Operative Text
SPS 326.49 Maintenance of water and sewer piping. (1) Thawing of a manufactured home community occupant’s frozen water service or building sewer shall be at the manufactured home community occupant’s expense unless either of the following apply: (a) The freeze-up is a direct result of a disconnect initiated by the manufactured home community operator or manufactured home community contractor and the disconnection occurs during a time when conditions are such that freeze-up could reasonably be expected to occur. (b) The freeze-up is a result of a deficiency in the manufactured home community water or sewer service piping. (2) The cost of maintenance of water and sewer service piping shall be at the expense of the manufactured home community occupant if the manufactured home community occupant physically damages piping or discharges improper materials into the sewer.
Wisconsin Administrative Code § SPS 326.49 establishes who bears the cost of thawing frozen water or sewer lines and maintaining water and sewer piping in manufactured home communities. As a general rule, the occupant is responsible for thaw-out costs, but that responsibility shifts to the community operator when the freeze results from an operator-initiated disconnection during freezing conditions or from a defect in the community's own piping. Similarly, occupants bear maintenance costs only when they have physically damaged the piping or discharged improper materials into the sewer system.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § SPS 326.49, manufactured home community operators who initiate service disconnections during cold weather should be aware that any resulting freeze-up costs may fall on the operator rather than the occupant. Compliant operators generally inspect and maintain community-owned water and sewer service piping to prevent deficiencies that could trigger operator-side cost responsibility. Keeping records of disconnection timing, weather conditions, and pipe inspection history supports clear cost allocation if a dispute arises.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § SPS 326.49 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code protects manufactured home community occupants from being billed for thaw-out costs when a freeze results from an operator-initiated disconnection during cold conditions or from a defect in the community's piping infrastructure. Occupants who believe they have been improperly charged for thawing or pipe maintenance may wish to document the circumstances of the freeze, including weather conditions and any recent disconnections, and review whether the community's piping had known deficiencies. Tenant-rights organizations in Wisconsin or the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection can be consulted for information about available complaint or dispute-resolution paths.
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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