Mobile home storm rules in Alabama
Alabama relies on the federal HUD code for a manufactured home's construction and wind-zone anchoring and, where the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act governs, on the landlord's duty to keep the premises habitable and the supplied facilities in safe working order. Alabama has no dedicated mobile home park act and no statute requiring a park to provide a storm shelter.
Published June 3, 2026
Alabama addresses storm and disaster safety through the federal HUD construction code, the Manufactured Housing Commission's installation oversight, and — where the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act governs — the landlord's habitability duty. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone dealing with a specific situation should consider consulting a licensed attorney in Alabama.
What the statute says
The home's construction and anchoring follow the federal HUD code (24 C.F.R. Part 3280), with installation and anchoring overseen in Alabama by the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission. Habitability comes from the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act where it governs: under Ala. Code §35-9A-204(a), a landlord must "make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a habitable condition," "keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition," and "maintain in good and safe working order ... all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and other facilities and appliances ... supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord." Alabama has no dedicated mobile-home-park statute and no provision requiring a park to provide a storm shelter.
How it works in general
For the home itself, Alabama relies on the federal HUD code's wind-zone construction and anchoring standards, with the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission overseeing installation — important in a state where much of the area is in a higher wind zone. For the lot and common areas, the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act's habitability duty applies where the Act governs: the landlord has to keep the premises habitable and the supplied facilities in safe working order, which matters most when a storm strains a park's utilities or drainage. Alabama doesn't require a park to provide a storm shelter, so disaster preparation and assistance run through state and federal emergency management. As elsewhere in Alabama law, coverage matters — a lot-only tenancy may fall outside the Act, leaving the lease and general law to govern.
Common scenarios
General examples Alabama park residents commonly encounter:
- Questions arise about how a home is anchored. The federal HUD code governs, and the Manufactured Housing Commission oversees installation (24 C.F.R. Part 3280).
- A storm strains the park's supplied utilities. Where the Act applies, the landlord must keep them in safe working order (§35-9A-204(a)).
- A resident looks for a storm shelter. No statute requires a park to provide one; rely on local emergency management.
Other authorities that may apply
The Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Ala. Code §35-9A-204) sets the habitability duty for covered tenancies; the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission oversees installation and anchoring; and the federal HUD code governs home construction. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency and FEMA administer disaster assistance, and a homeowner's insurance policy — not statute — usually governs storm-damage claims.
Frequently asked questions
- What construction and anchoring standards govern an Alabama manufactured home?
- The federal HUD code. A manufactured home is built and anchored to the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (24 C.F.R. Part 3280), and installation and anchoring in Alabama are overseen by the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission. Much of Alabama is in a higher wind zone, so proper anchoring matters. This is general information, not advice about a specific situation — consider consulting a licensed attorney in Alabama.
- Who keeps an Alabama rental safe and habitable?
- Where the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act governs, the landlord must, under Ala. Code §35-9A-204(a), keep the premises 'in a habitable condition,' keep common areas 'in a clean and safe condition,' and 'maintain in good and safe working order' the electrical, plumbing, heating, and other supplied facilities — duties that matter most when a storm strains a park's systems.
- Does an Alabama park have to provide a storm shelter?
- No. Alabama has no dedicated mobile home park act and no statute requiring a park to provide a storm shelter. Disaster preparation and assistance run through the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and FEMA, and a homeowner's insurance policy usually governs storm-damage claims.