The governing body finds that the existence and use of substandard housing within the city is a matter affecting the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens; it further finds that older mobile homes and other manufactured housing which do not meet minimum standards established by the United States government are by their very nature a threat to the safety and health of the citizens of Florence.

The governing body further finds that it has the ability to review and control all housing through the auspices of its Standards Board established by Ordinance No. 686 (hereinafter called the Standards Board), and that by adopting a standard for mobile and manufactured homes, the governing body can assist the Standards Board by more effectively defining that which is substandard and that which does not comply with the housing standards adopted in said ordinance.

(Prior Code 7-901; Code 2023)

(a)   Mobile Home. A mobile home shall mean any vehicle or structure so designed and constructed as will permit permanent occupancy thereof as living and sleeping quarters for one or more persons, or the conduct of any business or profession, occupation or trade, or use as a selling or advertising device, and so designated that it is or may be mounted on wheels and conveyed on highways or streets propelled or drawn by its own or other motive power, excepting a device used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. A mobile home has a body width of 8 feet or more and a body length of 36 feet or more. This definition shall include modular homes where such construction does not meet local building codes. Any movable unit which conforms to local building codes, is not less than 24 feet wide, has nonmetallic siding, has a composition or wood roof, and also is placed on a permanent foundation, is not a mobile home as defined herein.

(b)   Camper and Travel Trailer. A camper, recreational vehicle or travel trailer (hereinafter called a “camper”) is a vehicle or structure designed and constructed in such a manner as will permit temporary occupancy as living and sleeping quarters as primarily required during camping or vacation travels. Such facility has characteristics similar to mobile home in that it can be conveyed on the streets, however, in no way is it intended to become a residence.

(Prior Code 7-902; Ord. 819; Code 2023)

Only mobile homes constructed after February 18, 1975, or which can affirmatively be shown to comply with the requirements of the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act (found at 42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq., and hereinafter called the “National Standards Act”) may be placed within the city limits of Florence, Kansas, or may be occupied as contemplated in Section 9-201 of this Chapter, within the city limits of Florence, Kansas. Any owner and/or renter of any mobile home must show verification to the Standards Board upon its request that the owner’s or renter’s mobile home was either constructed after February 18, 1975 or is in compliance with the National Standards Act. Said verification may include, but not limited to, the Certificate of Title of the mobile home or such other documents as the standards board may require or accept. This section shall apply only to mobile homes first brought into the City of Florence and set up for use after October 3, 1994.

It is unlawful for any person to occupy a camper in the city limits of Florence, Kansas for more than three days in any 30 day period unless in a campground designated for such use. Any person or persons who occupy a camper in the city limits of Florence, Kansas for more than three days in any 30-day period shall be assessed a fine of $20.00 per day for such occupancy in excess of 3 days.

(Prior Code 7-903; Ord. 819; Code 2023)

Every mobile home located within the city limits of Florence, Kansas, shall comply with all state and federal laws, including regulations, relating to the anchoring and tying down of mobile homes, and further, they shall comply with the recommended number of anchors and tie-downs for mobile homes as set by the manufacturer of the specific mobile home in question for the size of mobile home in question, with a minimum of two tie-downs per mobile home; the tie-downs shall be in place before the mobile home may be occupied. All mobile homes shall be skirted within 30 days after being moved into the city limits.

(Prior Code 7-904; Code 2023)

There shall be installed in every mobile home located in the City of Florence, Kansas at least one working battery operated smoke detector with active batteries at all times while the mobile home is occupied as the term is used in Section 8-1202, which smoke detector shall be installed according to the manufacturer’s directions.

(Prior Code 7-905; Code 2023)

No person, corporation or other entity shall bring a mobile home into the city for the purpose of using the same as a permanent residence or temporary residence without first obtaining a permit from the city clerk for such purpose. The application for such a permit shall be made and permit obtained before the mobile home is brought into the city limits and shall obtain the approval of at least one member of the city council or in addition to the approval of the city clerk. The application shall state the exact site on which the mobile home is intended to be placed, the purpose for which the same is intended to be occupied, the name and current address of the owner of the mobile home, and the following information about the mobile home: Its year of manufacture, the manufacturer thereof, the serial number of the mobile home, the width and length of the mobile home, and anticipated date of bringing the mobile home into the city limits. Further, the application for the permit shall have the following statement of application, together with that part designated to be in bold type, as shown below:

       I, the undersigned, hereby apply for a permit to place a mobile home in the City of Florence, and I agree to comply with all ordinances and regulations of the city with respect to mobile homes. I also understand that my mobile home must have skirting in place within 30 days after its placement on the proposed lot, and it must have tie-downs placed thereon according to city ordinance prior to occupancy thereof. I also understand I do not have approval to move the mobile home into the city limits until this application is approved in writing.

(Prior Code 7-906; Code 2023)

Each mobile home in the City of Florence shall continue to meet the standards and requirement of the National Standards Act.

(Prior Code 7-907; Code 2023)

The National Standards Act as it now exists, with all amendments and regulations now promulgated in connection therewith, is incorporated herein by reference. The Florence City Clerk shall maintain on hand in her records at least one copy of said Act as it now exists.

(Prior Code 7-908; Code 2023)

The Standards Board shall maintain and assure compliance with this Chapter, and to that end, it is hereby granted all the powers, duties, procedures and remedies as are contained in Ordinance 686, including Section 9 thereof (criminal sanctions), and also the power to order the removal from the city limits any mobile home not complying with this article.

(Prior Code 7-909; Code 2023)

If any part or parts of this chapter is held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining parts of this chapter. The governing body hereby declares that it would have passed the remaining parts of this chapter if it had known that such part or parts would be declared invalid.

(Prior Code 7-910; Code 2023)

Any person, corporation or other entity violating 8-1204 and 8-1206 shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined in a sum not exceeding $100.00. Further, the Standards Board shall have the authority, among other things, to cause the mobile home to be removed from the city limits if the home is not otherwise in compliance.

(Prior Code 7-911; Code 2023)