[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6806-6810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02387]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Parts 3280 and 3282

[Docket No. FR-5877-P-01]
RIN 2502-AJ33


Manufactured Home Procedural and Enforcement Regulations; 
Revision of Exemption for Recreational Vehicles

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This rulemaking proposes to revise the exemption for 
recreational vehicles that are not self-propelled from HUD's 
Manufactured Housing Procedural and Enforcement Regulations. This 
proposed rule is based on a recommendation adopted by the Manufactured 
Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC) which would define a recreational 
vehicle as one built on a vehicular structure, not certified as a 
manufactured home, designed only for recreational use and not as a 
primary residence or for permanent occupancy, and built and certified 
in accordance with either the National Fire Protection Association 
(NFPA) 1192-15 or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A119.5-
09 consensus standards for recreational vehicles. HUD is adopting the 
MHCC's recommendation but modifying it to require certification with 
the updated ANSI standard, A119.5-15, and by including a requirement 
that units claiming the ANSI A119.5-15 exemption prominently display a 
notice stating that the unit is designed only for recreational use, and 
not as a primary residence or permanent dwelling.

DATES: Comments Due Date: April 11, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this rule to the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20410-0500. Room 10276, Washington, DC 20410-0500. 
Communications must refer to the above docket number and title. There 
are two methods for submitting public comments. All submissions must 
refer to the above docket number and title.
    1. Submission of Comments by Mail. Comments may be submitted by 
mail to the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 10276, 
Washington, DC 20410-0500.
    2. Electronic Submission of Comments. Interested persons may submit 
comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly encourages commenters to submit 
comments electronically. Electronic submission of comments allows the 
commenter maximum time to prepare and submit a comment, ensures timely 
receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to make them immediately available to 
the public. Comments submitted electronically through the 
www.regulations.gov Web site can be viewed by other commenters and 
interested members of the public. Commenters should follow the 
instructions provided on that site to submit comments electronically.
    Note: To receive consideration as public comments, comments must be 
submitted through one of the two methods specified above. Again, all 
submissions must refer to the docket number and title of the rule.
    No Facsimile Comments. Facsimile (FAX) comments are not acceptable.
    Public Inspection of Public Comments. All properly submitted 
comments and communications submitted to HUD will be available for 
public inspection and copying between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at the 
above address. Due to security measures at the HUD Headquarters 
building, an advance appointment to review the public comments must be 
scheduled by calling the Regulations Division at 202-708-3055 (this is 
not a toll-free number). Individuals with speech or hearing impairments 
may access this number through TTY by calling the Federal Information 
Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Copies of all comments submitted are 
available for inspection and downloading at www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Beck Danner, Administrator, 
Office of Manufactured Housing Programs, Office of Housing, Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Washington DC 
20410; telephone (202) 708-6409 (this is not a toll free number). 
Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number via 
TTY by calling the toll free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-
800-877-8389.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards 
Act of 1974 \1\ (Pub. L. 93-383, approved August 22, 1974) (42 U.S.C. 
5401-5426) (the Act) authorizes HUD to establish and amend the Federal 
Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (the Construction 
and Safety Standards, or Standards). When originally enacted, the Act 
covered mobile homes, defined as ``a structure, transportable in one or 
more sections, which is eight body feet or more in width and is thirty-
two feet in length.'' Consequently, structures measuring less than 256 
square feet were excluded from the definition of mobile home under the 
Act.
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    \1\ When originally enacted as Title VI of the Housing and 
Community Development Act of 1974, the Act was titled the ``Mobile 
Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974''. Section 308 of 
the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-399, 
approved October 8, 1980) amended the Act by replacing ``Mobile 
Home'' with ``Manufactured Housing'' in the title and by replacing 
each reference to ``mobile home' with ``manufactured home.'' Section 
599A of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's 
Appropriations Act for 1998 (Pub. L. 105-276, approved October 21, 
1998) amended the definition of manufactured home to exclude ``any 
self-propelled recreational vehicle.''
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    On May 13, 1976 (41 FR 19846), HUD issued 24 CFR part 3282, its 
Mobile Home Procedural and Enforcement regulations. In this regulation, 
HUD codified its first recreational vehicle exemption. Recognizing that 
recreational vehicles in excess of 256 square feet would be included in 
the definition of ``mobile home,'' HUD decided to exempt recreational 
vehicles from the scope of the regulation since they are not designed 
to be used as a permanent dwelling. HUD determined that, 
``[r]ecreational vehicles do not fall within the definition of mobile 
homes and are not subject to these regulations. A recreational vehicle 
is a vehicle, regardless of size, which is not designed to be used as a 
permanent dwelling, and in which the plumbing, heating, and electrical 
systems contained therein may be operated without connection to outside 
utilities and which are self-

[[Page 6807]]

propelled or towed by a light duty vehicle.''
    In 1980, the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 
96-399, approved October 8, 1980) amended the definition of ``mobile 
home'' in the Act by striking out ``eight body feet or more in width 
and thirty-two body feet or more in length'' and substituting ``in 
traveling mode, is eight body feet or more in width or forty body feet 
or more in length or, when erected on site, is three hundred twenty or 
more square feet.'' The Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 
also added a provision to the Act that exempted from the coverage, 
``any structure which meets all the requirements of this paragraph [42 
U.S.C. 5402(6)] except the size requirements and with respect to which 
the manufacturer voluntarily files a certification required by the 
Secretary and complies with the standards established under this 
title.''
    On August 7, 1981 (46 FR 40498), HUD proposed removing the 
exemption for certain recreational vehicles from its Procedural and 
Enforcement regulations. HUD stated that it had received numerous 
comments from the manufactured housing industry and from the public 
criticizing the exemption, and that the exemption had been difficult to 
apply. HUD also stated that it proposed establishing a procedure under 
which manufacturers of units which meet the definition of manufactured 
home except for the size requirements may bring their units under the 
jurisdiction of the Act by providing for a certification. HUD stated 
that the proposed certification would be easy to comply with and place 
a minimal burden on the manufacturer.
    HUD received numerous comments, however, which were critical of the 
proposal to do away with the recreational vehicle exemption. As a 
result, relying on a conference report on the 1980 amendments that 
directed HUD to consider a more flexible standard for smaller 
manufactured homes (such as park models) whose square footage is 
between 320 and 400 square feet, HUD continued the exemption but 
expanded it to its current form. Specifically, HUD determined that 
recreational vehicles were exempt from HUD's Manufactured Home 
Construction and Safety Standards and its Procedural and Enforcement 
Regulations if a unit is:
    (1) Built on a single chassis;
    (2) 400 Square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal 
projections;
    (3) Self-propelled or permanently towable by a light duty truck; 
and
    (4) Designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as 
temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or 
seasonal use.
    In 1988, HUD issued guidance to clarify the method for measuring a 
unit to determine whether it qualified as a recreational vehicle under 
HUD's exemption. In interpretative bulletin A-1-88,\2\ HUD stated that 
``measurements shall be taken on the exterior of the home. The square 
footage includes all siding, corner trim, including storage space, and 
area enclosed by windows, but not the roofing overhang.'' In 1997, HUD 
also allowed for lofts no more than 5 feet in height to be excluded 
from the recreational vehicle exemption's square footage 
requirements.\3\ Since 1988, A-1-88 and HUD's loft guidance have been 
the sole, definitive standards for measuring for the recreational 
vehicle exemption.
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    \2\ http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=A188.pdf.
    \3\ http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=loftletter.pdf.
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    In the fall of 2014, HUD determined that some manufacturers were 
producing park model recreational vehicles (PMRVs) which were in excess 
of the recreational vehicle exemption's 400 square foot threshold. A 
PMRV (also known as a recreational park trailer) is a trailer-type 
recreational vehicle designed to provide temporary accommodation for 
recreation, camping or seasonal use. PMRVs are built on a single 
chassis, mounted on wheels and generally have a gross trailer area not 
exceeding 400 square feet in the set-up mode. Based on this 
determination, HUD issued a memorandum on October 1, 2014, reiterating 
the method through which recreational vehicles should be measured to 
qualify for the recreational vehicle exemption.\4\ As part of that 
memorandum and in light of changes within both the Manufactured Housing 
and Recreational Vehicle industries, HUD agreed to submit the 
memorandum to the MHCC to consider whether the current exemption 
required updating.
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    \4\ .http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=rvmemo.pdf.
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    Subsequently, HUD also discovered that some Fifth Wheel Travel 
Trailers could also fall within HUD regulations. A Fifth-Wheel Travel 
Trailer is a towable recreational vehicle mounted on wheels and 
designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle by means of a towing 
mechanism that is mounted above or forward of the tow vehicle's rear 
axle. However, HUD has not exercised regulatory oversight over Fifth 
Wheel Travel Trailers and considered them as falling within the 
regulatory exemption.
    On December 2, 2014, the MHCC considered HUD's October 1, 2014, 
memorandum and recommended that HUD adopt language that more clearly 
differentiated recreational vehicles and manufactured housing. 
Specifically, the MHCC stated that ``recreational vehicles, in their 
many shapes and sizes, are not manufactured homes and are outside of 
the manufactured home standards and regulations.'' It also stated there 
is no need for a complicated definition of recreational vehicles and 
recommended that HUD revise its recreational vehicle exception to 
provide as follows:

    Recreational vehicles are not subject to this part, part 3280. A 
recreational vehicle is a factory built vehicular structure designed 
only for recreational use and not as a primary residence or for 
permanent occupancy, built and certified in accordance with NFPA 
1192-15 or ANSI A119.5-09 consensus standards for recreational 
vehicles and not certified as a manufactured home.

II. This Proposed Rule

    After reviewing the MHCC's recommendation, HUD is accepting the 
recommendation with revision. Initially, HUD proposes to restructure 
the exemption by removing it from Sec.  3282.8 and codifying it at 
Sec.  3282.15. HUD is also proposing to incorporate ANSI's updated 2015 
Recreational Park Trailer Standard, A119.5-15, which after review, HUD 
believes best reflects the current state of recreational vehicle 
construction. Finally, to ensure consumer awareness of the difference 
between manufactured housing and recreational vehicles and the 
construction standards used to build each, HUD is proposing to require 
that each ANSI A119.5-15 certified structure seeking an exemption 
include a notice to be prominently displayed in a temporary manner in 
the kitchen (i.e., countertop or exposed cabinet face) until the 
completion of the sale transaction that explains that the manufacturer 
certifies that the structure is a recreational vehicle designed only 
for recreational use, and not for use as a primary residence or for 
permanent occupancy. The notice shall further explain that the 
manufacturer certifies that the unit has been built in accordance with 
ANSI A119.5-15. This notice shall be placed prominently to ensure 
consumers are made plainly aware of the distinction between 
recreational vehicles that are not self-propelled and manufactured 
housing, reflecting the intent of the MHCC in its recommendation to 
draw a clear distinction between the two products.

[[Page 6808]]

III. Incorporation by Reference

    This rulemaking proposes to incorporate ANSI A119.5-15 and NFPA 
1192-15 consensus standards for Recreational Vehicles by reference. The 
ANSI A119.5-15 standard covers fire and life safety criteria and 
plumbing for PMRVs considered necessary to provide a reasonable level 
of protection from loss of life from fire and explosion. The NFPA 1192-
15 standard provides the minimum construction standards considered 
necessary to protect against loss of life from fire and explosion for 
non-Park Model Recreational Vehicles. Both ANSI A119.5-15 and NFPA 
1192-15 are available for review and comment via read-only, electronic 
access. NFPA 1192-15 is available for review at http://www.nfpa.org/freeaccess. ANSI A119.5-15 is available for review at www.rvia.org/?ESID=A119.

IV. Specific HUD Questions for Public Comment

    The public is invited to comment on any of the specific provisions 
included in this proposed rule and is also invited to comment on the 
following questions and on any other related matters or suggestions 
regarding this proposed rule:
    1. What if any costs beyond the notice requirements for 
recreational vehicle manufacturers seeking an ANSI A119.5 exception 
would be imposed on recreational vehicle manufacturers as a result of 
the implementation of this proposed rule? Are PMRVs that meet HUD's 
statutory and regulatory definitions of ``manufactured homes'' 
currently being constructed outside the scope of ANSI A119.5? If so, 
how many units are being built? What would be the costs of requiring 
these manufacturers to build to ANSI A119.5 in order to take advantage 
of the exemption? Would it be more efficient and advantageous for HUD 
to exercise direct regulatory oversight over this portion of the 
industry? What would be the costs and benefits of doing so?
    2. In what manner, if any, should HUD ensure that recreational 
vehicles conforming to NFPA 1192-2015 be certified to be exempt from 
the provisions of HUD's Manufactured Home Procedural and Enforcement 
Regulations? For example, should HUD require that a Notice of 
certification be provided in each such recreational vehicle built to 
NFPA 1192-15 similar to the notice being proposed for PMRVs or should 
other methods be considered such as a label to be exempt from HUD's 
regulations?
    3. As described in the preamble to this proposed rule, HUD has not 
exercised regulatory oversight over Fifth Wheel Recreational Vehicles 
that might meet the statutory and regulatory definitions of 
``manufactured home,'' This proposed rule proposes to except Fifth 
Wheel Recreational Vehicles from regulatory oversight. Should HUD take 
a different approach and begin exercising regulatory oversight of these 
units that meet the statutory and regulatory definitions of 
``manufactured home?'' What are the costs and benefits of bringing 
these units within HUD oversight? Should HUD exercise any regulatory 
authority over Fifth Wheelers or other forms of recreational vehicles?

V. Findings and Certifications

Regulatory Review--Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Under Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review), a 
determination must be made whether a regulatory action is significant 
and, therefore, subject to review by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) in accordance with the requirements of the order. 
Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulations and Regulatory Review) 
directs executive agencies to analyze regulations that are ``outmoded, 
ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome, and to modify, 
streamline, expand, or repeal them in accordance with what has been 
learned. Executive Order 13563 also directs that, where relevant, 
feasible, and consistent with regulatory objectives, and to the extent 
permitted by law, agencies are to identify and consider regulatory 
approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of 
choice for the public. This proposed rule is not a significant 
regulatory action under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, 
Regulatory Planning and Review, and it was not reviewed by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB). This proposed rule revises the 
definition of recreational vehicle to clarify the types of recreational 
vehicles excepted by 24 CFR parts 3280 and 3282. In the past, both 
consumers and manufacturers of recreational vehicles have questioned 
whether certain recreational vehicles are subject to HUD's Construction 
and Safety Standards, codified in 24 CFR part 3280, and HUD's 
Manufactured Home Procedural and Enforcement Regulations, codified in 
24 CFR part 3282. This proposed rule would provide that recreational 
vehicles are excepted from HUD regulation if the unit is built in 
conformance with either NFPA 1192-15, Standard for Recreational 
Vehicles, or ANSI A119.5-15, Recreational Park Trailer Standard. This 
rulemaking is not significant because it proposes to clarify rather 
than change or add substance to the existing regulation.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
generally requires an agency to conduct a regulatory flexibility 
analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking 
requirements, unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
It is HUD's position that this proposed rule would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
HUD and MHCC have recognized the benefit of clarifying the current 
recreational vehicle exemption to allow recreational vehicle 
manufacturers to certify certain units as recreational vehicles under a 
streamlined process. This proposed rule is intended to promote this 
goal by ensuring that recreational vehicle manufacturers have a clear 
understanding of which units qualify for the recreational vehicle 
exemption. In addition to benefiting the consumer by providing clarity 
regarding the manufacturing standards used to construct the unit, this 
proposed rule would reduce the paperwork burden and costs of 
construction delays on recreational vehicle manufacturers. Furthermore, 
this proposed rule's notice requirement would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, as the 
notice in question may be produced and displayed within a unit at 
marginal expense to the manufacturer. Easing the process for 
recreational vehicle certification assists manufacturers, while the 
notice requirement supports achievement of the goal of ensuring a clear 
distinction between recreational vehicle structures and residential 
manufactured housing. Accordingly, the undersigned certifies that this 
proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. Notwithstanding HUD's view that 
this rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities, HUD specifically invites comments regarding 
any less burdensome alternatives to this rule that will meet HUD's 
objectives and the statutory requirements.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection requirements contained in this proposed 
rule have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). In

[[Page 6809]]

accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, an agency may not conduct 
or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of 
information unless the collection displays a currently valid OMB 
control number. The burden of information collection in this proposed 
rule is estimated as follows:

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                                             Number of     Frequency of    Total annual    Burden hours    Total annual                    Total annual
         Information collection             respondents      response        responses     per response    burden hours     Hourly cost        cost
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Sec.   3282.15..........................              17             223            3791             0.1           378.1      \1\ $30.63      $11,581.20
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    Totals..............................              17             223            3791             0.1           378.1           30.63       11,581.20
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\1\ Hourly rate based on GS-11, Step 1 salary ($63,722 per year).

    In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), HUD is soliciting comments 
from members of the public and affected agencies concerning the 
information collection requirements in the proposed rule regarding:
    (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information;
    (3) Whether the proposed collection of information enhances the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
    (4) Whether the proposed information collection minimizes the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; 
including through the use of appropriate automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses).
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding the 
information collection requirements in this rule. Under the provisions 
of 5 CFR part 1320, OMB is required to make a decision concerning this 
collection of information between 30 and 60 days after the publication 
date. Therefore, a comment on the information collection requirements 
is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives the comment 
within 30 days of the publication date. This time frame does not affect 
the deadline for comments to the agency on the proposed rule, however. 
Comments must refer to the proposal by name and docket number (FR-5776-
P-01) and must be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and 
Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, Fax 
number: (202) 395-6947; and Colette Pollard, HUD Reports Liaison 
Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street 
SW., Room 2204, Washington, DC 20410.
    Interested persons may submit comments regarding the information 
collection requirements electronically through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly encourages 
commenters to submit comments electronically. Electronic submission of 
comments allows the commenter maximum time to prepare and submit a 
comment, ensures timely receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to make them 
immediately available to the public. Comments submitted electronically 
through the http://www.regulations.gov Web site can be viewed by other 
commenters and interested members of the public. Commenters should 
follow the instructions provided on that site to submit comments 
electronically.

Environmental Impact

    A Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to the environment 
has been made in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 50, 
which implement section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). The Finding of No Significant 
Impact is available for public inspection online at http://www.regulations.gov, and in person between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 
p.m. weekdays in the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., 
Room 10276, Washington, DC 20410-0500. Due to security measures at the 
HUD Headquarters building, please schedule an appointment to review the 
Finding by calling the Regulations Division at (202) 402-3055 (this is 
not a toll-free number). Individuals with speech or hearing impairments 
may access this number via TTY by calling the Federal Relay Service at 
(800) 877-8339.

Executive Order 13132, Federalism

    Executive Order 13132 (entitled ``Federalism'') prohibits an agency 
from publishing any rule that has federalism implications if the rule 
either imposes substantial direct compliance costs on State and local 
governments or is not required by statute, or the rule preempts State 
law, unless the agency meets the consultation and funding requirements 
of section 6 of the Executive Order. This proposed rule will not have 
federalism implications and would not impose substantial direct 
compliance costs on State and local governments or preempt State law 
within the meaning of the Executive Order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 
1531-1538) (UMRA) establishes requirements for federal agencies to 
assess the effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and 
tribal governments, and on the private sector. This proposed rule does 
not impose any federal mandates on any State, local, or tribal 
governments, or on the private sector, within the meaning of UMRA.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for the 
Manufactured Housing Program is 14.171.

List of Subjects

24 CFR Part 3280

    Housing standards, Incorporation by reference, Manufactured homes.

24 CFR Part 3282

    Administrative practice and procedure, Consumer protection, 
Intergovernmental relations, Investigations, Manufactured homes, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the preamble, HUD proposes 
to amend parts 3280 and 3282 of title 24 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, as follows:

PART 3280--MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS

0
1. The authority citation for part 3280 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 3535(d), 5403, and 5424.

0
2. In Sec.  3280.2, revise the definition of ``Manufactured home'' to 
read as follows:

[[Page 6810]]

Sec.  3280.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Manufactured home means a structure, transportable in one or more 
sections, which in the traveling mode is 8 body feet or more in width 
or 40 body feet or more in length or which when erected on-site is 320 
or more square feet, and which is built on a permanent chassis and 
designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent 
foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the 
plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical systems contained 
in the structure. This term includes all structures that meet the above 
requirements except the size requirements and with respect to which the 
manufacturer voluntarily files a certification pursuant to Sec.  
3282.13 of this chapter and complies with the construction and safety 
standards set forth in this part. The term does not include any 
recreational vehicle as specified in Sec.  3282.15 of this chapter. 
Calculations used to determine the number of square feet in a structure 
will include the total of square feet for each transportable section 
comprising the completed structure and will be based on the structure's 
exterior dimensions measured at the largest horizontal projections when 
erected on site. These dimensions will include all expandable rooms, 
cabinets, and other projections containing interior space, but do not 
include bay windows. Nothing in this definition should be interpreted 
to mean that a manufactured home necessarily meets the requirements of 
HUD's Minimum Property Standards (HUD Handbook 4900.1) or that it is 
automatically eligible for financing under 12 U.S.C. 1709(b).
* * * * *

PART 3282--MANUFACTURED HOME PROCEDURAL AND ENFORCEMENT REGULATIONS

0
3. The authority citation for part 3282 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority:  28 U.S.C. 2461, 42 U.S.C. 3535(d), 5403, and 5424.


Sec.  3282.8  [Amended]

0
4. In Sec.  3282.8, remove and reserve paragraph (g).

0
5. Add Sec.  3282.15 to subpart A to read as follows:


Sec.  3282.15  Exception for recreational vehicles.

    (a) Exception. A recreational vehicle that meets the requirements 
of this section is exempt from 24 CFR parts 3280 and 3282.
    (b) Definition. A Recreational Vehicle is:
    (1) A factory built vehicular structure, not certified as a 
manufactured home;
    (2) Designed only for recreational use and not as a primary 
residence or for permanent occupancy; and is either:
    (3) Built and certified in accordance with either the NFPA 1192-15, 
Standard for Recreational Vehicles or ANSI A119.5-15, Recreational Park 
Trailer Standard as provided by paragraph (c) of this section; or
    (4) Any vehicle which is self-propelled.
    (c) Notice and certification requirements. In order to be exempt, 
an ANSI A119.5-15 certified recreational vehicle must contain a Notice 
prominently displayed in a temporary manner in the kitchen (i.e., 
countertop or exposed cabinet face) which must read as follows:
    (1) Title of Notice. The title of the Notice shall be 
``*****NOTICE*****'' which shall be legible and typed using bold 
letters at least 1 inch in size.
    (2) Content of Notice. The content of the notice text shall be as 
follows:

    The Manufacturer of this unit certifies that it is a Park Model 
Recreational Vehicle designed only for recreational use, and not for 
use as a primary residence or for permanent occupancy. The 
manufacturer of this unit further certifies that this unit has been 
built in accordance with the ANSI A119.5-15 consensus standard for 
Park Model Recreational Vehicles.

    (3) Text of Notice. The text of the Notice, aside from the Notice's 
title shall be legible and typed using letters at least \1/2\ inch in 
size.
    (4) Removal of Notice. The Notice shall not be removed by any party 
until the entire sales transaction has been completed. A sales 
transaction is considered complete as defined under Sec.  3282.252(b).

    Dated: January 4, 2016.
Edward L. Golding,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing.
[FR Doc. 2016-02387 Filed 2-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P