Mobile home storm rules in Illinois

Storm and disaster issues for Illinois manufactured-home residents draw on a few sources: a state water-supply duty during emergencies, the state's park-closure notice rule, and the federal HUD standards that govern how homes are built and installed. For a specific situation, consider consulting a licensed attorney in Illinois.

What the statute says

Section 14.3, "Water supply requirement," provides:

If exigent circumstances arise, the park owner is responsible for providing a water supply to each household. ... The park owner shall provide water following a 3-day period in which the normal supply of water is disrupted, and shall provide water for as long as the disruption in water service continues.

The section does not apply if the disruption "originates from factors outside the control of the mobile home park." On closures — which can follow severe damage or a change in use — Section 8.5 entitles tenants to "at least 12 months' notice" when a park ceases operation of all or part of the community.

How it works in general

If normal water service is disrupted for three days under exigent circumstances, the duty to supply water to each household falls on the park, unless the cause is outside the park's control. Construction and installation safety — including wind-zone design and anchoring — is set by the federal HUD Code (24 C.F.R. Parts 3280 and 3285), not by the lease. Illinois parks are licensed and inspected under the Mobile Home Park Act (210 ILCS 115) by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Section 14.2 also directs the development of a relocation plan for owners displaced by a park's sale or closure.

Common scenarios

General examples Illinois park residents commonly encounter:

• A prolonged water outage follows a storm. Section 14.3 places the duty to supply water on the park after three days, unless the cause is outside its control.
• A park announces closure after major damage. Section 8.5 requires at least 12 months' notice.
• Questions arise about anchoring or tie-downs. Those standards come from the federal HUD Code and the home's installation, administered with state oversight.

Other authorities that may apply

The federal HUD Code (24 C.F.R. Parts 3280 and 3285) governs manufactured-home construction and installation. The Mobile Home Park Act (210 ILCS 115) and the Illinois Department of Public Health regulate park infrastructure. FEMA and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency administer disaster assistance, and a homeowner's insurance policy — not statute — usually governs storm-damage claims.