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Athens City Code

Source snapshot: 2026-09-15. Check the municipal source for later changes. Municipal source ↗ · Download full document · Markdown

Contents14-204 General Regulations--Mobile Home Parks

14-204 General Regulations--Mobile Home Parks

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  1. (1) Permit for mobile home park.
    1. (a) No place or site within the city shall be established or maintained by any person, group of persons, or corporation as a mobile home park unless a valid permit is issued by the city building inspector in the name of such person for the specific mobile home park. The city building inspector is authorized to issue, suspend, or revoke permits in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
    2. (b) Mobile home parks in existence as of the effective date of the ordinance from which these provisions are derived shall be required to obtain a mobile home park permit. Existing mobile home parks which cannot comply with the requirements regarding mobile home parks shall be considered as a nonconforming use; provided, however, if at any time the ownership of said park shall change, said new owner shall be given a period not to exceed 30 days in which to comply with current mobile home park regulations in all respects and his failure to do so shall render him ineligible for a mobile home park permit at his present location. Said existing mobile home parks shall comply with all state regulations applicable thereto which were in force prior to the establishment of said mobile home park.
  2. (2) Inspections by city building inspector. The city building inspector is hereby authorized and directed to make inspections to determine the condition of mobile home parks in order that he may perform his duty of safeguarding the health and safety of occupants of mobile home parks and of the general public. The city building inspector shall have the power to enter at reasonable times upon any private or public property for the purpose of inspecting and investigating conditions relating to the enforcement of this chapter.
  3. (3) Length of occupancy. No mobile home space shall be rented in any mobile home park except for periods of 60 days or more, and no mobile home shall be admitted to any park unless it can be demonstrated that it meets the requirements of the state regulations.
  4. (4) Location and planning. The mobile home park shall be located on a well-drained site and shall be so located that its drainage will not endanger any water supply and shall be in conformity with a plan approved by the city planning commission and shall be located in districts as specified in the zoning ordinance.
  5. (5) Minimum size of mobile home park. The tract of land for the mobile home park shall comprise an area of not less than five acres. The tract of land shall consist of a single plot so dimensioned and related as to facilitate efficient design and management.
  6. (6) Minimum number of spaces. The minimum number of spaces completed and ready for occupancy before first occupancy is 12.
  7. (7) Minimum mobile home space and spacing of mobile homes. Each mobile home space shall be adequate for the type of facility occupying the same. Mobile homes shall be parked on each space so that there will be at least 15 feet of open space between mobile homes or any attachment such as a garage or porch (if the construction of additional rooms or covered areas is to be allowed beside the mobile homes, the mobile home spaces shall be made wider to accommodate such construction in order to maintain the required 15 feet of open space) and at least 15 feet end-to-end spacing between trailers and any building or structure, 20 feet between any trailer and property line and 35 feet from the right-of-way of any public street or highway and ten feet from streets within the park. In addition, each mobile home space shall contain:
    1. (a) A minimum lot area of 3,000 square feet;
    2. (b) A minimum width of at least 40 feet and a minimum depth of at least 75 feet;
    3. (c) A minimum depth with end parking of an automobile equal to the length of the mobile home, plus 30 feet;
    4. (d) A minimum depth with side or street parking equal to the length of the mobile home, plus 15 feet.
  8. (8) Common area. A centrally located area shall be provided for recreational use by the occupants of the mobile home park. This area shall be maintained in an attractive manner and shall be well-drained and free from flood. The minimum size of this area shall be equal to 300 square feet per mobile home.
  9. (9) Water supply.
    1. (a) Where a public water supply is available, it shall be used exclusively. The development of an independent water supply to serve the mobile home park shall be made only after written approval of plans and specifications has been granted by the city engineer and county health officer.
    2. (b) In those instances where an independent system is approved, the water shall be from a supply properly located, protected, and operated and shall be adequate in quantity and approved in quality. Samples of water for bacteriological examination shall be taken before the initial approval of the physical structure and thereafter at least every four months and when any repair or alteration of the water supply system has been made. If a positive sample is obtained, it will be the responsibility of the mobile home park operator to provide such treatment as is deemed necessary by the health officer to maintain a safe, potable water supply. Water shall be furnished at the minimum capacity of 250 gallons per day per mobile home space. An individually metered water service connection shall be provided for each mobile home space.
  10. (10) Sewage disposal.
    1. (a) An adequate sewage disposal system must be provided and must be approved in writing by the health officer and city engineer. Each mobile home space shall be equipped with at least a six-inch sewer connection, trapped below the frost line and reaching at least four inches above the surface of the ground. All sewer lines shall be laid in trenches separated at least ten feet horizontally from any drinking water supply line.
    2. (b) Every effort shall be made to dispose of the sewage through a public sewerage system. In lieu of this, a septic tank and subsurface soil absorption system may be used, provided the soil characteristics are suitable and an adequate disposal area is available. The minimum size of any septic tank to be installed under any condition shall not be less than 750 gallons working capacity. This size tank can accommodate a maximum of two mobile homes. For each additional mobile home on such a single tank, a minimum additional liquid capacity of 175 gallons shall be provided. The sewage from no more than 12 mobile homes shall be disposed of in any one single tank installation. The size of such tank shall be a minimum of 2,500 gallons liquid capacity.
    3. (c) The amount of effective soil absorption area or total bottom area of overflow trenches will depend on local soil conditions and shall be determined only on the basis of the percolation rate of the soil. The percolation rate shall be determined as outlined in Appendix A of the state department of health bulletin, entitled "Recommended Construction of Large Septic Tank Disposal Systems for Schools, Factories and Institutions." This bulletin is available on request from the department. No mobile home shall be placed over a soil absorption field.
    4. (d) In lieu of a public sewerage or septic tank system, an officially approved package treatment plant may be used.
  11. (11) Refuse. The storage, collection, and disposal of refuse in the park shall be so managed as to create no health hazards. All refuse shall be stored in flyproof, watertight, and rodentproof containers. Satisfactory container racks or holders shall be provided. Garbage shall be collected and disposed of in an approved manner at least twice per week.
  12. (12) Electricity. An electrical outlet supplying at least 220 volts shall be provided for each mobile home space and shall be weatherproof and accessible to the parked mobile home. All electrical installations shall be in compliance with the National Electrical Code and state department of insurance and banking Regulation No. 15, entitled "Regulation Relating to Electrical Installations in the State of Tennessee," and shall satisfy all requirements of the local electric service organization.
  13. (13) Streets. Minimum widths of various streets within mobile home parks shall be:
    1. (a) One-way, with no on-street parking: 12 feet.
    2. (b) One-way, with parallel parking on one side only: 18 feet.
    3. (c) One-way, with parallel parking on both sides: 26 feet.
    4. (d) Two-way, with no on-street parking: 20 feet.
    5. (e) Two-way, with parallel parking on one side only: 28 feet.
    6. (f) Two-way, with parallel parking on both sides: 36 feet.
  14. (14) Street or road base. The base shall consist of crushed stone, grade D, class B, compacted to six inches, and constructed as specified in section 303 of the state department of highways' Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 1968.
  15. (15) Asphaltic concrete surface course (hot mix). The asphaltic concrete surface course (paved surface) shall be constructed with asphaltic concrete (grading E) compacted to two inches with not less than an average weight of 200 pounds per square yard and constructed as specified in Section 411, pages 258 through 260 of the state department of highways' Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction (and subsequent revisions), January 1, 1968.
  16. (16) Parking spaces. Car parking spaces shall be provided in sufficient number to meet the needs of the occupants of the property and their guests without interference with normal movement of traffic. Such facilities shall be provided at the rate of at least one car space for each mobile home lot, plus an additional car space for each three lots to provide for guest parking, for two-car tenants and for delivery and service vehicles. Car parking spaces shall be located for convenient access to the mobile home spaces. Where practical, one car space shall be located on each lot and the remainder located in adjacent parking bays. The size of the individual parking space shall have a minimum width of not less than ten feet and a length of not less than 20 feet. The parking spaces shall be located so access can be gained only from internal streets of the mobile home park.
  17. (17) Buffer strip. An evergreen buffer strip shall be planted along all boundaries of the mobile home park (see definition of the term "buffer strip" in ACC 14-202).