15C-2.0073. Installer Licensing Procedures and Requirements

(1) Installers License Required.

No person may perform manufactured/mobile home installation unless licensed by the department pursuant to Section 320.8249, F.S., regardless of whether that person holds a local installer’s license or any other local or state license.

(2) Requirements and Procedures to Obtain and Maintain a Manufactured/Mobile Home Installer License.

(a) Any person who wishes to obtain a manufactured/mobile home installer’s license must comply with the requirements of Section 320.8249, F.S.

(b) A general liability insurance policy for $100,000 and performance bond for $5,000 are required for licensing pursuant to Section 320.8249(3), F.S., and must be maintained in full force during the licensing period.

(c) An installer’s license shall not be transferable.

(d) License cancellation, revocation and reinstatement.

1. Cancellation by operation of law, failure to renew.

Any installer who has failed to submit a renewal application by October 1 shall pay a renewal application fee equal to the original application fee. Application fees are not refundable.

2. Cancellation due to failure to maintain required performance bond and/or liability insurance.

If a licensed installer fails to maintain in effect the required performance bond and/or liability insurance, the license shall be revoked by the department. The license shall be reinstated by the department if certificates of insurance are submitted within 10 days of revocation provided the performance bond and/or liability insurance has been secured for the full term of the license period.

3. Revocation due to disciplinary penalty.

An installer whose license has been revoked due to disciplinary penalty may apply to the department for license reinstatement. In making the determination whether or not a revoked license will be reinstated, the department shall consider whether such installer has corrected the conditions that led to the revocation action and that such installer is capable of competently engaging in the business of mobile/manufactured home installation.

(3) Scope of Work.

(a) A licensed installer is authorized by this rule to perform all of the setup operations necessary to make a mobile/manufactured home habitable. These operations as defined in Section 320.822(14), F.S., include, but are not limited to, transporting, positioning, blocking, leveling, supporting, tying down, connecting utility systems, making minor adjustments or assembling multiple or expandable units.

(4) Direct Employees of a Licensed Installer.

A direct employee of a licensed installer working under the supervision of the licensee and within the job scope of the licensee is not required to be licensed as a mobile/manufactured home installer. The licensed installer is responsible for supervising all such employees and for the proper and competent performance of all employees working under their supervision.

(5) Employees of a Licensed Mobile/Manufactured Home Dealer or Manufacturer.

(a) An employee of record for the dealer installer or manufacturer installer is not required to be licensed as a mobile/ manufactured home installer. The dealer installer or manufacturer installer is responsible for supervising all such employees and for the proper and competent performance of all employees working under his or her supervision.

(b) Licensed mobile/manufactured home dealers and manufacturers who perform installations must submit a copy of the certificate for their employee of record who attended the 8-hour installation training course provided by this department.

(c) “Employee of record” shall mean an employee reported on the manufacturer’s or dealer’s federal Tax Form 941.

(6) Installation Warranty.

Each installer who installs a mobile/manufactured home shall warrant the installation and weather sealing, including sealing the bottom board of the home to prevent air infiltration of the home for a period of twelve (12) months beginning on the date of installation.

(7) Installation Decals.

Beginning October 1, 1996, all mobile/manufactured homes installed in Florida must bear an installation decal issued by the department. Persons authorized to perform mobile/manufactured home installations shall purchase installation decals from the bureau, subject to the following:

(a) Installation decals may be purchased by submitting a request on form Mobile Home Installation Decal Order Form, HSMV-81404 (effective 7/97) incorporated by reference, to:

Bureau of Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Construction

Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

2900 Apalachee Parkway – MS 66

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0640

[phone] or FAX [phone]

(b) The installation decals shall be purchased for a fee of ten ($10.00) dollars for each installation decal, the fee shall be paid to the Division of Motorist Services.

(c) Upon written request, a refund will be granted on all unused decals returned to the bureau by the original purchaser, but there shall be no refund for decals that are reported lost or damaged.

(d) One decal must be placed on each home prior to installation.

(e) The decal shall be affixed adjacent to the HUD label on the mobile/manufactured home. If the mobile/manufactured home is a pre-HUD home, or if the HUD seal has been removed or concealed, the installation decal shall be affixed to the lower left corner at the taillight end of the mobile/manufactured home.

(8) Minimum Permitting Requirements.

A building permit issued by the local building authority must be obtained prior to the installation of any new or used mobile/manufactured home. The building permit application shall include, but not limited to a scale drawing of all pier block locations and foundation or footer dimensions and the soil load bearing capacity at the installation site. The soil load bearing capacity can be determined by a penetrometer test performed by a licensed installer, a general soil load bearing capacity declaration by a local building official or a test performed by a geotechnical testing company. When the soil load bearing capacity is not known, pier placement shall be based on a soil load bearing capacity of 1,000 psf. (See example of pocket penetrometer test.)

Rulemaking Authority 320.8249, 320.011 FS. Law Implemented 320.8249 FS. History–New 4-8-99.