Logan County Zoning Ordinance changes address manufactured homes with push away from mobile homes

 

[October 07, 2019] 

The Logan County Zoning Ordinance has been changed in areas that affect manufactured housing.

Planning and Zoning Chairman David Hepler brought forward two motions during the September Regular session of the Logan County Board that were approved.

The first modification to amend the Conditional Use Procedure adds an inspection to existing homes that are moved - “manufactured homes older than three (3) years from the current year’s date that are moved to a new location shall require inspections in accordance with ASHI/InterNACHI standards.”

Logan County Zoning Officer Will D’Andrea said the manufactured and modular homes “are exempt from the inspection process as it relates to the structure construction as they were built to set standards, and contain the appropriate red or yellow seal from the manufacturer.”

Inspectors would not have to look at wall and roof components since that is all done at the factory, but, D’Andrea said, an inspection by an Illinois state licensed home inspector shall be required for foundation components, exterior stairs and handrails, surface drainage, porches, decks, entrance steps and patios.

In addition, several sections with language on mobile homes and mobile home parks have been deleted from the zoning ordinance because the county wants to do away with allowing mobile homes in the county. D’Andrea said most of the mobile homes are in smaller areas of the county.

Other ordinance amendments include definitions that have been changed or added.

For example, the definition for a dwelling will now be, “A building or portion thereof designed or used exclusively as a residence for one family and that includes provisions for sleeping, cooking, eating and sanitation.”

D’Andrea said, “A dwelling shall include manufactured or modular homes, but not including boarding or lodging houses, motels, hotels, tents, cabins, recreational vehicle, or mobile homes.”

The second motion was to approve a resolution to amend the Zoning Ordinance applicable to manufactured and modular homes.

Additions to this section include the following definitions:

A manufactured home is “a transportable, factory-built structure that is manufactured in accordance with the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 [which went into effect June 15, 1976] and that is designed to be used as a single dwelling unit. Manufactured homes can be identified by a red seal that states compliance with the Act and is generally placed on the rear of the structure or on the electrical panel box. Manufactured home shall be placed on a permanent foundation.”

A mobile home is “a transportable, factory-built structure that was manufactured prior to the enactment of the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 [which went into effect June 15, 1976] and that is designed to be used as a single dwelling unit.”

A modular home is “a transportable, factory-built structure that is manufactured in accordance with local, state, or national building codes and the unit is inspected and certified at the factory that it meets said standards and that is designed to be used as a single dwelling unit. An Illinois approved modular dwelling will have a yellow seal on the electrical panel box or on the inside of the kitchen sink cabinet. Modular dwellings manufactured at a factory in Indiana will contain the seal of approval from the state of Indiana. Modular homes shall be placed on a permanent foundation.”

These amendments were both recommended by the Logan County Regional Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The board unanimously approved all the modifications to the ordinance.

Board members present were Dave Blankenship, Emily Davenport, Janet Estill, Bob Farmer, Cameron Halpin, David Hepler, Steve Jenness, Chuck Ruben, Bob Sanders, Scott Schaffenacker, Annette Welch and Jim Wessbecher.

[Angela Reiners]