Township of Manheim, PA Requirements for Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks

Minimum size. The minimum size of a mobile home park shall be five acres.

Density. There shall be a maximum of five mobile home lots per acre.

Setback. The minimum setback from a public street to any mobile home, mobile home service or accessory building, or off-street parking facility, located within a mobile home park, shall be in accordance with the Residential District R-4 setback regulations in Chapter 510, Zoning,[1] of the Code of the Township of Manheim as they pertain to single-family detached dwellings.

[1]

Editor's Note: The Zoning Ordinance is on file in the Township offices.

Yard. The minimum allowable distance between any mobile home park boundary line, other than a public street, and a mobile home shall be 25 feet.

Distance between buildings. Mobile homes shall be separated from each other and service or accessory buildings and the adjoining pavement of the mobile home park street or common parking area by at least 20 feet.

(6)

Recreation area. There shall be a minimum of 15% of the gross acreage of the mobile home park devoted to active and/or passive recreational facilities. Responsibility for maintenance of the recreational area shall be with the landowner and/or the operator. Should the landowner and/or the operator neglect to maintain the recreational areas, the Township may, in its discretion, continue to maintain said areas. The cost of such maintenance by the Township shall be assessed against the landowner and shall become a lien against the property of the landowner, in accordance with procedures described by law. The maintenance of said recreation area by the Township shall not relieve the landowner and/or the operator from prosecution and the penalties provided under § 329-24 of this chapter.

Mobile home lot and stand requirements.

Lot size. Each mobile home lot shall have a minimum area of 7,000 square feet.

Lot width. Each mobile home lot shall be at least 50 feet wide.

Street access. Each mobile home lot shall abut on a mobile home park street with access to such street. Access to all mobile home lots shall be from the mobile home park streets and not from public streets or highways.

Mobile home stand. Each mobile home shall be provided with and securely fastened to a hard-surfaced mobile home stand which has a foundation that will not heave, shift, or settle unevenly because of frost action, inadequate drainage, vibration or other forces acting on the superstructure. Each mobile home stand shall be equipped with properly designed utility connections.

Skirting. An enclosure of compatible design and material shall be erected around the entire base of each mobile home. Such enclosure shall provide sufficient ventilation to inhibit decay and deterioration of the structure.

Service and accessory buildings.

Construction. All service and accessory buildings, including management offices, storage areas, laundry buildings, and indoor recreation areas shall be adequately constructed, ventilated, and maintained so as to prevent decay, corrosion, termites and other destructive elements from causing deterioration.

Accessory buildings. Service and accessory buildings shown on an approved plan may be erected in a mobile home park. Yard requirements shall be in accordance with Subsection A(3), (4) and (5) of this section. All attachments to individual mobile homes in the form of buildings such as sheds are prohibited.

Mobile home park office. Every mobile home park shall have a structure designed for and clearly identified as the office of the mobile home park manager.

Storage space. Occupants of each mobile home lot shall be provided with at least 150 cubic feet of enclosed storage space. The type of storage facility shall be approved by the Township.

Use of service and accessory buildings. Service and accessory buildings shall be used only by the occupants of the mobile home park or their guests.

Water supply.

Approved water supply. All mobile home parks shall be connected to a public water supply which shall be constructed in accordance with the design requirements of the supplying agency.

Connection required. All mobile homes and such service buildings as shall include the use of water shall be connected to the approved water supply system.

Protection of lines. Adequate provisions shall be made to protect water service lines from damage, including a shutoff valve on each mobile home lot below the frost line.

Fire hydrants. Fire hydrants shall be installed in accordance with specifications of the water-supplying agency.

Sewage disposal.

Approved sewerage system. All mobile home parks shall be connected to a public sewerage system which shall be constructed in accordance with the design requirements of the operating agency.

Connection required. All mobile homes and service buildings that include the use of water shall be connected to the approved sewerage system.

Protection of system. Adequate provisions shall be made to protect sanitary sewers from stormwater infiltration and breakage.

Storm drainage.

Surface drainage. The ground surface in all parts of the mobile home park shall be graded and equipped to drain all surface water in a safe and efficient manner. The storm drainage and retention system is to be submitted to the Township for approval.

Drainage structures. Storm sewers, culverts, and related installations shall be provided to permit the unimpeded flow of natural watercourses; to insure the drainage of all low points along the line of the mobile home park streets; to intercept stormwater runoff along the mobile home park streets at intervals reasonably related to the extent and grade of the area drained.

Design standards. The design standards applicable to Chapter 440, Subdivision and Land Development,[2] of the Code of the Township of Manheim shall be utilized.

[2]

Editor's Note: The Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance is on file in the Township offices.

Streets, parking, curb and sidewalk.

Width. All mobile home park streets shall have a minimum pavement width of 24 feet. If on-street parking is permitted, the minimum pavement width shall be 34 feet.

Construction standards. Pavement base and pavement wearing surface shall be constructed according to the specifications applicable to standard Township streets.

All mobile home park streets shall be private driveways and shall be provided with adequate lighting.

Grades. There shall be a minimum grade of 0.75% and a maximum grade of 10% on all mobile home park streets, unless the Township waives this requirement.

Parking. Each mobile home shall be provided with a minimum of two paved parking spaces of bituminous or concrete surface, which shall be located on the mobile home lot. Off-lot parking spaces may be approved in the case of cluster-type design. Off-street parking areas for additional vehicles of park occupants and guests shall be provided as specified by the Township.

(6)

Walks. Walkways shall be provided along all new streets and parking compounds located in the mobile home park. Such walkways shall have a minimum width of four feet and shall be constructed of an all-weather material approved by the Township Commissioners.

(7)

Curb. Concrete curb, either rolled or straight, is required on both sides of all streets in the mobile home park. The curb shall be constructed in accordance with Township standards.

(8)

Lighting. All streets, and parking lots that are designed to accommodate more than four cars, shall be lighted to provide a minimum of one footcandle of illumination at the three-foot height above grade.

Ground cover.

Surface protection. Ground surfaces in all parts of the mobile home park shall be paved, covered with other solid material or protected with vegetative growth that is capable of preventing soil erosion and the emanation of dust during dry weather.

Harmful vegetation. Mobile home park grounds shall be maintained free of vegetative growth which is poisonous or which may harbor rodents, insects harmful to man or other pests harmful to man.

Electrical distribution.

System. Every mobile home park shall contain an electrical wiring system consisting of wiring, fixtures, equipment and appurtenances, which shall be installed and maintained in accordance with local electrical power company specifications. Each mobile home shall be connected to this electrical distribution system and grounded in accordance with the requirements.

Solid waste and vector control.