes, separation and setback distances, and other requirements in effect at the time the park was approved. If lot sizes, separation and setback distances, or other requirements were nonexistent at the time the park was established, the local jurisdiction may impose reasonable requirements to meet health and safety standards. The bill requires that jurisdiction must act in good faith to avoid the elimination of a viable lot for the siting of a home. The only exception is requirements of any state agency related to siting manufactured homes.

We are working to change the language, so the bill only affects replacement homes – those replacing existing homes or sited on sites used within recent years. We appreciate the need to retain sites at these parks as an affordable housing option. Our concern is that sites that were approved decades ago, but never used, would be grandfathered in and may no longer meet requirements.

Dates to remember

HB 1207 is scheduled for a hearing on Friday, February 1 at 10 am in the House Housing, Community Development & Veterans Committee.