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Sponsor says HB 3230 would bar local bans on modular/manufactured homes while preserving local safety standards
Summary
Representative Bill Hardwick presented HB 3230 to require nondiscrimination against modular and qualified manufactured homes in areas where single‑family homes are permitted; industry witnesses said factory-built homes can cut costs by 20–50% and the Missouri Municipal League expressed willingness to keep working on language.
Representative Bill Hardwick introduced House Bill 3230 and told the Commerce Committee the bill would prevent cities and counties from adopting zoning or ordinance language that effectively bans modular or certain manufactured homes where single‑family residences are allowed, while preserving legitimate health, safety, inspection and compatibility standards.
Hardwick said the bill defines modular homes as factory‑built units constructed to the 2021 International Residential Code and sets minimum compatibility standards for qualified manufactured homes, including being affixed to a permanent foundation, having a minimum living area, and meeting HUD standards where applicable. He told the committee that the bill is intended to prevent discrimination in local zoning while leaving room for reasonable local requirements such as hookups, setbacks and inspections.
Committee members asked whether the proposal would address the housing shortage, how the bill would interact with homeowners associations, and whether code references to different construction standards (IRC vs. HUD code) could conflict. Sponsor Hardwick said he would work with the Missouri Municipal League and stakeholders to refine language and remove an emergency clause the committee flagged.
Daniel Stone Sr., representing the Missouri Manufactured Housing Association and several businesses, testified in favor and detailed self‑imposed standards for a "qualified manufactured home" (five years or newer, affixed to a foundation, minimum 900 square feet, at least 20 feet wide or two stories, front door facing the street). He said factory production can save 20–50% compared with site‑built construction and urged the committee to allow the market to provide more affordable options.
Laura Holloway of the Missouri Municipal League said the League appreciates the sponsor's outreach and is willing to continue negotiating language so that municipal concerns about local variation and design compatibility are addressed.
The committee heard technical questions about compatibility standards and whether the IRC reference would inadvertently impose building‑code requirements in counties that do not currently have them; the sponsor said the intent is nondiscrimination, not to create a new county building code.
The committee concluded the hearing and invited stakeholders to continue drafting work on the bill.
