R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 31-44 § 31-44-15
Purchase requirement
Operative Text
(a) All dealers and purchasers of new manufactured homes shall present or buy only housing urban and development (HUD) approved and compliant manufactured structures. (b) All dealers and purchasers of new manufactured homes are required to record with the local building official data plate wind zone information as part of the installation application. Local building officials shall consider data plate wind zone information as part of their inspection and enforcement process. (c) Owners of a home in a mobile- and manufactured-home park and owners of vacant lots in a mobile- and manufactured-home park shall not be prevented from replacing their existing home or placing a new home on a vacant lot notwithstanding any local zoning or land use ordinance to the contrary enacted subsequent to the establishment of the legally recognized lot on which the home is to be placed so long as all local and state building standards are satisfied and permits obtained.
Rhode Island General Laws § 31-44-15 establishes three related requirements for manufactured homes. First, all new manufactured homes sold or purchased must meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approval and compliance standards. Second, dealers and purchasers must record wind zone data from the home's data plate with the local building official as part of the installation application, and officials must factor that information into inspections. Third, owners in mobile- and manufactured-home park settings retain the right to replace an existing home or place a new home on a vacant lot, even if local zoning or land use rules enacted after the lot was legally established would otherwise restrict it, provided all applicable building standards and permits are satisfied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Park owners and operators should be aware that § 31-44-15 protects residents' and vacant-lot owners' rights to replace or place manufactured homes within an established park, regardless of subsequently enacted local zoning restrictions, as long as state and local building standards are met and proper permits are obtained. Dealers and park managers involved in new home placements generally ensure that only HUD-approved and compliant structures are brought onto the property. Maintaining records of data plate wind zone information submitted to the local building official as part of installation applications is a standard part of a compliant installation process under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 31-44-15, residents of mobile- and manufactured-home parks have a statutory right to replace their home or place a new home on a vacant lot they own, and local zoning rules adopted after the lot was legally established cannot be used to block that right, so long as building standards and permit requirements are met. If a park owner, local official, or zoning authority attempts to prevent such a replacement or placement, this provision may serve as a basis for challenging that action. Tenants and homeowners who believe their rights under § 31-44-15 are being denied may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization, a housing advocacy group, or an attorney familiar with Rhode Island manufactured-home law to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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