Manufactured Housing Dealer License

Learn how to obtain a manufactured housing dealer license.

The Manufactured Housing Industry

Manufactured homes are pre-built and assembled at dealerships or home sites. They are an essential solution to the affordable housing crisis. As rental and private property rates continue to increase, manufactured housing communities are in high demand.

Manufactured houses are built with many of the same materials and construction techniques used on foundational homes. They also include many of the same features and amenities. Individuals looking for well-built, competitively priced homes are actively browsing the manufactured home market.

Many manufactured homes fall into the category of HUD housing. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) strives to improve and develop communications while enforcing fair housing laws. Major programs include:

• Mortgage and loan insurance
• Community development block grants
• Grants to support affordable housing for low-income residents
• Rental assistance programs
• Public or subsidized housing for low-income families
• Homeless assistance
• Fair housing public education

In order to comply with state and federal laws, many manufactured housing dealers are required to certify every home installation project. Doing so ensures every manufactured home complies with approved installation instructions.

How to Become a Manufactured Housing Dealer

If you are just starting out, you will want to meet with a Certified Public Accountant with dealership experience, as well as a commercial insurance agent. Both will be able to help you get your finances in order. Then, you will need to obtain a business license and learn about other applicable permits or licenses. If you are already established and looking to expand into new states, you will need to familiarize yourself with the appropriate state laws and registration processes.

There is no standard manufactured home license that applies to all fifty states. You will need to contact your state’s Department of Commerce and Department of Motor Vehicles to determine which agency handles manufactured housing dealer licensing. You also need to select the manufactured home brand. There are several sizable manufactured home companies that operate throughout the country.

You will also need to appoint a registered agent to receive notices of lawsuits and other legal or government notices. To manage those tasks more efficiently, Harbor Compliance offers licensing management software and managed services to help simplify the application process, allowing you to focus on other aspects of running your business.

If you are concerned about managing the business registration process on your own, you can seek guidance from the business licensing experts at Harbor Compliance. With our professional licensing services, we offer full support through all of the stages of the corporate life cycle and can provide access to expert software insights. We make preparing and filing applications easy and handle communication with government agencies on your behalf. With our software, you can track your registration status, license numbers, filing history, fees, and renewals 24/7.

Obtaining a Manufactured Housing License

If you are planning on obtaining a manufactured housing license for the first time or you are looking to expand your business to new states, you need to understand the licensing process. While the process varies from state to state, you can likely expect the following steps:

• Application. Your application may contain sections on your contact information, the location of your business, information about partners, corporate officers, members, or trustees, and financial information.
• Proof of Business Entity Registration. You may need to provide proof of business entity registration with the Secretary of State.
• Inspection of Physical Location. Many states require on-site inspections of potential manufactured housing dealers to ensure the location meets all of the physical requirements. Once a license is issued, the dealership may be subject to random inspections.
• Background Check. Depending on which state a business is registered in, the owners, partnerships, president, and members owning a portion of the business may be required to undergo a background check and fingerprinting.

Every application is different, so there is no way to predict how long it will take for your application to process. When filled out in its entirety, an application may process in a matter of weeks or months. However, if something is missing from the application, the processing time could be extended significantly.

Maintenance and Renewal

Most states and cities require licenses to be renewed on an annual or biennial basis. Renewal ensures your business complies with all state and local regulations. Renewal fees vary, so it is a good idea to be aware of what you may owe to keep your business in good standing.

If you are currently operating a manufactured housing dealer business and are looking to outsource your maintenance and renewal duties, Harbor Compliance can help. We are available to review your business status, ensure you can operate uninterrupted, and explain what steps you need to take in order to ensure you remain compliant with state and federal regulations.

Explore Licensing by State

Click on a link below to view licensing information in your state.

Meeting the home improvement contractor company license requirements is not always an easy process. Fortunately, Harbor Compliance License Manager helps construction professionals maintain their licenses by automating repetitive tasks such as tracking renewals. Through License Manager, you can also access LicenseIQ™ - our extensive, proprietary database of nationwide licensing information - to research the requirements for the states in which you work. These tools reduce the time you spend researching state requirements and prepare your organization for success. Contact out licensing experts today to learn more.