Mobile home storm rules in Tennessee

Tennessee addresses storm and disaster safety through the federal HUD construction code and, in larger counties, the URLTA'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 Tennessee.

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 comes from the URLTA where it governs: under Tenn. Code §66-28-304(a), the landlord must "comply with requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety," "make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition," and "keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition." The URLTA "applies only in counties having a population of more than seventy-five thousand (75,000)" (§66-28-102(a)). Tennessee 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, Tennessee relies on the federal HUD code's wind-zone construction and anchoring standards — important in a state with significant tornado and severe-storm risk, where proper tie-downs and anchoring matter. For the lot and common areas, the URLTA's habitability duty applies in counties over 75,000 people: the landlord has to keep the premises fit and habitable and the common areas safe, which matters most when a storm strains a park's systems; in smaller counties the lease and common law govern. Tennessee doesn't require a park to provide a storm shelter, so disaster preparation and assistance run through state and federal emergency management.

Common scenarios

General examples Tennessee 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 leaves the premises unsafe (larger county). The landlord must keep them fit and habitable (§66-28-304).
• 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 URLTA (Tenn. Code §66-28-304) sets the habitability duty in larger counties; the federal HUD code governs home construction and anchoring. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and FEMA administer disaster assistance, and a homeowner's insurance policy — not statute — usually governs storm-damage claims.