Chapter 46 MANUFACTURED HOMES AND TRAILERS[1]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Dependent mobile home means a mobile home which does not have a flush toilet and a bath or shower.
Independent mobile home means a mobile home which has a flush toilet and a bath or shower.
Licensee means any person licensed to operate and maintain a mobile home park under the provisions of this article.
Mobile home means any vehicle or similar portable structure having no foundation other than wheels, jacks or skirtings and so designed or constructed as to permit occupancy for dwelling or sleeping purposes.
Mobile home park means any plot of ground upon which two or more mobile homes, occupied for dwelling or sleeping purposes, are located, regardless of whether or not a charge is made for such accommodation.
Mobile home space means a plot of ground within a mobile home park designed for the accommodation of one mobile home.
Multiple dwelling means any structure designed and intended to accommodate more than one family and includes, but is not limited to, duplex buildings, group houses and apartment buildings.
Natural or artificial barrier means any river, pond, canal, railroad, levee, embankment, fence or hedge.
Park means mobile home park.
Permittee means any person to whom a temporary permit is issued to maintain or operate a mobile home park under the provisions of this article.
(Code 1967, § 16-1)
Cross reference(s)—Definitions generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 46-27. Penalty for violation of article.
Any person who violates any provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished according to the provisions of section 1-7.
(Code 1967, § 16-20)
Mobile home parks shall be located only as permitted by the Tiverton Zoning Ordinance. Each boundary of the park shall be at least 200 feet from any permanent residential building located outside the park, unless separated therefrom by a natural or artificial barrier, or unless a majority of the property owners according to area within such 200 feet consent in writing to the establishment of the park.
(Code 1967, § 16-9; Ord. of 7-25-11, § 9)
Sec. 46-29. Park plan; general requirements.
Every mobile home park shall conform to the following requirements:
(1) Drainage. The park shall be located on a well-drained site, properly graded to ensure rapid drainage and freedom from stagnant pools of water.
(2) Mobile home spaces. Mobile home spaces shall be provided consisting of a minimum of 3,000 square feet for each space which shall be at least 50 feet wide and clearly defined; provided, however, that mobile home parks in existence on the effective date of the ordinance from which this article derives which provide mobile home spaces having a width or area less than that prescribed in subsection (a) of this section may continue to operate with spaces of the existing width and area, but in no event shall any mobile home space be less than 25 feet wide and have an area of less than 1,000 square feet.
(3) Location of mobile homes. Mobile homes shall be so harbored on each space that there shall be at least a 15-foot clearance between mobile homes; provided, however, that with respect to mobile homes parked end-to-end, the end-to-end clearance shall not be less than 20 feet. No mobile home shall be located closer than ten feet from any building within the park or from any property line bounding the park.
(4) Driveways generally. All mobile home spaces shall abut upon a driveway of not less than 20 feet in width, which shall have unobstructed access to a public street, alley or highway.
(5) Walkways generally. Walkways not less than two feet wide shall be provided from the mobile home spaces to the service buildings.
(6) Paving and lighting of driveways and walkways. All driveways and walkways within the park shall be hard-surfaced and adequately lighted at night.
(7) Service buildings. Each park serving dependent mobile homes shall provide service buildings to house such toilet, bathing and other sanitation facilities and such laundry facilities as are more particularly prescribed elsewhere in this article.
(8) Electrical outlets. An electrical outlet supplying at least 110 volts shall be provided for each mobile home space.
(Code 1967, § 16-10)
An adequate supply of pure water for drinking and domestic purposes shall be supplied by pipes to all buildings and mobile home spaces within every mobile home park to meet the requirements of the park. Each mobile home space shall be provided with a cold water tap at least four inches above the ground. An adequate supply of hot water shall be provided at all times in the service buildings for all bathing, washing, cleansing and laundry facilities.
(Code 1967, § 16-11)
Sec. 46-31. Sanitation facilities.
Each mobile home park accommodating dependent mobile homes shall be provided adequate sanitation facilities in accordance with the Rhode Island State Building Code and Department of Health regulations
(Code 1967, § 16-12; Ord. of 7-25-11, § 9)
Editor's note(s)—An ordinance of July 25, 2011, § 9, repealed division 2, § 46-32, which pertained to laundry facilities and derived from the Code of 1967, § 16-13.
Editor's note(s)—An ordinance of July 25, 2011, § 9, repealed division 2, § 46-33, which pertained to service buildings and derived from the Code of 1967, § 16-14.
Sewage disposal shall be in accordance with the town's waste water management ordinance found in Appendix C.
(Code 1967, § 16-15; Ord. of 7-25-11, § 9)
Sec. 46-35. Garbage and rubbish disposal.
Metal garbage cans with tightfitting covers shall be provided for mobile home parks in quantities adequate to permit disposal of all garbage and rubbish. Garbage cans shall be located not farther than 300 feet from any mobile home space. Such cans shall be kept in a sanitary condition at all times. Garbage and rubbish shall be collected and disposed of as frequently as may be necessary to ensure that the garbage cans shall not overflow.
(Code 1967, § 16-16)
No owner or person in charge of any dog, cat or other pet animal shall permit it to run at large or commit any nuisance within any mobile home park.
(Code 1967, § 16-17)
Cross reference(s)—Animals, ch. 10.
Sec. 46-37. Register of occupants.
(a) It shall be the duty of each licensee and permittee to keep a register containing a record of all mobile home owners and occupants located within each mobile home park. Such register shall contain the following information:
(1) The name and address of each mobile home occupant;
(2) The name and address of the owner of each mobile home and motor vehicle;
(3) The make, model, year and license number of each mobile home and motor vehicle;
(4) The state, territory or country issuing such licenses;
(5) The date of arrival and of departure of each mobile home; and
(6) Whether or not each mobile home is a dependent or independent mobile home.
(b) The park shall keep the register available for inspection at all times by law enforcement officers, public health officials and other officials whose duties necessitate acquisition of the information contained in the register. The register record for each occupant registered shall not be destroyed for a period of three years following the date of departure of the registrant from the park.
(Code 1967, § 16-18)
The licensee or permittee, or a duly authorized attendant or caretaker, shall be in charge at all times to keep the mobile home park and its facilities and equipment in a clean, orderly and sanitary condition. The attendant or caretaker shall be answerable, with the licensee or permittee, for the violation of any provision of this article to which the licensee or permittee is subject.
(Code 1967, § 16-19)
Sec. 46-51. Required; temporary permits.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain or operate a mobile home park within the town unless such person shall first obtain a license therefor, except that the maintenance or operation of a mobile home park in existence on the effective date of the ordinance from which this article derives may be continued under a temporary permit for such period of time and under such conditions as are prescribed in this section.
(b) A temporary permit, upon written request therefor, shall be issued by the council for every mobile home park in existence upon the effective date of the ordinance from which this article derives, permitting the park to be maintained and operated during the period ending 180 days after the effective date of the ordinance from which this article derives, without being subject to the provisions of this article, except such of the provisions as are made expressly applicable to permittees.
(c) The term of the temporary permit shall be extended, upon written request, for not to exceed one additional period of 180 days, if:
(1) The permittee shall have filed application for a license in conformity with section 46-52 within 90 days after the effective date of the ordinance from which this article derives.
(2) The permittee is of good moral character, and the park plans and specifications accompanying the application for a license comply with all provisions of this article and all other applicable ordinances and statutes.
(3) The permittee shall have diligently endeavored to make the existing park conform fully to the plans and specifications submitted with the application.
(4) Failure to make the existing park conform fully to such plans and specifications shall have been due to causes beyond the control of the permittee.
(Code 1967, § 16-2)
Sec. 46-52. Application; issuance.
(a) The application for an initial mobile home park license shall be filed with and issued by the council. The application shall be in writing, signed by the applicant, and shall include the following:
(1) The name and address of the applicant.
(2) The location and legal description of the mobile home park.
(3) A complete plan of the park in conformity with the requirements of section 46-29.
(4) Plans and specifications of all buildings, improvements and facilities constructed or to be constructed within the mobile home park.
(5) Such further information as may be requested by the council to enable it to determine if the proposed park will comply with legal requirements.
(b) The application and all accompanying plans and specifications shall be filed in triplicate.
(c) The council shall investigate the applicant and inspect the application and the proposed plans and specifications. If the applicant is of good moral character, and the proposed mobile home park will, when constructed or altered in accordance with such plans and specifications, be in compliance with all provisions of this article and all other applicable ordinances and statutes, the council shall approve the application and, upon completion of the park according to the plans, shall issue the license.
(Code 1967, § 16-3)
(a) The annual license fee for each mobile home park shall be as set from time to time by resolution of the council.
(b) The temporary permit fee for each 180-day period shall be one-half of the annual license fee prescribed in subsection (a) of this section.
(Code 1967, § 16-4)
The license certificate or temporary permit issued under the provisions of this article shall be conspicuously posted in the office of or on the premises of the mobile home park at all times.
(Code 1967, § 16-5)
Upon application in writing by a licensee for renewal of a license issued pursuant to the provisions of this article and, upon payment of the annual license fee, the council shall issue a certificate renewing such license for another year.
(Code 1967, § 16-6)
Upon application in writing for transfer of a license issued under the provisions of this article and payment of the transfer fee, the council shall issue a transfer if the transferee is of good moral character. The fee for transfer of such license shall be as set by resolution of the council from time to time.
(Code 1967, § 16-7)
Sec. 46-57. Revocation; reissuance.
The council may revoke any license to maintain and operate a mobile home park when the licensee has been found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of violating any provision of this article. After such conviction, the license may be reissued if the circumstances leading to conviction have been remedied and the park is being maintained and operated in full compliance with law.
(Code 1967, § 16-8)
[1]Cross reference(s)—Buildings and building regulations, ch. 18.
State law reference(s)—Rhode Island Mobile and Manufactured Home Act, G.L. 1956, § 31-44-1 et seq.