An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Manufactured Housing
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1723
Committee: Housing and Economic Development
Sponsors: GOLEK, TALBOT ROSS, FECTEAU
Amends: 10 MRSA §9001, 10 MRSA §9003, 10 MRSA §9081, 10 MRSA §9084-A

Legislative Document
No. 1723
H.P. 1150
House of Representatives, April 17, 2025
An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Manufactured Housing 
Communities to Prevent Excessive Rent and Fees Increases
Reference to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development suggested and 
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GOLEK of Harpswell.
Cosponsored by Senator TALBOT ROSS of Cumberland and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, GERE of 
Kennebunkport, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, MALON of Biddeford, MINGO of 
Calais, WEBB of Durham, Senator: TEPLER of Sagadahoc.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §9001, sub-§2, ¶F, as amended by PL 1993, c. 642, §8, is further 
amended to read:
F.  To have this board, in the administration of this chapter, give consideration to 
economic factors that may result in additional costs to home buyers and eliminate any 
unnecessary costs that may occur from the enforcement of this chapter or any other 
Act; and
Sec. 2.  10 MRSA §9001, sub-§2, ¶G, as amended by PL 1993, c. 642, §8, is further 
amended to read:
G.  To grant to this board the investigative and regulatory powers it may reasonably 
require to accomplish the foregoing purposes and intent and to carry out the provisions 
of this chapter, including making decisions, in accordance with the Maine 
Administrative Procedure Act.; and
Sec. 3.  10 MRSA §9001, sub-§2, ¶H is enacted to read:
H.  To prevent excessive increases in lot rent for manufactured housing and in 
manufactured housing communities in order to preserve manufactured housing as a 
critical source of affordable housing in the State.
Sec. 4.  10 MRSA §9003, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. D, §1, is 
further amended to read:
1.  Established.  The Manufactured Housing Board, established by Title 5, section 
12004‑A, subsection 22, consists of 9 13 members appointed by the Governor as follows.
Sec. 5.  10 MRSA §9003, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2017, c. 210, Pt. B, §8, is 
further amended to read:
2.  Composition of board; terms of members.  The members of the board include:
B.  Three public members, as defined in Title 5, section 12004‑A, at least one of whom 
lives in who are tenants in a manufactured housing community, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives;
B-1.  One public member, as defined in Title 5, section 12004-A, who is a tenant in a 
resident-owned manufactured housing community, as defined in section 9081, 
subsection 7, appointed by the Governor;
B-2.  One public member, as defined in Title 5, section 12004-A, appointed by the 
President of the Senate;
C.  One member who is a professional engineer with demonstrated experience in 
construction and building technology, appointed by the Governor;
D.  Two members who are dealers, one appointed by the President of the Senate and 
one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
F.  One member who is an owner or operator of a manufactured housing community, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
G.  One member who is a builder of manufactured housing, appointed by the Governor; 
and
H.  One member with a minimum of 2 years of practical experience in building code 
administration and enforcement and with current employment as a code enforcement 
officer., appointed by the President of the Senate;
I.  One member with experience providing technical assistance to resident-owned 
manufactured housing communities, as defined in section 9081, subsection 7, 
appointed by the Governor; and
J.  One member with experience representing tenants of manufactured housing 
communities in dispute with a landlord or person who operates a manufactured housing 
community licensed in accordance with this chapter, appointed by the President of the 
Senate.
The term of office of the members is 4 years.  Appointment of a member must comply with 
section 8009.  A member of the board may be removed for cause by the Governor.
Sec. 6.  10 MRSA §9081, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Manufactured housing community lot.  "Manufactured housing community lot" 
or "lot" means a site specifically designated for the placement or location of a manufactured 
home within a manufactured housing community.
Sec. 7.  10 MRSA §9081, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Manufactured housing community owner.  "Manufactured housing community 
owner" means a person or entity licensed by the board or a managing agent working on 
behalf of a person or entity licensed by the board that controls, manages or operates a 
manufactured housing community or has the practical authority to establish requirements 
for the operation of a manufactured housing community, including, but not limited to, 
establishing the amount of lot rent and fees.
Sec. 8.  10 MRSA §9081, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6.  Manufactured housing community resident.  "Manufactured housing community 
resident" means any person who resides in a manufactured home that is part of a 
manufactured housing community.
Sec. 9.  10 MRSA §9081, sub-§7 is enacted to read:
7.  Resident-owned manufactured housing community.  "Resident-owned 
manufactured housing community" means a manufactured housing community in which 
the residents are part of a cooperative of manufactured home owners who control, manage 
and operate the manufactured housing community, including, but not limited to, 
establishing community rules and lot rent and fees.
Sec. 10.  10 MRSA §9084-A is enacted to read:
§9084-A.  Lot rent increases; notifications and limitations
1. Lot rent and associated fees; increases limited.  Except as otherwise provided in 
this section, a manufactured housing community owner is prohibited from increasing the 
rent amount for a lot or the fees associated with tenancy in a manufactured housing 
community by more than 10% of the base rent amount or 10% of the base fees amount over 
a period of 4 years.  
2. Base rent amount.  For the purposes of this section, "base rent amount" means the 
total amount charged per month to a manufactured housing community resident for a 
manufactured housing community lot on October 1, 2025 or the initial rent charged per 
month in a manufactured housing community established after October 1, 2025.  For a lot 
that is vacant on October 1, 2025, the base rent is an amount equal to the average rent of 
lots in a manufactured housing community with equivalent services and amenities.
3. Base fees amount.  For the purposes of this section, "base fees amount" means the 
total amount of fees charged per month to a manufactured housing community resident for 
fees associated with tenancy in the manufactured housing community on October 1, 2025 
or the initial rent charged per month in a manufactured housing community established 
after October 1, 2025.
4. Notice requirement.  A manufactured housing community owner shall provide 
notice of rent or fee increases no less than 90 days before the effective date of the increase.  
The notice must include the amount of the increase expressed as a percentage of the base 
rent amount or base fees amount and the dollar amount above the base rent amount or base 
fees amount and any history of rent increases or base fees during the preceding 4 years.
5. Exemption from rent or fees increase limit.  A manufactured housing community 
owner may request an exemption from the rent and fees increase limitations prescribed by 
this section to the board in a manner determined by the board.  The manufactured housing 
community owner must deliver a copy of a request submitted to the board to each 
manufactured housing community resident by certified mail at the same time the request is 
submitted to the board.  The board may grant an exemption if the board determines the 
manufactured housing community owner has experienced one or more of the following:
A. A recent increase in property tax obligations that would not be met without an 
increase that exceeds the limits established by this section;
B. A significant increase in utility costs directly related to the operation of the 
manufactured housing community that are the responsibility of the manufactured 
housing community owner that would not be met without an increase that exceeds the 
limits established by this section; or
C. A need for a significant infrastructure improvement that is not the result of 
neglecting to keep up with standard maintenance that would not be met without an 
increase that exceeds the limits established by this section. 
Resident-owned manufactured housing communities are not subject to the requirements of 
this section.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the declaration of purpose in the Manufactured Housing Act to include 
preventing excessive increases in lot rent in manufactured housing communities in order 
to preserve manufactured housing as a source of affordable housing in the State.  The bill 
increases the membership of the Manufactured Housing Board from 9 to 13 members.  The 
bill establishes a limitation on the amount lot rent may be increased in a manufactured 
housing community within a 4-year period of 10% of the base rent.  The bill allows for the 
owner of a manufactured housing community to request an exemption from the 10% limit 
and requires that notification of an exemption request be delivered to residents of the 
manufactured housing community.  The bill also specifies that these rent limitations do not 
apply to resident-owned manufactured housing communities.