House committee advances bill to allow manufactured homes where site-built housing is allowed

Delegate Malcolm Maldonado pushed HB 655 and a substitute that would let manufactured homes built to federal building code be placed wherever site-built homes are allowed, while restoring an optional personal/real property choice for agricultural land. "This is one of the ways that we think we can increase housing inventory," Maldonado said, adding that modern manufactured homes often meet Energy Star standards and can close affordability gaps.

Industry groups and housing advocates gave the bill broad support. Randy Grumbine of the Virginia Manufactured and Modular Housing Association said, "Basically, what this does is says a home is a home and allows us to place homes and do what we do every day." Paul Battaglia of AIA Virginia said manufactured housing can "blend in with context" and help address the supply side of the housing shortage. Chase Hatchett of Pew Charitable Trusts called the change "an important step" to bring starter homes to the commonwealth, citing research showing large gaps between median site-built prices and manufactured-home costs.

Gustavo Espinosa of the Legal Aid Justice Center urged the committee to recognize the dignity and property interests of manufactured-home residents, noting practical impacts when homes are designated as personal property. Maldonado and supporters emphasized that classifying modern manufactured homes as real property enables conventional financing, MLS listing, and property-appreciation benefits for owners.

The substitute text explained that manufactured homes on non-agricultural zoned lots would be required to be classified as real property, be new homes only, and be sited on individual lots; it also seeks parity in setback and other standards between site-built and manufactured homes. Supporters said the change is narrowly tailored to permit new, code-built manufactured homes while ensuring parity with site-built requirements.

The committee adopted a motion to report the bill as substituted and the measure was reported to the full committee (committee-recorded outcome: reported to full committee).