Manufactured Home Units

  1. Introduction

Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-301(1) provides the following definition... "Manufactured home unit means a structure constructed for use as a dwelling, office, or classroom which is more than eight feet (8’) in width or sixty feet (60’) in length and is capable of being moved upon the highways when combined with a pulling vehicle."

Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-301(6) amended by Act 780 of 1999 provides... .”Overwidth” means any manufactured home unit in excess of eight feet (8’) in width.”

Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-301(8) amended by Act 780 of 1999 provides....”Width” means the largest overall width of a manufactured home in the traveling mode, including bay windows, roof projections, overhangs, or eaves under which there is no interior space.”

Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-302 amended by Act 780 of l999 provides.... ”Manufactured home units” eight feet (8’) or less in width and sixty feet (60’) or less in length may be moved on the highways of this state without the procurement of the special permit under this subchapter.

  1. Application Information

    1. Arkansas Code Annotated  27-35-304 (a)(1) amended by  Act 780     of l999 provides, in part, ”Manufactured home units may be lawfully moved interstate and intrastate on the highways, roads, and streets of this state by procuring a special permit issued by the department.  The rules and regulations of the commission, with respect to the movement of manufactured homes upon the highways of this state shall be equally applicable to the movement of manufactured homes upon city streets and county roads in this state.  No municipality or county shall require local permits, bonds, fees, or licenses for the interstate or intrastate movement of manufactured homes permitted by the department.”

    2. Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-304(2) provides, "A permit shall be required for each single continuous movement of each manufactured home unit.”

    3. Arkansas Code Annotated  27-35-304(3) amended by Act 780    of 1999 provides, in part, "Manufactured home units in excess of sixteen feet six inches (16’6”) in width may be moved upon the public highways of this state by obtaining an emergency permit approved by the department.  Factors to be considered in approval of such emergency permit shall include, but not be limited to:  (A)  Maximum overall width; (B) Distance to travel; (c) Condition of the highway; and (D) The volume and type of traffic."

    4. Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-304(4) provides, in part, "No special permit shall be issued for any manufactured home unit exceeding eighteen feet (18’) in width."

    5. Permits required under this subchapter may be obtained from the Permit Section of the Department.

    6. Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-305(2) provides, in part, ”A special permit shall be issued to any licensed carrier, dealer or manufacturer who files with the Department evidence of acceptable insurance coverage.”

    7. Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-305(b)(1) provides, in    part, "Persons moving their personal manufactured home units not over twelve feet (12’) wide, exclusive of clearance lights, registered to such persons, and not for the purpose of sale, with a truck of not less than one-ton factory rated capacity, equipped with such devices and safety equipment and in compliance with safety regulations as required by the Interstate Commerce Commission as the pulling vehicle, when the driver of a pulling vehicle is experienced in such driving, shall be entitled to a special permit upon a showing  of evidence that they have insurance acceptable to the Department for, and title to, the manufactured home unit."

  1. Bond/Fee Information

    1. Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-307 and 27-35-308 allows payment of fees on a monthly basis and provides for the disposition of such fees.

    2. Persons posting a surety bond with the Department in the amount of $1,000.00 payable on default to the State of Arkansas, shall be allowed to pay fees accruing for permits on a monthly basis.  Should the person fail to pay any sum owing to the Department within thirty (30) days after due, the Department may execute on the bond.

    3. Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-304(b) as amended by Act 780 of 1999 provided, in part, "Special permits required under this subchapter may be obtained from the Permit Section of the Department, and the Department shall charge a fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for the permit, provided the manufactured home unit to be moved does not exceed sixteen feet six inches (16’6”) in width.  The Department shall charge a fee of no more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the manufactured home to be moved is greater than sixteen feet six inches (16’6”) in width, but does not exceed eighteen feet (18’) in width.”  Subject fees are exclusive of transmission fees.

     

  2. Movement Requirements

    1. Insurance:  The minimum liability insurance requirements for manufactured home manufacturers, dealers and carriers are one hundred thousand ($100,000) dollars for the first bodily injury or death; three hundred thousand ($300,000) dollars for bodily injury or death for each accident; and one hundred thousand ($100,000) dollars for property damage resulting from the accident.  ($400,000 dollars minimum combined single limit coverage).  Proof of liability coverage in the amounts of $25,000/$100,000/$15,000 or $115,000 combined single limit coverage for persons transporting their own manufactured home must be available for verification at all times during movement in Arkansas.

    2. Signs/Flags:  The vehicle pulling the manufactured home unit shall display clearly an "OVERSIZE LOAD” sign on the front and rear of said manufactured home unit and an eighteen inch (18”) red square flag on the front corners of the unit.  An example of the sign is "OVERSIZE  LOAD”.  The signs shall be constructed of a durable material with a yellow background and black letters of a two inch (2”) stroke and a minimum height of ten inches (10”).

    3. Brakes: All manufactured home units shall be equipped with axles and brakes which conform to applicable state and federal standards.

    4. Lighting:           All manufactured home units shall be equipped with tail lamps and signal lamps which shall conform to applicable state and federal standards.

     

  3. Movement Restrictions

    1. No movement of manufactured homes in excess of twelve feet (12’) wide on two-lane highways will be allowed from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.  This restriction does not apply to Saturday movement, nor between the dates of June 15th through August 15th.

    2. Manufactured homes may not be transported on Sunday, holidays listed in Section II, Item E or at night.  (Act 35 of l989).

    3. Manufactured home units greater than sixteen feet six inches (16’6”) in width may only be transported between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

    4. Act 35 of l989 provides that manufactured home units may be moved on Saturdays.  The exception to Saturday movement will be where traffic volumes are anticipated to be greater than normal, due to a special event including, but not limited to college or university athletic events, or Regional or State Fairs scheduled for the particular Saturday and such legal holidays as shall be specified by the Department.

     

  4. Escort Requirements

    1. General escort requirements are described in Section VI of this manual.

    2. Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-306 amended by Act 780 of 1999, provides, in part, in subsection (g)(1) "On any controlled access, divided highway with four (4) or more lanes, any  manufactured home in excess of fourteen feet six inches (14’6”) in width shall be accompanied by one (1) escort vehicle. The escort vehicle shall travel behind the manufactured home.

    3. On all other highways, Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-306 (2) amended by Act 780 of 1999 provides, in part, the movement of manufactured homes in excess of twelve feet (12’) in width through fourteen feet six inches (14’6”) in width, shall be accompanied by one (1) escort vehicle.  The escort vehicle shall travel in front of the manufactured home.  The movement of any manufactured home which exceeds fourteen feet six inches (14’6”) in width shall be accompanied by two (2) escort vehicles.  One escort vehicle shall precede the manufactured home; one escort vehicle shall follow it.  (See Section VI, D (10) for the distance requirements).  An enforcement officer of the Arkansas Highway Police Division may authorize escorts as deemed necessary for the safety of the traveling public.  Permittee must obtain or furnish the escort vehicle as prescribed herein.

     

  5. Traffic Control

The pulling unit and escort for manufactured home movements shall take reasonable measures to prevent excessive build up of accumulated traffic behind them, including pulling over and stopping at safe locations and reduction of speed in safe places for passing.

Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-310(a) amended by Act 780 of 1999 provides, In part, "In addition to the requirements on persons and payloads issued permits to move manufactured home and houses on Arkansas highways under Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-304 and 27-35-309, a person issued a permit to move manufactured homes or houses under this subchapter shall be authorized to temporarily stop or halt traffic and safely direct, control, and regulate traffic around the manufactured home or house while maneuvering his payloads on or off the public streets, highways or bridges.”  Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-310(b) provides, in part, that no person moving a permitted manufactured home shall ever halt or stop traffic on a public street or highway while maneuvering a manufactured home on or off the street or highway for more that three (3) minutes or stop or halt traffic within five hundred feet (500’) from the crest of a hill.

(Back to Permit Regulations)