HUD Unveils Next Generation Manufactured Housing Action Plan to Modernize 50-Year-Old Code

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development unveiled the Next Generation Manufactured Housing Action Plan on October 7, 2026, aiming to revise the half-century-old HUD Code that governs factory-built homes. This structural update seeks to balance safety and innovation within manufactured housing, reflecting recent legislative changes.

The initiative follows the removal of the permanent chassis requirement under the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a move that HUD officials say could transform design, transportation, and assembly of manufactured homes. The plan involves updating energy-efficiency standards, establishing foundation and installation requirements for chassis-free homes, and developing a new performance-based code for larger factory-built buildings. HUD Secretary Scott Turner emphasized the goal of expanding innovation to support affordable housing opportunities, while Joe Gormley highlighted the opportunity created by removing the permanent chassis requirement, while HUD plans to attract more manufacturers into the federal system and support early chassis-free housing projects.

HUD will next focus on refining construction pathways and energy standards for these new housing models.

Though Montana was not mentioned specifically, this modernization could potentially influence the state’s housing market by lowering construction costs and increasing supply through factory-built homes that might be adapted to local conditions, which could appeal to rural and dispersed communities seeking affordable and efficient housing solutions.

HUD Unveils Next Generation Manufactured Housing Action Plan to Modernize 50-Year-Old Code
By Boston Real Estate Times, Boston Real Estate Times