Municipal zoning and double-wide mobile homes : Tennessee municipal officials' opinions

In order to assess the suitability of double-wide mobile homes as housing that could be placed in most residential districts within municipalities, double-wide mobile homes were compared to site-built homes, modular homes, and single-wide mobile homes. The application of zoning to single-wide and double-wide mobile homes was also discussed. The literature review and a personal interview provided the information for the comparisons and the discussion on mobile home zoning.

A questionnaire concerning mobile home zoning was mailed to 160 Tennessee municipal officials. Of the 160 questionnaires mailed, 97 were completed and returned, resulting in a response rate of 61 percent, which was considered very good.

The results of the survey revealed that the general opinion of Tennessee municipal officials toward locating mobile homes within municipalities in areas other than established mobile home parks is very negative. Some of the respondents stated that they would be more inclined to permit the location of double-wide mobile homes within municipalities because they are more attractive than single-wide mobile homes, more compatible with surrounding property uses, and attract more desirable residents than do single-wides. However, only 25 percent of the municipal officials who responded to the survey thought that double-wide mobile homes should be permitted in areas where singlewide mobile homes are not permitted.

Thus far, the mobile home industry has been unable to convince local government officials and community residents that double-wide mobile homes are an acceptable form of housing that is compatible with site-built homes of similar size. Educational and promotional programs should be undertaken by the mobile home industry to help alleviate this problem.