This comprehensive guide helps municipalities understand how modern manufactured housing can expand affordable, attainable, and sustainable homeownership opportunities through thoughtful zoning and land-use reform. Prepared by Next Step Network, the guide breaks down common zoning barriers, clarifies terminology, and offers actionable strategies for integrating manufactured homes into residential communities.
Through data, policy analysis, and real-world case studies, this resource equips local leaders with the tools they need to modernize zoning codes, overcome NIMBYism, and increase housing supply without sacrificing quality, aesthetics, or energy efficiency.
What You’ll Learn
- How modern manufactured homes differ from pre-1976 “mobile homes”
- Why zoning remains one of the biggest barriers to manufactured housing adoption
- Strategies for updating zoning language to allow manufactured homes as fee-simple real estate
- How upzoning and inclusionary zoning can support “missing middle” housing
- Examples of successful zoning reforms and developments across the U.S.
- The role of energy efficiency, sustainability, and climate resilience in factory-built housing
Who Is This For
- Local government staff and elected officials
- Planning commissioners and zoning administrators
- Housing and community development professionals
- Policymakers and housing advocates