Having a mobile home can provide you with a versatile way to live because of how you can move it from one place or another. This can be great if you also have a house because you now have two choices as you can use your mobile home if you want to move somewhere or perhaps stay on the road for a long time. That said, if you aren’t using your mobile home, you may be wondering where you can put it. So, can you put a mobile home in your backyard?
It depends on a lot of factors that are legal in nature such as zoning, the city and state laws in your area, as well as the other requirements and considerations you need to look at like the septic system and building permits that you may need. So, in short, there is no specific answer to this question.
As said, it is difficult to truly tell whether or not you can put a mobile home in your backyard because this really depends on where you are. That’s because different laws and regulations differ depending on where you may live. As such, let’s look at the things you need to consider and know when it comes to knowing whether or not you can put a mobile home in your backyard.
How many acres do I need for a mobile home?
Buying a mobile home can be a dream for a lot of different people especially those who love to go on long trips around the country. And the best thing about a mobile home is how versatile it is. You can basically live in your own home and save a lot of money on hotel bills because your mobile home is basically both your home and your vehicle.
However, when it comes to buying a mobile home, there are plenty of different things you need to consider especially when it comes to the legal requirements that are necessary. It really isn’t just as simple as buying a mobile home and expecting you to be able to park and put it anywhere you want. That’s because there are some factors that you need to look at first.
One of the things you should know is that there is a minimum land area requirement when it comes to a spot of land where you can park your mobile home in case you are not on the road. So, how many acres do you need for a mobile home?
First of all, you need to make sure that you have a large enough plot of land where you can park your mobile home. On top of that, there is also a need for you to make sure that there is enough space around your mobile home when you park it. So, in that regard, the general rule wherever you go is that you can’t put a mobile home in an area that is less than a quarter of an acre large. The only exception to that general rule is when you are talking about a plot of land that is specifically zoned as a mobile home park.
Then again, it is not merely the size of the land that you have to consider because there are plenty of other factors that you need to look at when you want to park your mobile home in a certain area. This is why it really isn’t always that easy to own a mobile home because, after all, this is still considered a home that needs to be in a lot of space and to fulfill certain legal requirements first.
Can I put a mobile home in my backyard?
For those who are looking to buy a mobile home because of how versatile it is especially when you are on the road, one of the things you might be thinking is that a mobile home is similar to a car in the sense that you can just put it wherever you can put it as long as it is your own land or that it is a parking lot.
However, a mobile home is not a car but is considered a home. In fact, a mobile home actually looks like a home with the difference that it can be moved from one spot to another. That means that there are legal requirements that you need to fulfill in relation to its status as a home.
So, in relation to that, what you may be wondering right now is if you can actually put a mobile home in your backyard simply because that is your own backyard and, a mobile home can basically be physically placed anywhere.
But the fact of the matter is that, no, you can’t just put a mobile home in your own backyard even if that is your own property. That’s because there are plenty of other considerations you need to look at. As we said, you need to have a yard that is big enough and is not under a quarter of an acre. Then again, there are other factors we need to consider as well.
So, in that regard, you can’t just put a mobile home in your backyard. That’s because you have to understand that there are plenty of things to consider when you want to put a mobile home in the backyard of your home. Then again, just because you can’t just put a mobile home in your backyard it doesn’t mean that you can’t. The fact is that you still can put a mobile home in your backyard so long as you know the requirements.
How to find out if I can put a mobile home in my yard?
As mentioned, you can’t just put a mobile home in your backyard but that doesn’t mean that you can’t. You can actually put a mobile home in your yard as long as you know the requirements and the considerations that you need to look at.
State regulations
So, the first things you need to look at are the housing laws in your state because your mobile home is still considered home and is not a mobile vehicle that you can just park anywhere with minimal restrictions. It’s not even an RV that can be treated as both a home and a vehicle. You have to know that your mobile home is a house, and that is why you need to know the state regulations in relation to housing.
For example, some state regulations require that a certain plot of land should have the proper soil type and drainage when it comes to mobile homes. You also need to look at the access to waterways for your mobile home. So, the only way to be sure is to contact your local DNR so that you can tell if you could actually put your mobile home in your backyard.
Local laws
On top of the state laws that you need to consider when parking your mobile home in your backyard, you also need to look at the local laws in your city or county or even your neighborhood. That’s because a mobile home can affect the entire locality especially if there are regulations that you need to follow.
And even if you aren’t violating any local laws, the neighborhood might not like the fact that you have a mobile home in your backyard. That’s because it might affect the overall aesthetics of the neighborhood. There are even areas that prohibit mobile homes because they are also treated as RVs, which should be parked in specific zones.
Practical concerns
On top of how you need to comply with certain state and local laws when it comes to putting your mobile home in your backyard, you need to make sure that you also address some practical concerns that aren’t really requirements but are very important when it comes to your overall quality of life. Here are some of those concerns:
Zoning
There are some areas that have zoning laws in place in relation to mobile homes. That means that you may not be able to put your mobile home in your backyard unless you comply with certain requirements that will allow you to do so.
Water and septic system
It is important to be able to have a working water and septic system for your mobile home because of how this is necessary for health and sanitation. That means that, when you put your mobile home in a yard, it needs to be able to have proper access to working water and septic systems.
Public utility access
Meanwhile, you also need to look at whether or not your mobile home can be accessed by companies that are providing public utilities. This can be difficult if your yard is situated in such a way that will make this impossible for public utility providers to access.
Do you need planning permission to put a mobile home in the backyard?
Finally, the next thing you need to consider is whether or not you need planning permission or a building permit when it comes to putting up a mobile home in your backyard. Well, the answer to that question is pretty simple.
If you are planning on allowing your mobile home to have permanent access to public utilities, then the thing you need to know is that you need to have to get a building permit for it. This also means that you need to comply with other requirements that may be quite expensive when you add up all of the costs.
So, in short, putting a mobile home in your private property can actually be difficult because of all of the red tape and the requirements you need to learn. As such, it isn’t always the most ideal decision to have a mobile home in your backyard. It might be better to live in a mobile home community if that is the case but, if you do find out that there aren’t plenty of requirements or permits that you need to get, then it shouldn’t be a problem for you to put your mobile home in your backyard.
Sources:
https://www.mobilehomesell.com/can-i-put-a-mobile-home-in-my-backyard/
Can You Put a Mobile Home in Your Backyard for Personal Use?
