Moving a manufactured home in Tennessee
The State Fire Marshal's Manufactured Housing Section administers the Tennessee Manufactured Home Installation Act.
Who licenses installers in Tennessee
The section licenses HUD labeled home manufacturers, retailers and installers and performs installation inspections.
The section acts as HUD's State Administrative Agency for Tennessee.
Source: Agency and law
Installer license
An installer applicant pays a nonrefundable $25.00 application fee.
Applicants must file a $10,000 surety bond from a surety qualified in Tennessee.
Applicants must complete a commissioner approved 15-hour installation course.
The only approved 15-hour course is offered by the Tennessee Housing Association online, and the exam is given by Morris & McDaniel.
An installer license expires one year after issue unless renewed.
Sources: Application fee; Approved course and exam
Permits to move the home
TDOT rule 1680-07-01-.15 requires a special permit to move any mobile or manufactured home wider than 8 feet 6 inches (2017 final rules document).
Homes wider than 16 feet may not be moved in Tennessee under this rule.
Short term (6-day) overwidth permits cost $50.00 up to 14 feet and $100.00 up to 16 feet; annual permits cost $1,000 and $2,000.
Moves are allowed from sunrise to sunset, Monday through Saturday, and not on listed legal holidays.
Under the general overwidth rule that applies to these permits, loads over 13 feet 6 inches up to 16 feet need front and rear escorts on all highways.
Anyone transporting a mobile home under the rule must carry at least $1,000,000 per occurrence public liability insurance.
Source: Permit over 8 feet 6 inches
Title and taxes before the move
A Tennessee move permit is issued only in the name of the home's owner or the motor carrier's owner.
Before setup, the installer buys an installation permit decal from a county court clerk.
Sources: Permit in the owner's or carrier's name; County installation decal
Installation standards
The installer reports each installation to the Fire Marshal's office within 7 days on the weekly report form.
If a home is selected for inspection, the office inspects within 20 business days of the report.
Imminent safety hazard findings require a corrective action plan within 24 hours.
Other violations must be repaired and reported in writing within 30 days.
The decal goes in the electrical panel box cover once setup is complete.
Source: Report within 7 days
Checking a license
The Manufactured Housing Section page links to the state's Verify a License search.
Source: Verify a License
Complaints and recovery
Complaints against a licensee are filed by logging in to the CORE portal and using its File a Complaint link.
Under its HUD agreement the section investigates and monitors consumer complaints under the federal standards.
Sources: Complaints through CORE; Federal complaint handling
Common questions
Do I need a permit to move a mobile home in Tennessee?
TDOT rule 1680-07-01-.15 requires a special permit to move any mobile or manufactured home wider than 8 feet 6 inches (2017 final rules document).
Tennessee move permit and title
The transport permit and the ownership paperwork each have their own page, with fees, forms and sources.
Fees as each agency publishes them, read October 2026. Each page links its sources.
Installer and mover lists we are waiting on
- Manufactured housing licensing, Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office: not published as a list we can use yet. We will add these businesses when the state provides it.
Moving a manufactured home?
Title, taxes, liens, move permits, site checks, blocking and tie-downs: the checklist walks through each step, with the source behind it.
Open the move checklist