SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon House of Representatives approved a bill on Monday designed to cut some of the red tape around mobile home parks in the wake of the 2020 wildfires that destroyed so many of these communities.

House Bill 4064 A is designed to streamline local regulations on manufactured housing and clarify that Oregonians can place prefabricated homes in mobile home parks. House Democrats say that this will break down barriers to "more innovative housing options."

The bill is also intended to help Oregonians in mobile home parks rebuild after the 2020 fires. It expands the use of Oregon's manufactured dwelling replacement loan program, giving people who lost their mobile home the option of using the loan to rebuild outside of the disaster area.

“Even before the 2020 wildfires, the need for affordable housing was a crisis in our communities,” said Representative Pam Marsh (D-Southern Jackson County). “Manufactured housing is a tried and true housing option that can give Oregonians more options to find a safe and affordable place to call home.”

The Almeda Fire alone burned through 18 mobile home parks in the Rogue Valley, destroying between 1,500 and 1,700 manufactured homes or RVs. Across Oregon, there are about 140,000 manufactured homes. Nationally, the median annual income of manufactured residents is about half that of households living in single-family homes.

The bill passed the House in a 41-11 vote and goes on to the Senate for consideration.

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