Special Occupancy Parks ActRegulations—general Provisions
Section § 18871
This law makes it illegal to use certain types of mobile and manufactured homes in parks or other areas if they don't meet specific conditions. Homes must have proper gas, water, electricity, and sewage hookups according to department regulations. They cannot be permanently attached to the ground unless they comply with specific standards. The homes must be safe, sanitary, and structurally sound. Additionally, any mobile or manufactured home must meet the department’s registration requirements.
Section § 18871.2
This law section says that if you are putting a manufactured home, mobile home, or commercial coach on a foundation in a park, you have to follow specific rules outlined in another law, Section 18551. The same rules apply if you later take the home or coach off the foundation.
Section § 18871.3
This law requires the department to develop and submit building standards for accessory buildings or structures in special occupancy parks, such as mobile home parks. These standards are meant to ensure the health and safety of people living in and around these structures. The regulations cover how these buildings are constructed, where they're placed, and how they're used. An enforcement agency will make sure the rules are followed.
Section § 18871.4
It's illegal to let wastewater, sewage, or any waste from plumbing in parks, homes, or vehicles be dumped on the ground. If such waste is found on the ground, authorities can order it to be cleaned up, following local health guidelines.
The owner of a mobile home, manufactured home, or RV is responsible for fixing leaks that cause such discharges, even if they come from the connection to the park's sewer system, unless someone else is to blame.
The department can create rules to protect people and property related to this issue.
Section § 18871.5
If a recreational vehicle is going to be rented or leased in a park, it must have a label or insignia that meets the requirements of another specific law section. If it doesn't have this label, it can't be parked on a lot unless the owner proves it meets certain safety standards, usually with a specific label or insignia.
This rule doesn't apply to vehicles that were already parked in a special park as of December 31, 1998, unless they are moved after January 1, 1999.
Section § 18871.6
This law requires the department to create rules that make sure parks have effective animal control measures in place.
Section § 18871.7
This law requires that every park must have artificial lighting turned on from sunset to sunrise. The lighting should be bright enough to clearly light up buildings with toilets and showers, as well as the roads and paths throughout the park.
Section § 18871.8
This law requires every mobile home park to have someone available at all times who can handle emergencies related to the park's operation and maintenance. In parks with 50 or more units, this person must live in the park and be knowledgeable about emergency procedures and plans.
By September 1, 2010, existing parks must adopt an emergency preparedness plan. New parks, constructed after that date, must have a plan before getting a permit to operate. Park owners have two options for compliance: adopting a pre-approved plan or creating a comparable one.
Parks must visibly post these plans and inform residents about accessing the plans and related information online or through physical distributions. Compliance will be checked by enforcement agencies.
A violation of this law is considered a serious risk and must be fixed within 60 days of receiving a notice.
Section § 18871.9
If you own or operate a camping site with someone on-site to help, you must keep a logbook with certain details. This includes the name and address of each guest, details about their recreational vehicle like the make, type, license number, registration state, and year. Guests can only stay for up to 30 days each year.
Section § 18871.10
This law requires the department to create rules for living in and using manufactured homes, mobile homes, and recreational vehicles in special parks. It focuses on ensuring the health and safety of everyone living there by setting minimum standards. The regulations also cover fixing or addressing any dangerous or unsanitary conditions in the homes or their utility systems like electrical or plumbing.
Section § 18871.11
This law specifies safety and construction standards for camping cabins. The cabins must be built to withstand certain weight loads on floors, walls, and roofs, especially in snowy areas. Each sleeping room needs a second way to exit, like a window of certain size, and must have a working smoke detector. Materials used in walls and ceilings need to limit fire spread. Using stoves or heaters that burn fuel is not allowed inside. Finally, these cabins must be accessible to people with disabilities, following state and federal regulations.