Plainville, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 653 § 653-8
Construction standards (Plainville Mobile Home Parks)
Operative Text
A. Mobile home pad. The pad shall be constructed from concrete or asphalt concrete sufficient to adequately support the mobile home and prevent abnormal settling or heaving under the weight of the home. The mobile home shall be anchored to prevent wind overturn and rocking by using tie-downs such as concrete "dead men," screw augers, arrowhead anchors, or other suitable devices capable of withstanding a tension of at least 4,800 pounds. The mobile home shall be boxed in. B. Water, sewer, and electrical lines. (1) A plan an profile showing water, sewer, and electrical lines shall be submitted to the Superintendent of Highways for approval. Utility lines shall not be laid in the same trench, and there shall be a minimum horizontal distance of 10 feet between them. Water/sewer crosses shall be kept to a minimum where crosses are necessary. Every effort shall be made to have the water lines pass above the sewer lines where adequate depths for cover are practical to obtain. (2) Acceptable sewer pipe materials are cement, asbestos, and rigid plastic such as PVC and ABS. The water and sewer riser pipes shall form watertight seals and, when not connected to a mobile home, shall be tightly and securely plugged. (3) Water and sewer riser pipes shall extend at least six inches above the mobile home pad. The water supply riser pipe shall have at least 3/5 inches inside diameter. A shutoff valve below the frost line shall serve each mobile home. (4) Underground stop and waste valves shall be installed on any water service. C. Electrical. Electric power lines shall be either underground or strung from poles in a manner acceptable to the servicing electric power company. Wires shall not be strewn about on the ground surface or strung from home to home. All connections shall be installed in accordance with the Massachusetts State Electrical Code. D. Refuse, trash, and garbage. Refuse, trash, and garbage shall not be permitted to accumulate in a manner that creates a potential or real health hazard. It shall be the responsibility of the park owner to insure that refuse does not accumulate for longer than a week, and that it is kept covered in barrels or metal containers out of reach of children or wild animals.
Plainville's CH. 653 § 653-8 establishes physical construction standards for mobile home parks, covering the pad surface, anchoring systems, utility line placement and materials, electrical connections, and refuse management. Pads must be concrete or asphalt and homes must be anchored against wind with devices rated to at least 4,800 pounds of tension. Utility lines must follow specific separation, material, and depth requirements, electrical work must comply with the Massachusetts State Electrical Code, and garbage must not accumulate beyond one week.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of mobile home parks subject to CH. 653 § 653-8 are generally expected to construct pads from approved materials, install compliant tie-down anchoring systems, and submit utility plans to the Superintendent of Highways before laying water, sewer, and electrical lines. Compliant park owners keep utility lines in separate trenches with at least 10 feet of horizontal separation, use approved sewer pipe materials, and ensure all electrical work meets the Massachusetts State Electrical Code. On the maintenance side, § 653-8(D) places responsibility on the park owner to ensure refuse is collected at least weekly and stored in covered containers inaccessible to children and animals.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of mobile home parks in Plainville benefit from CH. 653 § 653-8's requirements that their home site be structurally sound, properly anchored, and served by safely installed utilities. If a tenant observes conditions that appear to fall short of these standards—such as inadequate anchoring, exposed wiring, or accumulating refuse—they may consider documenting the conditions and raising the issue with local code enforcement or the town's relevant municipal authority. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what options are available, including how a violation of § 653-8 might be raised in a housing or health complaint proceeding.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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