It is hereby found that in order to protect and promote the public health, morals, convenience, safety and welfare, to preserve the appropriate character of each area within the city, it is necessary to provide for the licensing, regulation, permits and fees for the locations and operation of mobile homes and mobile home parks within the city.

(Code 1977, 7A-101)

For the purpose of this article the following specific terms and words shall have the following meaning:

(a)   Dependent Mobile Home shall mean mobile home which does not have a flush toilet and bath or shower.

(b)   Independent Mobile Home shall mean a mobile home which does have a flush toilet and bath or shower.

(c)   Inspector shall mean the legally designated inspection authority of the city, or his or her authorized representative.

(d)   Licensee shall mean any person licensed to operate and maintain a mobile home park under the provision of the article.

(e)   Mobile Home shall mean all vehicles used, or so constructed as to permit being used as conveyances upon the public streets or highways and duly licensable as such, and constructed in such a manner as will permit occupancy thereof for human habitation, dwelling or sleeping places for one or more persons; provided, that this definition shall refer and include all portable contrivances used or intended to be used generally for living and sleeping quarters and which is capable of being moved by its own power, towed or transported by another vehicle.

(f)    Natural or Artificial Barrier shall mean any street, river, pond, canal, railroad, levee, embankment or screening by appropriate fence or hedge.

(g)   Permittee shall mean any person to whom a permit is issued for a mobile home, or a temporary permit is issued in accordance with the provisions of this article as hereinafter described.

(h)   Person shall mean any natural individual, firm, trust, partnership, association, or corporation whether tenant, owner, lessee, licensee, permittee, agent, heirs or assigns.

(i)    Trailer or Mobile Home shall mean any vehicle or similar portable structure, mounted or designed for mounting on wheels, used or intended for use for dwelling purposes, including structural additions, except parked and unoccupied camping type trailers. Any such vehicle shall be deemed to be a mobile home whether or not the wheels have been removed therefrom, and whether or not resting upon a permanent or temporary foundation.

(Code 1977, 7A-102)

Provisions for licensing and temporary permits shall be as follows:

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any person to establish, maintain, operate or permit to be established, maintained or operated any mobile home park within the corporate city limits of the city, without first having secured a license therefore.

(b)   It shall be unlawful for any person to park, place or abandon any mobile home upon any street, alley, highway or any public place or upon any premises tract of land located within the corporate limits of the city and which is situated outside a licensed mobile home park without first having secured a temporary permit as herein provided.

(c)   The parking of one visiting mobile home in an accessory private garage building, or in the rear yard of any premises for a period of not to exceed 30 days shall be permitted: provided, that the temporary permit for such shall not be renewed or another permit issued for such mobile home at the same location within the calendar year that such temporary permit was issued.

(d)   This section shall not apply to the following:

(1)   The emergency of temporary stopping or parking for 24 hours and subject to any other limitations that may be imposed by other ordinances of the city relative to parking.

(2)   Unoccupied mobile homes for demonstration and sales purposes only may be located within the city after a temporary permit is obtained for a period of not to exceed 30 days.

(3)   The storage of an unoccupied or uninhabited mobile home within the corporate limits of the city, shall be permitted in the rear yard of any premises: provided; that all such storage is not in conflict with any other sections of this article, or other pertinent ordinances of the city. All owners of existing mobile homes of a permanent or semi-permanent nature located outside of a licensed mobile home park shall secure a mobile occupancy permit as herein provided. The lawful use of land existing as of November 7, 1970, although such use does not conform to the provisions hereof, may be continued, but if such nonconforming use is discontinued, any further use of such premises shall be in conformity with the provisions of this article.

(Code 1977, 7A-103)

Provisions relating to the application for licenses and permits shall be as follows:

(a)   Application for mobile home park licenses and temporary permits for an individual mobile home as provided herein and required by section 5-303 of this article shall be filed at the office of the city clerk. The application for an initial mobile home park license shall be in writing, on forms provided by the city. Each such application shall be filed by the owner and include the following:

(1)   The name and address of the applicant.

(2)   The location and legal description of mobile home park.

(3)   A complete plan of the mobile home park in conformity with all the requirements for such as contained in this article.

(4)   Plans and specification of all buildings, improvements and other facilities such as electrical wiring, water service pipes, gas service pipes and sewer service constructed or to be constructed within the mobile home park.

(5)   Such other information as may be requested by the city building inspector to enable him or her to determine if the proposed mobile home park will comply with all the requirements of this article.

(b)   If the plans and specifications for the proposed mobile home park conform with all the provisions of this article and all applicable ordinances, then the city building inspector shall approve the application, and upon the completion of the mobile home park according to the approved plans and specifications, the office of the city clerk shall issue a license for such upon payment of the fee, or fees, as hereinbefore provided.

(c)   The application for a temporary permit and for individual mobile home shall be in writing on forms provided by the city, and shall include the following

(1)   The name and address of the applicant.

(2)   The location and legal description of the property or area on which the mobile home is to be parked either temporarily or permanently.

(3)   The dates that the mobile home will be temporarily parked.

(4)   The license number of the mobile home.

(5)   Certification by the occupant, owner or tenant that all plumbing fixtures may be sealed by the city building inspector, or his or her representative. In the event that such plumbing is sealed, the owner or occupant of such mobile home shall not permit such seal to be broken except by the direction of the city building inspector or his or her representative.

(6)   The signature of the applicant.

(d)   All applications for temporary permits or semi-permanent mobile homes as herein provided shall be approved by the city building inspector or his or her representative. Upon certification by the city building inspector that all semi permanent permits and temporary permits are in compliance with the provisions of this article, then the office of the city clerk shall issue the city permit upon payment of the fee as hereinbefore provided.

(e)   Upon application in writing by a licensee for renewal of a license, and after reinspection by the city building inspector of the mobile home park for conformance with the regulations of this article, and upon the payment of the annual license fee, or fees, the city clerk shall issue a certificate renewing such license for another year.

(f)    All existing mobile home parks not having a minimum area of one city block, as blocks are platted in the city and not meeting the requirements of this article shall be declared nonconforming, and shall not be permitted to add spaces or make any improvements inconsistent with the terms and conditions of this article, and any such nonconforming mobile home park, space, or area which shall not be operated for a period of 30 days shall not reopen until the conditions of this article shall be complied with; except, that after November 7, 1970, it shall be unlawful for any person to park, place or abandon any mobile home outside a duly authorized mobile home park, except on a temporary basis as provided by this article.

(g)   If upon inspection of any mobile home park, the building inspector finds that conditions exist which are in violation of any provisions of this article or of any regulation pursuant thereto, the city building inspector shall give notice, in writing, to the person to whom the license was issued, and unless such condition or practices are corrected within a reasonable period of time to be determined by the city building inspector, he or she shall give notice, in writing to the person to whom the license was issued that the license has been revoked. Upon receipt of the notice of revocation, such person, or persons, shall cease operation of such mobile home park.

(h)   Any person whose application for license has been denied or any person whose license has been revoked may request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter before the governing body of this city upon filing an application for hearing before such body within three days following the day upon which such notice was received or license denied and the governing body shall hold such hearing within 30 days after the filing of the application. The filing of such application shall not suspend any order of the city building inspector in denying application for license but shall suspend any order of revocation of the license until the matter has been determined by the governing body of the city.

(Code 1977, 7A-104)

Provisions relating to location of mobile home parks shall be as follows:

(a)   A mobile home park may be located in any part of the city; provided that there is first obtained from the governing body of this city a permit as herein provided.

(b)   Each mobile home park shall have a minimum area of one city block, as blocks are platted in the original town of the city. Each boundary of any mobile home park must be at least 200 feet from any permanent residential building located outside the mobile home park unless separated therefrom by a material or artificial barrier. (An artificial barrier must be at least five feet in height.) Or unless a majority of the property owners according to the area within 200 feet consent in writing to the establishment of the mobile home park.

(Code 1977, 7A-1 05)

Provisions relating to the mobile home plan shall be as follows:

(a)   The mobile home park shall conform to the following requirements:

(1)   The mobile home park shall be located on a well-drained site, properly graded to insure rapid drainage and freedom from stagnant pools of water.

(2)   Mobile home spaces shall be provided consisting of a minimum of 4,000 sq.ft. for each space and shall be clearly defined and marked.

(3)   Mobile homes shall be harbored on each space so that there shall be at least 15 feet of clearance between mobile homes. No mobile home shall be located closer than 20 feet from any building within the mobile home park, or from any property line bounding the mobile home park.

(4)   All mobile home spaces shall have adequate access to a driveway of not less than 20 feet in width, which shall have unobstructed access to a public street or highway and shall not be by an alley and all dead end driveways shall include adequate vehicular turning space or cul-de-sac.

(5)   Off-driveway parking shall be maintained at a minimum ratio of one car space for each mobile home space.

(6)   All driveways and walkways within the mobile home park shall be all weather surfaced, maintained and lighted at night with electric lamps of not less than 100 watts each, spaced at intervals of not more than 100 feet or equivalent illumination as may be supplied by other approved sources.

(7)   An electrical outlet supplying at least 115 volts shall be provided for each mobile home space with a minimum of 60 ampere individual service.

(8)   One or more playgrounds shall be provided which are easily accessible from the mobile homes without encountering traffic hazards.

(b)   If independent mobile home spaces only are provided, no service building shall be required. Any mobile home park providing for dependent mobile homes shall have one or more service buildings constructed in accordance with the provisions of the building, plumbing and electrical code of the city. Such service building shall:

(1)   Be located 20 feet or more from any mobile home space;

(2)   Be adequately lighted;

(3)   Have the interior finished with moisture-resistant material to permit frequent washing and cleaning;

(4)   Provide at least one lavatory water closet and shower for each sex, one laundry tray, one slop water drain and hot and cold water;

(5)   Have adequate heating facilities for the building and equipment which will furnish an ample supply of heated water during times of peak demands;

(6)   Have all rooms well ventilated with all openings effectively screened.

(Code 1977, 7A-106)

Provisions relating to water supply shall be as follows:

(a)   The water supply shall be connected to the municipal water system and all plumbing shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the city’s plumbing code.

(b)   Individual water service connections shall be provided for direct use by mobile homes and shall be so constructed that they will not be damaged by the parking of such mobile homes, or as required by the city building inspector.

(Code 1977, 7A-107)

Rules and regulations pertaining to sewage disposal shall be as follows:

(a)   All plumbing at the mobile home park shall comply with state and local plumbing laws and regulations.

(b)   Each mobile home space shall be provided with at least a four inch sewer connection. The sewer connections shall be provided with suitable fittings so that a water connection can be made between the mobile home and the sewer connection. Such individual mobile home connection shall be so constructed that they can be closed when not linked to a mobile home and shall be trapped in such a manner as to maintain them in an odor free condition.

(c)   Sewer lines shall be constructed with the approval of the city building inspector in accordance with the plumbing code and in accordance with the requirements of the city building inspector and all sewer lines of the mobile home park shall be connected to the public sewer system all at the cost of the licensee.

(Code 1977, 7A-108)

The storage, collection and disposal of refuse in the mobile home park shall be in compliance with the refuse laws of the city except that the burning of trash or debris is hereby prohibited.

(Code 1977, 7 A-109)

All electrical installations shall comply with the electrical code of the city. Such electrical outlets shall be weatherproof. No power lines, including service lines to the mobile homes shall be permitted to lie on the surface of the ground. All power lines, if on poles, shall be suspended not less than 10 feet above the ground. Surface installations shall be acceptable only after such installation meets with the approval of the city building inspector.

(Code 1977. 7 A-110)

Natural and liquefied petroleum gas for cooking purposes may be used at individual mobile home spaces; provided, that the installation is connected by copper to other suitable metallic tubing and complies with the fire prevention code of the city.

(Code 1977, 7 A-111)

Provisions relating to fire protection shall be as follows:

(a)   Each mobile home park shall be subject to the rules and regulations of this city and the fire prevention code of this city.

(b)   Portable fire extinguishers of a type approved by the fire chief shall be kept in the service building and in such other buildings or locations named by such fire chief, and shall be maintained at all times in a good operating condition.

(c)   Standard fire hydrants shall be located within 400 feet of each mobile home.

(Code 1977, 7A-112)

(a)   Any person who shall neglect or refuse to comply with or shall violate or attempt to violate any of the provisions of this article, or any amendments or additions thereto, whether as owner, agent, officer, employee, tenant, occupant, lessee, or any other person who shall permit or take part in, or assist in, such violation or attempted violation, shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this code, constituting a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which such violation is committed, continued, permitted or attempted, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine, set by resolution of the governing body from time to time.

(b)   The imposition of the penalties herein prescribed shall not preclude the city, or any other interested person from instituting injunction, mandamus or other appropriate action or proceeding authorized by law to prevent, correct or abate such violation.

(Code 1977, 7A-113; Code 2016)