Mobile home move checklist

Every move

• In Missouri, a home recorded as affixed to land needs a severance filing with the Department of Revenue to get a title again. dor.mo.gov
• A city setup permit checklist (Kyle, Texas) asks for a data plate rubbing or photo, engineered anchorage and foundation plans, and a gas test if gas is used. cityofkyle-us.govstack.com
• Zoning, covenants and utility connections should be checked and permits obtained before the home arrives. tdhca.texas.gov
• TDHCA's buyer tips say to confirm the new site has enough access to avoid damage during transport. tdhca.texas.gov
• Oklahoma requires ad valorem taxes and special assessments to be paid before a move within a county or to another county. law.cornell.edu
• TDHCA says any lienholder must be paid off or give written consent to the move. tdhca.texas.gov
• In Texas, TDHCA tells owners the mover must get any required TxDMV permit, and a copy goes with the new ownership application. Other states use their DOT permit offices. tdhca.texas.gov
• Check the data plate: a home cannot be installed in a wind zone stronger than it was built for. law.cornell.edu
• Note the HUD label numbers before the move. HUD does not reissue lost labels. hud.gov

Before the move in Oklahoma

• Oklahoma Tax Commission rule 710:10-9-17 requires ad valorem taxes and special assessments to be paid before a home moves, even within the same county. law.cornell.edu
• OTC rule 710:10-9-7 says no permit to move a manufactured home is issued without current registration and decal, with listed exceptions for dealer and transporter tags. law.cornell.edu
• A current OTC Form 936 with the current year decal affixed can serve as the tax paid evidence for the move permit. law.cornell.edu

Before the move in Arkansas

• An owner may get a permit to move a personal home up to 12 feet wide by showing acceptable insurance and title, per the hosted ArDOT rule. law.cornell.edu
• The Commission refers home title questions to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration motor vehicle title division. labor.arkansas.gov
• A Department of Finance and Administration regulation (1991) says sales of new and used mobile homes are subject to sales or use tax. law.cornell.edu

Before the move in Texas

• TDHCA says the mover gets the TxDMV permit, and the owner then applies for a new Statement of Ownership showing the new location. tdhca.texas.gov
• Any lienholder must be paid off or give written consent before the move. tdhca.texas.gov
• The Statement of Ownership application is due within 60 days of a sale or relocation. tdhca.texas.gov

Before the move in Tennessee

• A Tennessee move permit is issued only in the name of the home's owner or the motor carrier's owner. tn.gov
• Before setup, the installer buys an installation permit decal from a county court clerk. tn.gov

Before the move in Missouri

• If a home was recorded as affixed to land, the owner files a severance with the Department of Revenue to get a title back before it can be treated as personal property again. dor.mo.gov
• The PSC does not handle title issues and refers them to the Missouri Department of Revenue. psc.mo.gov

At the new site

• Frame piers must sit within 24 inches of each end and no more than 120 inches apart under the main rails (24 CFR 3285.310). law.cornell.edu
• At least 12 inches of clearance is required between the lowest frame member and the ground. law.cornell.edu
• After blocking and leveling, a home must be secured against wind with an anchor system or an alternative foundation (24 CFR 3285.401). law.cornell.edu
• Anchoring and foundation systems must handle the design loads shown on the home's data plate. law.cornell.edu
• Skirting is optional under HUD rules, but if used it must be weather resistant or protected (24 CFR 3285.504). law.cornell.edu
• Wood skirting within 6 inches of the ground must be pressure treated for ground contact or naturally decay resistant. law.cornell.edu

Permits and papers by state

• Texas: the mover gets a $40 TxDMV single trip permit, and the owner files for a new Statement of Ownership with a copy of it. txdmv.gov
• Oklahoma: taxes must be paid and the current decal shown before the move permit is issued. oklahoma.gov
• Missouri: an affixed home needs a recorded severance and a new title before it is personal property again. dor.mo.gov
• Tennessee: no home over 16 feet wide moves, and the permit is issued in the owner's or carrier's name. tn.gov
• Arkansas: one state permit covers each move, and cities and counties may not add their own. law.cornell.edu

Your state's rules come first: find your state, then its move permit and title pages. Check the home's HUD label and wind zone before it moves.