South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 79 - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION- MANUFACTURED HOUSING BOARD › Section 79-43 - Used Manufactured Home Minimum Habitability Requirements

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
(A) Scope and
		  Applicability. No person or retail dealer shall sell to a consumer for
		  occupancy any used manufactured home to be used for the purpose of living,
		  sleeping, cooking, or eating therein, which does not comply with the following
		  requirements. Any home meeting the standards for habitability of this Section
		  may be placed for occupancy throughout the State. No additional regulation or
		  standard may be enforced with regard to the condition or repair of the
		  home.
(B) Facilities Required.
(1) Sanitary facilities. Every Manufactured
		  home shall contain not less than a kitchen sink, lavatory, tub or shower, and a
		  water closet all in good working condition and properly connected to an
		  approved water and sewer system. Every plumbing fixture and water and waste
		  pipe shall be properly installed and maintained in good sanitary working
		  condition free from defects, leaks, and obstructions.
(2) Hot and cold water supply. Every
		  manufactured home shall have connected to the kitchen sink, lavatory, and tub
		  or shower an adequate supply of both cold water and hot water. All water shall
		  be supplied through an approved distribution system connected to a portable
		  water supply.
(3) Water heating
		  facilities. Every manufactured home shall have water heating facilities which
		  are properly installed and maintained in a safe and good working condition and
		  are capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate
		  amount of water to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin,
		  bathtub or shower at a temperature of not less than 120 degrees
		  Fahrenheit.
(4) Heating facilities.
		  Every manufactured home shall have heating facilities which are properly
		  installed and maintained in safe and good working condition, and are capable of
		  safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, and bathrooms. Where a
		  central heating system is not provided, each manufactured home shall be
		  provided with facilities whereby heating appliances may be connected. Unvented
		  fuel burning heaters shall be prohibited except for gas heaters listed for
		  unvented use and the total input rating of the unvented heaters is less than 30
		  BTU per hour per cubic foot of room content. Unvented fuel burning heaters
		  shall be prohibited in bedrooms.
(5) Cooking and heating equipment. All
		  cooking and heating equipment and facilities shall be installed in accordance
		  with Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards and shall be
		  maintained in a safe and good working condition. Portable cooking equipment
		  employing flame is prohibited.
(6)
		  Smoke detector. Every manufactured home shall be provided with an approved
		  listed smoke detector, installed in accordance with the manufacturer's
		  recommendations and listing. When activated, the detector shall provide an
		  audible alarm.
(7) Windows. Every
		  habitable room excluding bathrooms, kitchens and hallways, shall have at least
		  one window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors.
(8) Ventilation. Every habitable room shall
		  have at least one window or skylight which can be easily opened, or such other
		  device as will adequately ventilate the room.
(9) Electric service. Where there is electric
		  service available to the manufactured home, every habitable room or space shall
		  contain at least two separate and remote convenience outlets and bedrooms shall
		  have, in addition, at least one wall switch controlled ceiling or wall type
		  light fixture. In kitchens, three separate and remote convenience outlets shall
		  be provided, and a wall or ceiling type light fixture controlled by a wall
		  switch shall be required. Every hall, water closet compartment, bathroom,
		  laundry room or furnace room shall contain at least one electric fixture. In
		  bathrooms a wall switch shall control the electric light fixture. In addition
		  to the electric light fixture in every bathroom and laundry room there shall be
		  provided at lest one convenience outlet. Any new bathroom outlet shall have
		  ground-fault circuit interrupter protection. Every such outlet shall be
		  properly installed, shall maintained in good and safe working condition, and
		  shall be connected to the source of electric power in a safe manner.
(10) Exterior Walls. Every exterior wall
		  shall be free of holes, breaks, loose or rotting boards or timbers and any
		  other conditions which might admit rain, or dampness to the interior portions
		  of the walls or to the occupied spaces of the manufactured home.
(11) Roofs. Roofs shall be structurally sound
		  and maintained in a safe manner and have no defects which might admit rain or
		  cause dampness in the walls or interior portion of the home.
(12) Window sash. Window sash shall be
		  properly fitted and weather tight within the window frame.
(13) Interior floors, walls and ceiling.
		  Every floor, interior wall and ceiling shall be substantially rodent proof,
		  shall be kept in sound condition and good repair and shall be safe to use and
		  capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
		  Every toilet, bathroom and kitchen floor surface shall be maintained so as to
		  be substantially imperious to water.
(14) Structural supports. Every structural
		  element of the dwelling shall be maintained structurally sound and show no
		  evidence of deterioration which would render it incapable of carrying normal
		  loads.
(15) Dangerous structures.
		  Any manufactured home which shall be found to have any of the following defects
		  shall be red tagged and deemed unfit for human habitation, and shall be so
		  designated by the placement of a red tag on the home by the State Inspector.
		  Placement of the red tag means that the manufactured home cannot be sold unless
		  and until repairs are completed and the home is brought back into compliance
		  with this section of the regulations.
(a) One
		  which is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe or
		  vermin-infested that it creates hazard to the health or safety of the occupants
		  or the public.
(b) One which lacks
		  illumination, ventilation or sanitation facilities adequate to protect the
		  health or safety of the occupants or the public.
(16) Removal of red tag. An employee of the
		  South Carolina Manufactured Housing Board can only remove the red tag, after
		  inspection and verification that repairs have been completed. Removal of red
		  tag by any licensee prior to this verification could result in license
		  revocation or suspension by the South Carolina Manufactured Housing
		  Board.