Virginia: Zoning Board Approves HUD Code Duplex

On Monday, the Isle of Wight County Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve a variance allowing the placement of a HUD Code single‑section duplex manufactured home, overcoming a zoning barrier that had stalled installation for more than a year. This decision is significant not just locally, but nationally, as it affirms that the new 2-4 unit designs approved under the latest changes to the HUD Code can and should be permitted within existing zoning frameworks designed for manufactured housing.

At the center of this case was the recent HUD‑approved duplex design, a single‑section home built on one chassis with an internal firewall separating the two units. Although the interior layout provides two attainable homes, the structure maintains all the physical characteristics of a permitted single‑section manufactured home.

The home was built in Rocky Mount, Virginia and featured prominently at the 2024 Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference. MHI worked with the community seeking to place the home in their land-lease community and the Virginia Manufactured Housing Association to advocate for the home’s placement, which had been blocked for more than a year. MHI’s comment letter focused on establishing the core principle that a HUD Code single‑section home—regardless of interior configuration—must be treated as a single‑section home under local zoning.

The Board’s decision does more than resolve a siting request for one home. This establishes a clear precedent to support the 2-4 unit homes now allowed under the HUD Code. At a time when working families, seniors and young adults are struggling to find affordable options, this decision shows how local governments can unlock new inventory without changing density or rewriting zoning ordinances.

MHI believes this demonstrates a replicable path for other jurisdictions to expand their housing supply in responsible, community‑compatible ways. Please email MHI if you need similar assistance.