Mobile home storm rules in Mississippi

Mississippi addresses storm and disaster safety through the federal HUD construction code and, where the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act governs, the landlord's duty to maintain the dwelling. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone dealing with a specific situation should consider consulting a licensed attorney in Mississippi.

What the statute says

The home's construction and anchoring follow the federal HUD code (24 C.F.R. Part 3280), which sets the wind-zone construction and anchoring requirements. Habitability and maintenance come from the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act where it governs: under Miss. Code §89-8-23(1), a landlord must "comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety" and "maintain the dwelling unit, its plumbing, heating and/or cooling system, in substantially the same condition as at the inception of the lease." Mississippi 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, Mississippi relies on the federal HUD code's wind-zone construction and anchoring standards — important in a state with significant hurricane and severe-storm risk, especially on the coast. For the dwelling and its systems, the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act's maintenance duty applies where the Act governs: the landlord has to meet health-and-safety codes and keep the dwelling's plumbing, heating, and cooling in substantially the condition they were in at the start of the lease, which matters most when a storm strains a park's systems. Mississippi 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 Mississippi law, coverage matters — a lot-only tenancy may fall outside the Act.

Common scenarios

General examples Mississippi park residents commonly encounter:

• Questions arise about how a home is anchored. The federal HUD code governs construction and wind-zone requirements (24 C.F.R. Part 3280).
• A storm damages the dwelling's systems. Where the Act applies, the landlord must maintain them (§89-8-23(1)).
• 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 Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Miss. Code §89-8-23) sets the maintenance duty for covered tenancies; the federal HUD code governs home construction and anchoring. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and FEMA administer disaster assistance, and a homeowner's insurance policy — not statute — usually governs storm-damage claims.