As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
MANUFACTURED HOME (MH)
A home built to the Federal Manufactured Home Construction
and Safety Standards Act, also called the "HUD Code." The HUD Code
is a mandatory federal building code for MH, whereas site-built and
modular homes are built to a code adopted by the state. All manufactured
homes bear a small red metal tag called the "HUD tag" that identifies
it as being built to the HUD Code.
MOBILE HOME
Generally used to refer to factory-built home built prior
to 1976 (no mandatory building code for mobile homes prior to 1976).
MODULAR HOME
A residential structure built to the latest edition of the
International Residential Code as adopted by the South Carolina Building
Codes Council. The construction standards are exactly the same for
site-built homes as they are for modular homes. Modular homes in South
Carolina bear a modular label issued by the SC Building Codes Council.
Under state law, modular homes are to be treated exactly the same
as a site-built structure.
To avoid undue hardship, the lawful use of any mobile home or
manufactured home at the time of the enactment of this chapter may
be continued, except that such mobile or manufactured home shall not
be changed, replaced or altered in any way which does not conform
to the provisions of this chapter.