Minnesota Manufactured Homes – HUD Tags

HUD Tags

All manufactured homes built in the United States since June 15, 1976, are required to have one or more “identification labels” attached to the home:

a Certification Label (also known as a HUD Tag), and
a Data Plate / Compliance Certificate.

“HUD” are initials which represent the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Certification Label – HUD Tag

The Certification Label – HUD Tag is a small 2″ by 4″ metal plate that is attached to the exterior wall of each section of the manufactured home.

US Code of Regulations, Section 3280.11(a) states:

A permanent label shall be affixed to each transportable section of each manufactured home for sale or lease in the United States.
The label shall be separate and distinct from the data plate which the manufacturer is required to provide under Section 3280.5 of the standards.

US Code of Regulations, Section 3280.11(b) states:

The label shall be approximately 2 in. by 4 in. in size and shall be permanently attached to the manufactured home by means of 4 blind rivets, drive screws, or other means that render it difficult to remove without defacing it.
It shall be etched on 0.32 in. thick aluminum plate.
The label number shall be etched or stamped with a 3 letter designation which identifies the production inspection primary inspection agency and which the Secretary shall assign.
Each label shall be marked with a 6 digit number which the label supplier shall furnish.
The labels shall be stamped with numbers sequentially.

A single unit manufactured home will have one HUD Tag, while a double wide manufactured home will have two HUD Tags.

The HUD Tag will often be attached to the rear end of the manufactured home – approximately one foot from the side of the home, and one foot from the bottom of the home.

Each HUD Tag is manufactured with a red background, and text in silver letters – although the colors may fade over time.

HUD Tag Numbers

The first line of the HUD Tag will identify the HUD Tag number – which is comprised of three letters, followed by six numbers.

The three letters in the HUD Tag number identify the inspection agency which oversaw production of the manufactured home.

The six numbers in the HUD Tag number are derived from a sequential numbering system used by the manufacturer in order to individually identify each manufactured home.

Data Plate

Each manufactured home will also have a Data Plate – which is an 8.5 x 11 inch paper label originally attached somewhere on the inside of the home: on or near the main electrical panel, in a kitchen cabinet, in a bedroom closet, in the water heater closet, or on a bathroom cabinet door.

Manufactured Home Serial Number

A manufactured home will have a serial number – which is not identified on the HUD Tag – but is identified on the Data Plate.

The serial number for the manufactured home will be stamped onto the infrastructure of the home – and US Code of Regulations Section 3280.6(a) identifies that:

A manufactured home serial number which will identify the manufacturer and the state in which the manufactured home is manufactured must be stamped into the foremost cross member.
Letters and numbers must be 3/8-inch minimum in height.
Numbers must not be stamped into hitch assembly or drawbar.

If the home is a multi-wide unit, the serial number will contain the letters A/B for a double-wide unit, or A/B/C for a triple-wide unit.

Minnesota Manufactured Home Vehicle Identification Number (“VIN”)

Upon registration of the title for a manufactured home in a particular state, a vehicle identification number – which may or may not be the same as the serial number – will be assigned to the manufactured home by the state title registration office.

In Minnesota, the Driver and Vehicle Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is the title registration office.

A Minnesota vehicle identification number will be required in order to transfer ownership of a manufactured home in Minnesota.

HUD does not issue VIN numbers.

The Purpose of the Data Plate

One of the purposes of the Data Plate is to identify certain structural matters regarding the home – such as:

the extent of protection against wind damage, and
the capability of the roof to hold an accumulation of snow.

The Data Plate will have a map of the United States which identifies the Wind Zone, Snow Load, and Roof Load for which the manufactured home was built.

The Data Plate will also contain the following information:

(a) The name and address of the manufacturing plant in which the manufactured home was manufactured.

(b) The serial number and model designation of the unit, and the date the unit was manufactured. . . .

(g) Reference to the roof load zone and wind load zone for which the home is designed and duplicates of the maps as set forth in 3280.305(c). . . .

Missing HUD Tags

If the Certification Label – HUD Tag is missing from a manufactured home, HUD will not reissue the Certification Label – HUD Tag, although a contractor agency for HUD can issue a Label Verification Letter if certain historical information about the home is available.

Missing HUD Tag and Data Plate

If both the HUD Tag and the Data Plate have been removed from the manufactured home, an owner may have difficulty selling or refinancing the home.

If the serial number for a manufactured home cannot be located on or within the home, an owner may be able to obtain the serial number for the home or a Minnesota vehicle identification number from previous financing documents for the home, if such information was required by a prior lending institution.

Alternatively, HUD, through its agent contractor – the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) – might be able to provide a letter certifying the specific Certification Label – HUD Tag that was originally attached to the home.

IBTS – HUD Contractor

IBTS is a nonprofit agency under contract with HUD to provide certain information services regarding manufactured homes.

https://www.ibts.org/what-we-do/

IBTS is the single source for manufactured home data used to identify whether a home was built according to the HUD Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (HUD code), and if so, how it was designed and constructed.

IBTS also maintains data regarding the required Certification Label – HUD Tag and Data Plates for manufactured homes.

Obtaining a Replacement Copy of the Data Plate

A replacement copy of the Data Plate may be obtained by contacting either the In-Plant Primary Inspection Agency (IPIA), or the manufacturer.

The IPIA is an independent inspection agency that works with HUD to inspect manufactured homes during the manufacturing process to ensure that the manufacturer meets the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards.

Additional information may be available from HUD’s Office of Manufactured Housing Programs at (202) 708-6423, or via email at mhs@hud.gov.

A Label Verification Letter may be requested from IBTS – which can be contacted by phone at (866) 482-8868, or by e-mail at labels@ibts.org.

IBTS is the only agency that can provide manufactured home owners, real estate agents, brokers, and other stakeholders with a Label Verification Letter, which may be a substitute for missing HUD Tags.

IBTS can also provide a copy of the original Data Plate or a Performance Verification Certificate.

Manufactured home owners who need a replacement for missing HUD Tags or Data Plate/Compliance Certificates should contact IBTS, not HUD.

Upon request, IBTS can provide a Label Verification Letter – which can verify certain information with respect to manufactured homes built after June 15, 1976.

However, IBTS does not provide verification services for modular homes or manufactured homes built before June 15, 1976.

The Label Verification Letter will provide the following information regarding a manufactured home: the label number, the serial number (which may be the VIN #), the date of manufacture, the name of the manufacturer and plant location, and the location of first destination (dealer/retail center).

IBTS Label Verification Letter Charges – as of February 1, 2022

Regular $50.00 (10 business days)

Urgent $100.00 (3 business days)

Rush $175.00 (1 business day)

All orders will be delivered via email with a PDF attachment.

Label Verification Letters can be requested at the following web site address:

https://lvr2.ibts.org/#/LandingPage

Data Plate / Performance Certificate

IBTS may also be able to provide a copy of the Data Plate/Performance Certificate if the home has a HUD Tag.

Conclusion:

Minnesota Manufactured Homes – HUD Tags

If you have a Minnesota vehicle identification number for a Minnesota manufactured home, please contact Minnesota Attorney Gary C. Dahle for assistance with respect to either:

obtaining a replacement certificate of title from the Driver and Vehicle Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, or
facilitating the establishment of marketable title with respect to Minnesota manufactured homes affixed to real property.

Legal fees will be applicable – and advance payment may be required.

If you have an e-mail account, and a good Internet connection, Attorney Gary C. Dahle can assist you in any Minnesota County.

Gary C. Dahle

Attorney at Law

2704 Mounds View Blvd.

Mounds View, MN 55112

Phone: 763-780-8390

Fax: 763-780-1735

gary@dahlelaw.com

Legal Disclaimer

Information provided herein is only for general informational and educational purposes. The laws regarding Minnesota manufactured homes involve many complex legal issues. If you have a specific legal problem about which you are seeking advice, please consult with a Minnesota attorney at law.

Gary C. Dahle, Attorney at Law, is licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota, in the United States of America. Therefore, only those persons interested in matters governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota should consult with, or provide information to, Gary C. Dahle, Attorney at Law, or take note of information provided herein.

Accessing the web site of Gary C. Dahle, Attorney at Law – https://www.dahlelaw.com – may be held to be a request for information. However, the mere act of either providing information to Gary C. Dahle, Attorney at Law, or taking note of information provided on https://www.dahlelaw.com, does not constitute legal advice, or the establishment of an attorney/client relationship.

Nothing herein will be deemed to be the practice of law or the provision of legal advice. Clients are accepted by Gary C. Dahle, Attorney at Law, only after preliminary personal communications with him, and subject to mutual agreement on terms of representation.

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Related Topics:

Minnesota manufactured homes – Overview

Minnesota Manufactured Homes – Certificates of Title

Minnesota Manufactured Homes – Code Compliance

Minnesota Manufactured Homes – Evictions

Minnesota Manufactured Homes – In Park Sales

Minnesota Manufactured Homes – Lot Rentals

Minnesota Manufactured Homes – Security Interests

Minnesota Manufactured Homes – Tax Issues

Minnesota Manufactured Homes – Replacing Lost Title Certificates