Virginia has clear rules for moving a manufactured home, and most of them come into play before the home ever leaves its lot. The county or city treasurer must issue a tax permit, the DMV must issue a hauling permit, escorts are set by the home’s width, and setup has to be done by a licensed Manufactured Home Contractor. This guide explains each step, the travel limits that shape your moving date and what to check at the new site.
Want it handled for you? Our mobile home movers in Virginia take care of permits, transport and setup.
Virginia Mobile Home Moving Rules at a Glance
| Requirement | Who handles it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tax permit | County or city treasurer | Local property taxes must be paid first. Displayed on the rear of the home during the move. |
| Hauling permit | Virginia DMV | Required to transport and deliver a manufactured home. |
| Escorts | Your mover | Start at widths over 12 feet and increase with width. |
| Installer | Licensed contractor | Needs a DPOR contractor license with the Manufactured Home Contractor specialty. |
| Local permits | Locality and health department | Building permit, inspections, and water and sewer or well and septic permits. |
| Notify new locality | You | Tell the commissioner of revenue within 10 days of moving in. |
| Title | Virginia DMV | DMV titles manufactured homes. |
Rules can change, so confirm current details with the DMV and your locality before you book.
Step 1: Get a Tax Permit From the Treasurer
Under Virginia Code § 58.1-3520, a manufactured home that has been used as a residence can’t be moved out of its county or city until the owner gets a tax permit from the local treasurer. The treasurer issues it only after local property taxes on the home are paid.
- The permit is valid for 45 days, so time it close to your moving date.
- It must be displayed on the rear of the home while it’s being moved.
- Moving without it is a misdemeanor.
After the move, the same law requires you to notify the commissioner of revenue (or director of finance) in your new locality within 10 days.
Step 2: DMV Hauling Permit
In Virginia, the DMV issues hauling permits for oversize loads, and a manufactured home may only be transported and delivered with one. Permits are ordered through the state’s online hauling permit system, which is moving to a platform called EZ Haul. The permit sets the route and conditions, and the mover must follow them.
A full-service mover handles this application, plans a route that avoids low bridges and tight turns, and checks that the truck and home meet the permit’s conditions.
Step 3: Escorts and Travel Times
Escorts by width
Virginia sets escort requirements by the width of the load. For manufactured homes, the general rules are:
| Width | Non-interstate roads | Interstates |
|---|---|---|
| Over 12 feet | 1 front, 1 rear | 1 rear |
| Over 14 feet | 2 front, 1 rear | 1 front, 1 rear |
| Over 16 feet | 2 front, 2 rear | 1 front, 2 rear |
| Over 18 feet | Decided case by case | |
The DMV can change these requirements based on weight, length, height and the route, so your permit is the final word.
When a manufactured home can travel
- Daylight only: normal travel is from sunrise to sunset.
- No rush hours in town: no travel inside city or town limits from 7 to 9 a.m. or 4 to 6 p.m.
- Holidays: no travel on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Permits stop at noon on the weekday before, so a Monday holiday means no travel from noon Friday.
- Weather: no travel in hazardous weather or poor visibility.
Step 4: Licensed Installation and Local Permits
Virginia runs its own HUD-approved installation program through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Installers need a contractor’s license from the Board for Contractors (DPOR) with the Manufactured Home Contractor (MHC) specialty, which requires DHCD’s installer training. We hold a Virginia Manufactured Home Contractor license.
Local building officials handle the installation permit, inspections and certificate of occupancy. Before the home can be used as a full-time residence, you’ll also need water and sewer connection permits, or well and septic permits from the health department.
Setup covers blocking, leveling, anchoring, joining sections and reconnecting utilities. Read why your mover should also handle setup.
Step 5: Title
The Virginia DMV titles manufactured homes. If you’re bringing a home in from another state, you’ll apply with the out-of-state title assigned to you. If the home’s title has been cancelled because it was attached to land, it’s taxed as real estate and the paperwork is different, so check with the DMV before the move.
Step 6: Zoning at the New Site
Virginia law limits how localities can restrict manufactured homes. Localities must allow them in agricultural districts where site-built homes are allowed, and must allow homes that meet certain conditions in other residential districts, including being converted to real property and placed on individual lots. Private restrictive covenants can still apply, so check your deed or neighborhood rules as well as the zoning office.
Wind Zones on the Coast
Most of Virginia is in HUD Wind Zone I, but Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and the Princess Anne area are in Wind Zone II. A home built for Zone I can’t be installed in Zone II. If you’re moving a home toward the coast, check the wind zone on its data plate before you book.
How Much Does It Cost to Move a Mobile Home in Virginia?
Most of our moves cost $2,000 to $15,000 for the whole job. In Virginia, the price depends on:
- Width: each width step adds escorts.
- Route and timing: daylight-only travel and town rush-hour limits can stretch a long move over more than one day.
- Distance: in-county moves cost less than moves across the state.
- Setup: anchors, skirting, utilities and any health department work at the new lot.
See our mobile home moving cost guide for a full breakdown.
Virginia Mobile Home Moving Checklist
- Pay local property taxes and get the tax permit from the treasurer within 45 days of the move.
- Confirm zoning and covenants at the new site.
- Arrange water and sewer, or well and septic, permits.
- Hire a mover that handles DMV hauling permits, escorts and licensed setup.
- Check the wind zone if you’re moving toward the coast.
- After the move, notify the commissioner of revenue within 10 days.
Our mobile home moving checklist covers the rest.
Common Mistakes on Virginia Moves
- Getting the tax permit too early. It’s only valid for 45 days, so a delay can mean applying again.
- Forgetting the health department. Without water and sewer, or well and septic, permits, the home can’t be used as a full-time residence.
- Ignoring holiday cutoffs. Permits stop at noon on the weekday before a listed holiday, which can cost you a Friday.
- Moving a Zone I home to the coast. A home built for Wind Zone I can’t be installed in Zone II.
- Hiring an unlicensed installer. Setup must be done by a contractor with the Manufactured Home Contractor specialty. Read how to choose a licensed mobile home mover.
Moving a Mobile Home Into or Out of Virginia
An interstate move needs a permit from every state on the route, each with its own escort rules and travel hours. Leaving Virginia, you still need the treasurer’s tax permit. Coming in, you’ll title the home with the DMV, notify the commissioner of revenue within 10 days and meet Virginia’s installation rules. One mover handling the whole route keeps the permits and dates lined up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to move a mobile home in Virginia?
Yes. You need a tax permit from the treasurer to move the home out of its county or city, and the mover needs a DMV hauling permit. The new locality will require installation and utility permits.
How long is a Virginia mobile home tax permit valid?
45 days. It must be displayed on the rear of the home while it’s moving.
Can a mobile home be moved on a holiday weekend in Virginia?
Not on the listed holidays, and permits stop at noon on the weekday before. Plan around holiday weekends.
Who can install a manufactured home in Virginia?
A contractor licensed by DPOR’s Board for Contractors with the Manufactured Home Contractor specialty.
How much does it cost to move a mobile home in Virginia?
Most of our moves cost $2,000 to $15,000 for the whole job. Width, distance, escorts and setup work decide where your move lands.
Move Your Home With Virginia Mobile Home Movers
From Virginia Beach to Roanoke and Northern Virginia to Bristol, our crews handle DMV permits, escorts and licensed setup. See our Virginia mobile home moving services, or request a free quote.
Planning a mobile home move?
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