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Planning commission adopts text amendment to align Lexington code with Kentucky House Bill 160 on manufactured homes
Summary
The commission approved revisions to Lexington's zoning text to incorporate the state's new definitions for "qualified manufactured homes," update the mobile home park zone, and clarify where factory‑built homes may be treated like site‑built housing.
The Lexington Urban County Government Planning Commission voted unanimously Sept. 25 to adopt amended zoning text (ZOTA 25‑07) to implement changes required by Kentucky’s House Bill 160.
Largely presented by Daniel Crum of planning staff, the amendment updates local definitions and mobile‑home‑park standards so that qualifying manufactured homes can be treated similarly to site‑built single‑family houses when they meet state criteria. Crum summarized the statute’s main points: a “qualified manufactured home” must generally be no more than five years old at installation, permanently affixed to a foundation (with transport appliances removed) and at least 900 square feet in size. The state law limits some local regulatory discretion where those conditions are met and provides a pathway for factory‑built homes to be placed on standard single‑family lots, subject to local zoning and code requirements.
Why it matters: The amendment creates an additional residential option that can be less costly to acquire than a new site‑built house and can be sited in zones that allow detached single‑family homes. Planning staff described the change as necessary to align the city code with state law and as a potential tool for expanding housing choices.
The commission approved the staff‑draft text with no public speakers on the item and no recorded objections. Commissioners asked staff to describe how the zoning change interacts with affordability goals; staff said the amendment is funding‑agnostic but could expand lower‑cost housing options because manufactured units typically cost less than new site‑built homes.
Ending: The amendment incorporates a new definition of “qualified manufactured home,” updates the M‑1P (mobile home park) zone language and clarifies permitting and dimensional expectations to ensure local code matches the state statute taking effect next year. The measure passed with unanimous support.
