Moving a manufactured home in Iowa

Who licenses installers in Iowa

Iowa's installer rules implement Iowa Code section 103A.59, part of the State Building Code chapter 103A.

DIAL licenses manufacturers, retailers and installers of factory built structures, a category that includes manufactured homes.

Sources: Installer licensing agency; Who needs a DIAL license

Installer license

At least one state-certified installer must be present and directly supervise every manufactured home installation in Iowa.

An owner may install a home that will be their own primary residence without being certified, but the work still has to be inspected and a state-certified installer has to certify compliance.

Applicants must be at least 18, show one year of installation, construction or inspection experience by notarized affidavit, complete at least 8 hours of approved training and pass an approved exam.

Certification and recertification each cost $300 and run three years, expiring June 30 of the third year.

Renewal requires 12 hours of approved continuing education during the three-year period; a lapse of more than 60 days means retaking the exam.

Sources: Certified installer on site; Fee and term

Permits to move the home

Iowa DOT's most common oversize permit is a single or round trip permit for $35, valid for 5 days.

Iowa DOT permits cover state and interstate highways only; city and county roads need separate local permits.

Under an annual permit, a manufactured home up to 12 feet 5 inches wide may move unlimited distances without route approval; wider homes up to 16 feet need route approval except some 14 feet 6 inch moves on multilane highways.

Loads over 12 feet wide need an escort (rear on four-lane roads, front on two-lane roads); up to 14 feet 6 inches an amber or strobe light on the truck and load can stand in for the escort.

Sources: Single trip permit; Annual permit widths; Escorts by width

Title and taxes before the move

Before a home leaves its site, the owner must get a tax clearance statement from the county treasurer showing past and current taxes are paid.

No tax clearance is needed for unused retailer stock, an abandoned home, or an eviction the park owner reports to the treasurer.

When a home moves to another Iowa county, the treasurer forwards the tax clearance statement to the new county's treasurer.

Source: Tax clearance before a move

Installation standards

Homes built on or after October 20, 2008 that are installed for the first time must follow the manufacturer's instructions and HUD's Model Manufactured Home Installation Standards (24 CFR Part 3285).

Anyone planning to install a manufactured home must notify DIAL's building code bureau at least three business days before the installation; every installation is subject to state inspection.

A newly installed home may not be occupied until the building code bureau approves it.

An installation certificate goes to DIAL and an installation seal ($25 each) is placed on every home installed in Iowa.

Sources: Standard for newer homes; Three business day notice; Seals and certificates

Checking a license

DIAL posts a PDF list of certified installers showing each installer number, the company they work for and the expiration date.

Source: Official installer list

Complaints and recovery

For problems with the home itself, DIAL refers homeowners to HUD's Manufactured Home Dispute Resolution Program.

DIAL can suspend or revoke an installer's certification for cause and can also assess civil penalties for violations of the installation rules.

Sources: Problems with the home; Discipline for installers