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DATE February 17, 1983
INTRODUCED BY ' Johnson
PROPOSED BY Building and Codes
ORDINANCE NO. 83 -2'
AN ORDINANCE SETTING FORTH RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR THE INSTALLATION OF MOBILE HOMES ON BUILDING
'SITES, ESTAB11SHING AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR
THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS AND PROVIDING FbR
INSPECTION THEREOF.
WHEREAS, State of Washington Administrative Order 82.37 provides for the
jurisdiction to inspect mobile home installations and to enforce the installation standards
accordance with RCW 43,22.350 and 43.22.440, and in 'accordance. with Article 1,
1.10 of-the Home Rule Charter of Whatcom County;
NOW, THEREFOREf THE WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL DOES ORDAIN:
SECTION I. PURPOSE
This ordinance is enacted as an exercise of the police power of the county for
benefit of the public at large. It is not intended to create a special relationship with am
individual, or individuals, nor to identify and protect any particular class of persons.
The purpose of this ordinance is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb
health or property, and public welfare, by regulating and controlling the installation o,.
mobile homes on building sites within the county.
It is not the intent of this ordinance to impose liability upon the county for failure I
perform any discretionary act. Rather, it is the intent of this ordinance to place tt
obligation of complying with its requirements upon the installer. Nothing contained in th
ordinance shall be construed to relieve from or.to lessen the responsibility or liability of ar
person for injury or damage to persons or property caused by or resulting from any defect
any .nature in any mobile horse installation work performed by said person or in any mob
home installation equipment owned, controlled, operated or used by him; nor shall
County, or any officer, agent, or employee thereof incur or be held as assuming
liability by reason or in consequence of any permission, certificate of inspection,
or approval authorized herein, or issued or given as herein provided, or by reasons c
consequence of any tpings done or acts performed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter
ORDINANCE - 1
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SECTION H. SCOPE.
This ordinance sets forth rules and regulations to regulate and control
installation of mobile homes on building sites, establishes an administrative procedure
the issuance of permits and provides for the inspection of mobile home installations.
SECTION III. DEFINITIONS.
ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY is the Department of Public Works, Bureau
Building and Codes Administration.
BUILDING OFFICIAL is the Director of Public Works.
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BUILDING SITE is any site proposed for the.location of a mobile home including site
within mobile home parks.
HUD is the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
INSTALLER shall either be the owner, a licensed contractor or a licensed m
home dealer.
MOBILE HOME means a structure designed and built to comply with the Washin
State Department of Labor and Industries rules and regulations for mobile homes
commercial coaches.
SECTION IV. GENJERAL INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS.
Mobile homes installed on building sites shall be installed in accordance with
provisions of this ordinance and . all other applicable local, state and federal co
ordinances and statutes.
1. A HUD labeled mobile home shall be installed in compliance with the
home manufacturer's installation recommendations. The recommendations must
approved by HUD. The manufacturer or dealer shall send two copies of its approv
installation recommendations to the purchaser of the mobile home. The copies shall be
the home and available at the time of inspection.
2. Mobile homes not labeled by HUD shall be installed in accordance w
installation recommendations provided by a professional engineer or architect licensed
the State of Washington.
3. To -the extent that the installation of the mobile home is not covered by
manufacturers, engineers or architects recommendations, the mobile home installation sh
comply with installation requirements of Sections VIII, IX, X, XI, XH,XIII,XIV of tl
ordinance.
ORDINANCE - 2
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1 4. No person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity may install a mobile
2 home unless he, she, or it owns. the mobile home, is a licensed mobile home dealer, or is a
3 contractor registered under chapter 18.27 RCW.
4 5. In those areas that are (a) recognized as flood plains by the Washington State
5 Department of Ecology or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or (b) . hazardous
6 because . of the probability of earthquakes, ground slides, avalanches, or high winds, the
7 Building Official may set requirements that are necessary to lessen the hazards.
.8 ,SECTION V. PERMrI'S REQUIRED.
9 No person, firm or corporation shall install or cause to be installed any mobile home
10 on a building site without having first obtained a building permit and a mobile home
11 installation attachment thereto from the administrative authority.. No mobile home dealer
.12 shall deliver a mobile home to a building site until that dealer has verified that the installer
13 has obtained the necessary installation permits.
14 SECTION VI. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.
15 In addition to the building permit application and issuance regulations of WCC 15.04
16 the following shall apply to mobile home installations. ,
17 1. A.seperate application shall.be required for each mobile home installation. The
18 application shall be made upon forms .provided by the administrative authority and shall be
19 accompanied by the permit fee established herein.
20 2. Each application shall be accompanied by a plot plan drawn to scale with detail
21 sufficient to show that the installation will meet siting requirements of all applicable state
22 and local regulations.
23 3. Applications for mobile homes to be installed on building sites other than sites
24 within a mobile home park shall also be accompanied by two sets of foundation plans for a
25 permanent foundation.
26 SECTION VII. INSPECTION.
27 Approved installation specifications as provided by the manufacturer or a licensed
28 engineer or architect shall be available at the site at the time of inspection of the
29 installation In the event that no approved installation specifications are available or the
30 approved specifications as provided above do not cover all the installation requirements of
31 this ordinance then the total installation or the portions thereof not covered by the
32. approved specifications shall comply with the appropriate provisions of Sections VIII, IX, X,
ORDINANCE - 3
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I XI, XII,XIII,XIV of this ordinance.
1. On building sites, other than those in mobile home parks, the installer of the
mobile home shall request a footing inspection after the placement of the footing forms and
prior to pouring or placing the footings, and a final inspection after all aspects of the
installation other than the foundation facia has been completed. For mobile home park
installations, the installer shall request a final inspection after all aspects of the.
installation, other than the foundation facia has been completed. AA requests for
inspection shall.be made one working day before such inspection is desired.
2. The final installation inspection shall be made within five business days after a
I request for final inspection is received. If the inspection is not completed within five
business days,. the tenant; or owner may occupy the mobile home at his or her own risk.
Occupancy before inspection does not imply approval. `
3. After final inspection, the administrative authority shall approve the installation
of the mobile home, and allow the mobile home to be occupied if the installation complies',
with the installation requirements of this ordinance and the conditions of the buiding permit'
under which it is installed.
4. If the installation does not comply with the installation. requirements of this
chapter and the conditions of the installation permit, the local enforcement agency shall
provide the installer with a list of corrections that the installer must make. The list of
corrections shall state a date by which the corrections must be completed. The local
enforcement agency shall reinspect the installation after the corrections are completed. If
the items that require correction do not endanger the health or safety of the occupants, or
substantially affect the habitability of the mobile home, the local enforcement agency may
permit the owner of the mobile home to occupy it.
SECTION VIII. BUILDING SITE PREPARATION.
A mobile home may not be installed on a building site unless the ground at the
has adequate compaction and load bearing ability to meet the support requirements of
ion IX of this ordinance or, if the building site is in a mobile home park, the park owner
must insure that the ground on which the mobile home is to be installed has been improved
as necessary to provide a proper base for the mobile home and that the area beneath
mobile home has adequate drainage.
SECTION IX. FOUNDATION SYSTEM FOOTINGS.
ORDINANCE - 4
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1 1. Footings shall be construction of:
2 a. Solid concrete or an approved alternate at least 3 - 1/2 inches by .16
3 inches square; or
4 b. Two 8 inch by 16 inch by 4 inch solid concrete blocks that are laid with
5 their joint parallel to the main frame longitudinal members.
6 2. Footings shall be:
7 a. Evenly bedded and level; j
.8 b. Placed op firm, undisturbed or compacted soil that is free of organic
.9 material;
10 c. Centered in a line under the main frame longitudinal members on both
11 sides of the mobile home; and
12 d. Spaced npt more than eight feet apart and no more than two feet from
13 the ends of the main frame. The Building Official may require a closer spacing, depending
14 on the load bearing capacity of the soil.
15 3. A mobile home with more than one section must have center line blocking at
16 end walls and at . other points of connection of the sections of the mobile home that are
17 ridgebeam bearing support* Blocking is also required at both ends of a door opening that is
18 six feet or more wide in an exterior wall'.
19 4. If a mobile home requires footings on its exterior perimeter, as specified by the
20 installation recommendations or required by the building official, the footings shall be
21 installed below the frost line. Footings from the main frame longitudinal members must be
22 recessed only .if frost heave is likely to occur.
23 5. Footings shall be constructed so that 75 percent of the area under the mobile,
24 home has at least 18 inched clearance between the bottom of the main chassis members and
25 the ground level. The area: beneath the furnace cross -overs and. fireplaces must always have
26 at least 18 inches clearance. At no point under the mobile home may clearance be less than
27 12 inches.
28 SECTION X. FOUNDATION SYSTEM PIERS.
29 An installer must build and position piers and load bearing supports or devices to dis-
30 tribute the required load evenly. An installer must use manufactured piers or load bearing
31 supports or devices that are listed or approved for the intended use or may construct piers
32. that comply with the following requirements. All blocks must be concrete blocks.
ORDINANCE - 5
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1 1. A pier may be made of -a single stack of 8" x 8" x 16" blocks if the blocks are
2 not stacked more than three blocks high. A pier made of a single stack of blocks shall be
3 installed at a right angle to the main frame longitudinal members and shall be capped with
4 no more than two 2" x 8" x 16" wood blocks or one 4" x 8" x 16" concrete block.
5 2. A pier may be made of a double stack of 8" x 8" x 10" blocks if the blocks are
6 not stacked more than five blocks high. Each row of blocks. in such a pier shall be stacked
7 at right angles to the abutting rows of blocks. A wood block must be of them -fir, douglas
8 fir, or spruce pine fir. The pier shall, be capped by with two 2" x 8" x 16" wood or concrete
9 blocks. The pier shall be installed so that the joint between the cap block is at right angle
10 to the main frame longitudinal members.
11 3. A pier may be made with more than five rows of blocks if the stacked blocks
12 are filled with .2,000 psi concrete or mortar. A licensed architect- or professionak engineer.
13 may approve a foundation system that includes a pier that is higher than 72 inches (nine
14 blocks high) or in which more than .20 percent of the piers exceed 40 inches (five blocks
15 high).
16 4. All blocks shall be set with cores placed vertically.
17 SECTION XI. FOUNDATION SYSTEM PLATES AND SHIMS. -
18 An installer. may fill a gap, between the top of a pier and the main frame with a wood
19 plate that is not more than 2 inches thick and two opposing wedge- shaped shims that are not
20 more than 2 inches thick. I Wood plates and shims must be of hem -fir, douglas fir, or spruce
21 pine fir. A shim shall be at least 4 inches wide and 6 inches long. The installer shall fit the
22 shim properly and drive it tight between the wood plate or pier and the main frame to
23 ensure that the mobile home is level and properly supported at all load- bearing points. A.
24 block that abuts a wedge - shaped shim shall be solid.
25 SECTION X11. FOUNDATION FACIA.
26 A mobile home shall have an. approved foundation around its entire perimeter. The
27 wood of the facia shall be fat least three inches from the ground unless it is pressure treated
28 wood. Metal fasteners shall be galvanized,- stainless steel or other corrosive - resistant ma-
29 terial. Ferrous metal members in contact With the earth, other than those that are.
30 galvanized or stainless steel, shall be coated with asphaltic emulsion. A mobile home that
31 is installed on a non - recessed site and ' that has a metal foundation facia, shall have ventil-
32 . ation openings with a net area of at least 1 1/2 square inches per lineal foot. A mobile
ORDINANCE - 6
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11 home that has been installed on a recessed site or that has a foundation .facia that is not
II made of metal, shall have ventilation openings in the foundation facia with a net area of at
least 1 - 1/2 square feet for each 25 feet of facia. The openings shall be designed to pro-
vide cross ventilation on at least two approximately opposite sides of the mobile home. The
installer shall locate the openings as close to the corner of the mobile home as practical and
shall cover the opening with a corrosive - resistant wire mesh or louvers. Dryer vents and
hot water tank pressure release valves shall exhaust on the exterior of the foundation
facia. The facia for each section of ' the mobile home shall have an opening of at least 18
I inches by 24 inches with a cover of metal or pressure- treated wood to allow access to the
crawl space. In all cases the foundation facia shall be installed before, or within 30 days
after, the mobile home is occupied.
SECTION XIII. ANCHORING SYSTEM.
The Building Official may. require a single :section or multiple section mobile home to
have an anchoring system. Such an anchoring system may be less than or equal to the fol-
lowing requirements:
1. Components of the anchoring system shall have a resistance to weather deteri-
oration that is at least equal to that of a zinc coating that is not less than 0.3 inches per
square foot of coated' surface. Cut edges of zinc coated strapping do not need to be coated.
2. An installer shall install, preload and adjust a ground anchor in accordance with
the anchor manufacturer's instructions. The installer must supply a copy of the instructions
to the Building Official. A ground anchor, when installed, must be able to resist a working
load of 3,150 pounds in the direction of the tie plus a 50 percent over load. 4,725 pounds j
total without failure. Failure occurs if the point of connection of a vertical tie to an
anchor is withdrawn more than two inches at 3,150 pounds -or when the point of connection
of a diagonal tie is moved more than four inches horizontally when a load of 3,150 .ppounds
is applied at 45 degrees from the horizontaL Ground anchors shall be marked with the
manufacturer's identification and model number in a location that is visible to the inspector
after the ' anchor is installed. The manufacturer of a ground anchor must provide instruc-
tions with each anchor that specifies the kinds of soils for which the anchor is suitable.
3. If concrete slabs or continous footings are used to transfer the anchoring loads l
to the ground, the following requirements apply:
a. Steel rod cast in concrete shall be able to resist the loads and corrosion as i
ORDINANCE - 7
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specified for ground anchors.
b. A deadman anchor may be used in place of a listed anchor. It shall be
constructed of solid concrete at least six inches in diameter and two feet long, reinforced
�I with two four -inch pre - formed steel rods installed at least five feet. below the surface of
Ithe ground.
C. A concrete slab, may be used in place of a ground anchor if it provides
holding strength equal to the required four ground anchors.
4. Ties shall be of cable, strapping, or .other approved materials. Ties shall be
fastened to the ground anchors and drawn tight with turnbuckles, yoke fasterners or other
approved tension devices. Tension devices shall end in clevis, forged, or welded eyes. Hook
ends are not. permitted. Tension devices shall be designed to prevent self - disconnection if
the ties become slack. Cable tie eye shall be secured with two inch "U" bolts, cable clamps
or an approved equal.
The materials must resist a workload of 3,150 pounds with no more than two
percent elongation, and mast withstand 50 percent overload, 4,725 pounds total. Ties shall
connect the ground anchors to the main frame longitudinal members. Ties must not connect
to steel outrigger beams that fasten to the main frame unless the - manufacturer's installa-
tion instructions specifically approve the connection. Diagonal ties must lie at least 40 de-
grees from the vertical. Vertical ties must be substantially vertical. If a vertical tie is not
substantially. vertical, the' anchor must be placed outboard of the tie's connection to the
main frame.
A cable frame tie shall be connected to the .main frame by a 5/8 inch drop
forged closed eye bolt through a hole drilled in the center of the I-beam web, or by an ap-
proved alternate. The installer shall reinforce. the web; if necessary, to maintain the
strength of the beam.
The installer shall space the ties as evenly as practical and shall locate a tie
within eight feet of each end of the mobile home. The installer may. attach two or more
ties to a single ground anchor if the anchor- can carry the total required load. The' installer
shall install vertical ties at each detached corner of a clerestory roof and added -on sections
of expandable mobile homes. As a minimum,. the installer shall install the following number
of ties for each I-beam or other main frame longitudinal member:
ORDINANCE - 8
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1 Length of Home (feet) Number of Number of
(excluding hitch) " Vertical Ties Diagonal Ties
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32 -54 2 3
3. 55 -73 2 4
4 Multiple section mobile homes require only diagonal ties. Vertical ties are not
.5 required.
6 SECTION XIV. ASSEMBLY.
7 1. Sections of a mg1tiple section mobile home shall be aligned, closed, and securely
.8 fastened at the required points along the ridge beam, endwalls, and floor line. Heat ducts,
9 electrical connections, and other fixtures and connections required between sections of a
10 mobile home shall be properly installed. The floor of the mobile home shall be level within
11. the tolerances given in the, following table.
12 Tolerances may not exceed the following amounts (L equals the clear span between
13 supports, twice the length of a cantilever): .
14 Floor:. L/240
15 Roof and Ceiling: L /180
16 Headers, Beams, Girders (Vertical Load): L /180
17 Walls and Partitions$ L /180
18 2. The installer shall provide adequate clearance to ensure that the cross -over heat
14 duct does not touch the grqund and is not compressed. The installer shall insulate the cross-
20 over duct at. the intersection. The installer shall insulate and seal areas of potential air
21 . leaks to ensure that the mobile home is airtight, and shall seal areas of potential water
22 leaks with metal flashing or trim, if required, and with putty tape or other approved
23 caulking to ensure the mobile home is watertight.
24 3. The water pipe connection to the mobile home shall have a main shut off valve in
25 compliance with. 24 CFR 3280.609(b) adopted as of April 1, 1982. In all other respects,
26 utility connections to the mobile home, including water, sewer, electricity, and gas, shall
27 comply with the applicable county codes. Accessory structures attached to or located next
28 to a home, such as awnings, carports, garages, porches, or steps, shall be constructed in
29 conformance with applicable county codes.
30 SECTION XV. FEES. .
31 Building permit fees for mobile home installation shall be as set forth herein, and in
32. lieu of building permit fees set forth in WCC 17.04.
ORDINANCE - 9
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Application for single -unit mobile home shall be accomplished
by the following fees, payable in cash or by separate checks, to
the Bureau of Buildings and Code Administration.
Building Permit (residential) $100.00
Building Permit ('park) $ 50.00
Application for multiple -unit mobile home shall be accompanied
by the following fees, payable in.cash or by separate checks, to
the Bureau of.Buill.dings and Code Administration.
Building Permit (residential lot) $175,00
Building Permit .(park) $100.00
Reinspection of.a single or
multiple -unit mobile home $ 25.00
ADOPTED this 21st day of April, 1983.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
William P. Roehl,
Vice- Chairman
ATTEST:—
(
APPROVED
(� ) -s V§TOED
a
.., .. ,
Clerk—,2�f,,, t11� Coun 1
Joh
Lo =ws , =0oq"y Txecatixb, -
; •
April
22, . 19$8'
T � .
Date
�,T._
Published:''- April
10, 1983 and
April
29;,-��83` —`^
This ordinance shall
become. effective:
May 2,
1983