This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0321.TMS
DATE: 3/29/2023
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 321 Movable Tiny Homes
SPONSOR(S): Transportation & Modals Subcommittee, Stevenson
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 1404
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Transportation & Modals Subcommittee 15 Y, 2 N, As CS Johnson Hinshelwood
2) Ways & Means Committee
3) Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations
Subcommittee
4) Commerce Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The term “movable tiny home” does not appear in Florida Statutes, and there does not appear to be a standard
definition of the term “movable tiny home.” Tiny homes, which are about the size of a recreational vehicle travel
trailer are built using conventional building methods and are usually portable since they are often built on a
flatbed trailer. Currently, movable tiny homes are registered with the Department off Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles (DHSMV) as a “park trailer”, which is a subcategory of recreational vehicles designed as seasonal or
temporary living quarters that must meet specified construction standards. However, some people live in
movable tiny homes year-round but must periodically leave RV and mobile home parks because of the
seasonal/temporary nature of their registration as a “park trailer”.
The bill amends the statutory definition of the term “park trailer” to incorporate the permanent nature of some
movable tiny homes by allowing park trailers to be used as permanent living quarters if specified building
conditions are met. The bill provides minimum construction standards for these park trailers including
standards for insulation, doors and windows, electrical systems, and wall framing. The bill also requires that
each movable tiny home have a sticker or other documentation certifying that it was inspected by a licensed
engineer or by a qualified inspector for compliance with the required construction standards.
The bill does not appear to have a fiscal impact on state or local governments. The bill has an indeterminate
but likely positive fiscal impact on the private sector.
The bill has an effective date of October 1, 2023.
STORAGE NAME: h0321.TMS PAGE: 2
DATE: 3/29/2023
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Current Situation
Movable Tiny Homes
The term “movable tiny home” does not appear in Florida Statutes, and there does not appear to be a
standard definition of the term “movable tiny home.” Tiny homes, which are about the size of a
recreational vehicle travel trailer, are built using conventional building methods and are usually portable
since they are often built on a flatbed trailer.
1
Park Trailers
Currently, movable tiny homes are registered with the Department off Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles (DHSMV) as a “park trailer”, which is a subcategory of recreational vehicles. A “park trailer” is
a transportable unit which has a body width not exceeding 14 feet and which is built on a single chassis
and is designed to provide seasonal or temporary living quarters when connected to utilities necessary
for operation of installed fixtures and appliances. The total area of the unit in a setup mode, when
measured from the exterior surface of the exterior stud walls at the level of maximum dimensions, not
including any bay window, does not exceed 400 square feet when constructed to American National
Standards Institute (ANSI)
2
A-119.5 standards, and 500 square feet when constructed to United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Standards. The length of a park trailer means
the distance from the exterior of the front of the body (nearest to the drawbar and coupling mechanism)
to the exterior of the rear of the body (at the opposite end of the body), including any protrusions.
3
As stated above, the definition of “park trailer” contemplates that it would be used as “seasonal or
temporary living quarters when connected to utilities necessary for operation of installed fixtures and
appliances.” However, some people live in movable tiny homes year-round but must periodically leave
RV and mobile home parks because of the seasonal/temporary nature of their registration as a “park
trailer”.
Building Standards
For purposes of mobile homes and recreational vehicles, Florida law defines the term “code” to mean
the appropriate standards found in:
The Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards for single-family mobile
homes, adopted by HUD;
The Uniform Standards Code ANSI A-119.2 for recreational vehicles and ANSI A-119.5 for park
trailers or the HUD standard for park trailers certified as meeting that standard; or
The Mobile and Manufactured Home Repair and Remodeling Code and the Used Recreational
Vehicle Code.
4
Under Florida law, each recreational vehicle-type unit, including park trailers, manufactured in this state
or manufactured outside this state but sold or offered for sale in this state must meet the Uniform
Standards Code ANSI book A-119.2 or A-119.5, as applicable, approved by the American National
Standards Institute. Such standards shall include, but are not limited to, standards for the installation of
1
Melanie Radizicki McManus, 10 Big Questions About Tiny Houses, https://home.howstuffworks.com/10-big-questions-about-tiny-
houses.htm#:~:text=They're%20built%20using%20conventional,trailer%20so%20they%20are%20portable (last visited Mar. 23, 2023).
2
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization that administers and coordinates the U.S.
voluntary standards and conformity assessment system. The Institute works in close collaboration with stakeholders from industry and
government to identify and develop standards- and conformance-based solutions to national and global priorities. American National
Standards Institute, Introduction, https://www.ansi.org/about/introduction (last visited Mar. 24, 2023).
3
S. 320.01(1)(b)7., F.S.
4
S. 320.822(2), F.S. STORAGE NAME: h0321.TMS PAGE: 3
DATE: 3/29/2023
plumbing, heating, and electrical systems and fire and life safety in recreational vehicle-type units and
park trailers. However, those park trailers exceeding 400 square feet must meet the Federal
Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards and have a HUD label.
5
Effect of the Bill
The bill amends s. 320.01(1)(b)7, F.S., defining the term “park trailer” to incorporate the permanent
nature of some movable tiny homes. Under the bill, a park trailer may be used to provide seasonal or
temporary living quarters, as is currently in law, or it may be used as permanent living quarters for no
more than one household when connected to utilities necessary for the operation of installed fixtures
and appliances. The total area of such unit may not exceed 400 square feet when constructed to
standards specified below, and 500 square feet when constructed to HUD Standards. A park trailer
meeting this definition is commonly known as a “movable tiny home”.
The bill amends the statutory definition of the term “code” to incorporate the standards for movable tiny
homes provided below.
The bill creates s. 320.8231(3),F.S., providing that a movable tiny home must, in addition to complying
with building codes currently specified for a park trailer, be constructed with at least all of the following:
Insulation with a thermal resistance value of at least R-13 in the walls and at least R-19 in the
ceiling.
Residential-grade insulated doors and windows.
An electrical system that meets National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70, National
Electrical Code, article 551 (recreational vehicles) or article 552 (park trailers), as applicable.
Low-voltage electrical systems that meet the requirements of the ANSI/RVIA Low Voltage
Systems in Conversion and RVs Standard.
Wall framing consisting of structural rated studs that are between 16 and 24 inches on center,
which studs are at least 2 inches by 4 inches of wood or metal, or equivalent structural insulated
panels.
The bill creates s. 320.8231(4), F.S., requiring each movable tiny home to have a sticker or other
documentation certifying that the movable tiny home was inspected and certified for compliance with
the requirements above by a professional engineer licensed in Florida or by a third-party inspector who
is qualified to inspect for ANSI compliance and is accredited pursuant to either the American Society for
Testing and Materials Appendix E541 or ISO/IEC 17020.
The bill has an effective date of October 1, 2023.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1 Amends s. 320.01, F.S., relating to definitions, general.
Section 2 Amends s. 320.822, F.S., relating to definitions; ss. 320.822-320.862.
Section 3 Amends s. 320.8231, F.S., relating to establishment of uniform standards for
recreational vehicle-type units and park trailers.
Section 4 Provides an effective date of October 1, 2023.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
5
S. 320.8231(1), F.S. STORAGE NAME: h0321.TMS PAGE: 4
DATE: 3/29/2023
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
Indeterminate but likely positive. Individuals who live in a movable tiny home may be required to move
less frequently from their desired locale.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
Not applicable. This bill does not appear to affect county or municipal governments.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
DHSMV will likely need to amend its rules regarding park trailers to conform to provisions of the bill.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
On March 29, 2023, the Transportation & Modals Subcommittee considered a proposed committee
substitute and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. The committee substitute differs from
HB 321 in the following ways:
Specifies that if a “park trailer”, which is currently defined in law and is said to be for seasonal or
temporary living quarters, is built to specified standards (i.e., those of a movable tiny home), then it
may be utilized for year-round living.
Eliminates the need for HB 323, the linked fee bill.
Changes the effective date of the bill to October 1, 2023.
The staff analysis has been updated to reflect the committee substitute.