Chapter 15.08
MOBILE HOMES AND TRAILERS*
Sections:
15.08.020 Compliance required.
15.08.030 Applicability of provisions.
15.08.050 Permit – Conditions of issuance.
15.08.070 Parking within city restricted.
15.08.080 Permit for parking within city – Issuance restrictions.
15.08.090 Applicability of regulations to trailer coaches on posts.
15.08.100 Construction permit – Issuance – Time limit.
15.08.110 Construction permit – Extensions.
15.08.120 Construction permit – Conditions of issuance.
15.08.130 Violation – Prohibited.
15.08.140 Violation – Penalty.
*For statutory provisions on mobile homes, see RCW 43.22.340.
15.08.010 Title.
This chapter shall be known as the mobile, manufactured, designated manufactured, modular homes, and recreational vehicles used as a primary residence code for the city. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2).
15.08.020 Compliance required.
(1) Mobile, manufactured, and designated manufactured homes, modular homes, park model homes, and RVs, used as a primary residence, shall comply with all plumbing, electrical, heating and structural requirements imposed by the State of Washington Department of Labor and Industries in compliance with RCW 43.22.340. All such homes shall bear the appropriate state inspection insignia as specified in RCW 43.22.350. A “mobile home” is a dwelling which is assembled prior to June 15, 1976, and must have fire/safety inspection approved by Labor and Industries prior to placement. A “designated manufactured home” is a dwelling which is assembled after June 15, 1976, in accordance with state and federal requirements. “Modular homes” are manufactured homes and are inspected to Uniform Building Code standards. “Park model” means a recreational vehicle intended for semi-permanent or permanent installation and is used as a primary residence. Park models for the purposes of this chapter are allowed only in a designated mobile home park. “Recreational vehicles used as a primary residence,” subject to the definition listed under subsection (5) of this section, means a travel trailer, motor home, or camping trailer that is primarily designated and used as temporary living quarters, and is either self-propelled or drawn by another vehicle. An RV for the purposes of this chapter is allowed only in designated mobile home parks with recorded RV spaces designated.
(2) These state inspected dwellings, trailer coaches, and RVs utilized as a primary residence shall be placed on a foundation system that meets the requirements per the manufacturer’s installation instructions or, if the manufacturer is not specific, then to the standards in Chapter 296-150M WAC. When inspections, including pads or runners (foundations), anchorage, ground cover, landings, environmental hookups and skirting with required vents, have been made by the building official a certificate of occupancy may be issued. Special provisions will be considered for units located within a floodplain and to meet FEMA guidelines.
(3) Modular homes must be appropriately placed on a full permanent foundation in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions or city of Kittitas requirements. Mobile and manufactured homes may be placed on stands or blocked in materials that are approved for below grade applications. Special manufacturer instructions for perimeter support may be necessary for heavier snow loads. Modular homes will be considered a single-family home. A designated manufactured home designed to bear on full perimeter concrete or masonry foundation walls and so installed shall be considered a single-family home. Any of these dwellings requires a permit from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. This includes deviations from factory-installed heating systems.
(4) All manufactured, mobile, and modular homes, park models, and RVs, used as a primary residence, shall meet the same snow load as stick-framed homes.
(5) Park models and RVs placed in a designated mobile home park as a primary residence will be required to meet the same placement and foundation requirements required for a manufactured home and/or park model trailer in the same location. Trailer coaches and RVs in a designated flood area will be required to be fully licensed and ready for highway use, on wheels or jacking system, attached to the site only by quick disconnect type utilities and security devices, and have no permanently attached additions or meet the requirements set forth in KMC 18.08.300 and elevation and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes. Trailer coaches and RVs that cannot meet these requirements will be restricted to temporary occupancy of no more than 30 days within a 45-day period and shall be fully licensed and ready for highway use at all times. A trailer coach or RV must be disconnected from utilities during the weeks that it is not in use. RVs are defined as follows:
“Recreational vehicle” means a vehicular-type unit primarily designed as a temporary living quarters, less than 300 square feet, used for recreation, camping or travel with or without motor power, of such size and weight as not to require special highway movement permit and certified by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries as evidenced by the attachment of a “green” seal. The vehicle has a gross floor area of less than 300 square feet. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2; Ord. 289 § 3, 1978. Formerly 15.08.010).
15.08.030 Applicability of provisions.
This chapter applies to singular lots with mobile, manufactured, designated manufactured and modular homes and/or mobile home parks. All mobile home parks now in existence which discontinue or remain out of operation for a period of six months shall have to reapply for permission to establish a new park. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2; Ord. 289 § 4, 1978. Formerly 15.08.020).
15.08.040 Permit – Required.
The owner of the property on which a mobile, manufactured, designated manufactured, modular home, park model, and/or RV is to be situated as a permanent dwelling or for indefinite periods of time shall apply for a permit for the placement of such dwelling. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2; Ord. 289 § 1, 1978. Formerly 15.08.030).
15.08.050 Permit – Conditions of issuance.
No permit shall be authorized or issued until the owner has satisfactorily shown that provisions have been made to have water and sewer hookup to the system and further that it will be constructed to meet all codes for building, plumbing, electrical, health, sanitation and zoning. The dwelling shall not be inhabited by more than it is designed for (two persons per bedroom). (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2; Ord. 289 § 2, 1978. Formerly 15.08.040).
15.08.060 Fees.
(1) All city of Kittitas permit fees shall be established by resolution.
(2) Investigative Fees – Work without a Permit.
(a) Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this code has been commenced without first obtaining said permit, a stop work order shall be issued and a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work.
(b) An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the building permit fee. This fee is an additional, punitive fee and shall not apply to the permit fee that may subsequently be issued. Payment of the investigation fee does not vest the illegal work with any legitimacy, nor does it establish any right to a permit for continued development of that project. If the work done remains illegal for 90 days after issuance of the stop work order, it shall be considered hazardous.
(c) The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this code nor from any penalty prescribed by law.
(3) Fee Refunds. The building official may authorize the refunding of:
(a) One hundred percent of any fee erroneously paid or collected.
(b) Up to 80 percent of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this code.
(c) Up to 80 percent of the plan review fee paid when an applicant for a permit for which a plan review has been paid is withdrawn or cancelled before any plan review is done.
The building official shall not authorize the refunding of any fee paid except on written application filed by the original permittee not later than 180 days after the date of fee payment. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2).
15.08.070 Parking within city restricted.
Except in a licensed mobile home park or where a permit has been issued or otherwise provided herein, it shall be unlawful to park or place any trailer coach or RV for the purpose of occupying the same within the city for any period of time exceeding seven days. For the purpose of this chapter, a “trailer coach or RV” shall include any vehicle which is constructed with sleeping and/or cooking facilities (trailers, campers, fifth wheels, motor homes, etc.). All trailer coaches and RVs must register with City Hall or the Kittitas police department upon parking at their temporary location. Registration will include name of the person, license number of the trailer coach and description of said vehicle. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2; Ord. 528, 1996; Ord. 289 § 6, 1978. Formerly 15.08.050).
15.08.080 Permit for parking within city – Issuance restrictions.
Following the seven-day free parking period and upon payment of a fee of $1.50 per day, the city clerk may issue a permit for a trailer coach or camper, etc., to be parked in the city outside of a trailer park for a period of not more than 14 days. Such permit shall not be issued unless the applicant shall establish to the city clerk that the proposed parking and use of the trailer coach will comply with the laws of the state of Washington and the rules and regulations of the State Board of Health pertaining to trailer parks with respect to access, water supply, garbage disposal and sanitation. The permit shall be temporary only and once a permit has been issued for a particular trailer coach once in a calendar year, another temporary permit shall not be issued unless granted by the city council, under extenuating circumstances, to go beyond the 21-day limit. The 21-day limit does not have to run consistent as long as the vehicle has been properly registered through the city. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2; Ord. 528, 1996; Ord. 289 § 7, 1978. Formerly 15.08.070).
15.08.090 Applicability of regulations to trailer coaches on posts.
The removal of the wheels for the setting of a trailer coach or RV on posts or footings will not be considered as removing the trailer coach or RV from the regulations affecting trailer coaches and RVs unless the trailer coach or RV is made to conform with the building code and other ordinances of the city relating to and regulating dwellings and land use. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2; Ord. 289 § 8, 1978. Formerly 15.08.070).
15.08.100 Construction permit – Issuance – Time limit.
The city council may authorize the building inspector to issue a permit to place and occupy a trailer coach or RV during construction of a residence or business. Such construction permit shall be issued for a period of 90 days and shall only be issued where the proposed parking and uses of the trailer coach will comply with the laws of the state of Washington and the rules and regulations of the State Board of Health relating to trailer parks with the respect to access, water supply, garbage disposal and sanitation. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2; Ord. 289 § 9, 1978. Formerly 15.08.080).
15.08.110 Construction permit – Extensions.
At the end of the 90-day period provided for in KMC 15.08.100, a person holding a construction permit may apply for an extension thereof and the council may authorize the building inspector to extend the permit for a period of 90 days if it appears to the satisfaction of the council that the applicant is proceeding with reasonable diligence in the construction of the residence or business and all requirements have been met. Two additional renewals may be granted and no trailer shall be parked or used outside any trailer park for more than one year. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2; Ord. 289 § 10, 1978. Formerly 15.08.090).
15.08.120 Construction permit – Conditions of issuance.
No permit shall be transferable from one person to another, or for one location to another. Also, once a permit has been issued for a trailer for a particular spot, lot or location, there shall be no other permit issued for the same spot, lot or location. Once a person is issued a permit or has obtained a construction permit in connection with the construction of a dwelling or business, he is not entitled to another. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2; Ord. 289 § 11, 1978. Formerly 15.08.100).
15.08.130 Violation – Prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to place a mobile, manufactured, designated manufactured or modular home, or cause the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2).
15.08.140 Violation – Penalty.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine not in excess of $500.00 or imprisonment of six months or by both. Each day in violation, after notification of the same, shall be considered a separate offense. (Ord. 14-026 § 2; Ord. 11-007 § 2; Ord. 11-002 § 2; Ord. 07-025 § 2; Ord. 04-728 § 2; Ord. 289 § 12, 1978. Formerly 15.08.010).