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Mobile Home Setup and Installation in Mobile, AL

Mobile Mobile Home Movers · Local referrals for homeowners who need a single-wide or double-wide set up, leveled or tied down in Mobile, Prichard, Saraland, Daphne, Fairhope and nearby towns.

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  • Updated October 24, 2026Pages are reviewed before they go live and dated when they change.

Mobile home setup in Alabama is regulated work. An installer certified by the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission (AMHC) sets the home on piers, levels it, anchors it and joins its sections. Licensed trades make the gas, electric, heat and air, water and sewer connections. Nationally, setup services alone cost $3,000 to $4,000, and more on undeveloped land (HomeAdvisor, page updated June 19, 2026). No dated source publishes an Alabama installer price or the number of days the work takes, so this page gives the fixed fees, the national range, what moves the price and the waits we could source.

Mobile Mobile Home Movers is a referral service, not an installer. We pass your request to one independent local company; we do not install, move, quote, schedule or book homes. Mobile and Baldwin counties are both AMHC Hurricane Zone counties, so the Hurricane Zone anchoring table applies here.

Who can install a mobile home in Alabama?

Manufactured home installation is covered by AMHC rule 535-X-12-.01. It says every manufactured home, new or used, must be installed by a person the Commission certifies. The certified installer, or an employee who holds a Commission certificate of training, must be on site for the entire installation. An owner or buyer may not install the home unless the owner is a certified installer. Hiring an uncertified installer is a violation, and the fine can reach $500 for each home (rules 535-X-12-.04 and .08).

To be certified, mobile home installers need a $20,000 bond, $100,000 in general liability insurance, a passing result in the Commission's installer course and a valid driver's license (AMHC installer page). Installers renew every year, retake a refresher course every two years and file a monthly installation report by the 10th (rules 535-X-12-.03 and .05). Certification for HUD-code homes is a separate class from modular homes, so ask which class applies to your home. Ask the company for its certificate number and check it on the Commission's online search.

Do I need a licensed installer?

Yes, in the sense Alabama uses: a certified installer from the AMHC for the home itself, and licensed or certified contractors for the utility connections. Professional mobile home installation by an AMHC-certified installer is the law here, and the table shows who may do each job.

JobWho may do it in AlabamaRule
Hauling the home on public roadsAMHC licensed manufacturers and retailers and firms under written contract with them, certified installers, and federally certified motor carriersAMHC 535-X-12T-.09
Taking off wheels and axles at the siteThe carrier, after an AMHC inspector decals a carrier-delivered home. It may not install the home unless it is also a certified installerAMHC 535-X-12T-.08 and 535-X-12-.02
Site preparationSet by a written contract between the landowner and the retailer or installer. Inside a park, the park ownerAMHC 535-X-13-.04
Piers, footings, leveling, anchoring, joining sections, installation decalAn AMHC certified installer, or an employee with a certificate of training, present the whole jobAMHC 535-X-12-.01 and .04
Gas, electrical, central heat and air, sewer and water connectionsLicensed or certified contractors in those tradesAMHC 535-X-12-.02
Plumbing permit, Mobile CountyAn Alabama Master Plumbing License, or a general contractor's license for sewer and water line work, plus a business licenseMobile County code amendments
Set-up inspection and marriage-line inspectionAn AMHC inspectorAMHC 535-X-12-.07 and 535-X-13-.11
County inspection and release for electric serviceMobile County Inspection Services, then Alabama Power sets the meterMobile County Mobile Home Checklist; Alabama Power Builder's Guide
Owner's partPay the companies, supply papers, call 811 before any digging of your own. Do not installAMHC 535-X-12-.01; Alabama 811 law

One open question: which crossover connections between the sections the installer may make, and which need a licensed trade. The rule does not spell it out, so ask the Commission before you sign.

Mobile home setup cost: national range and fixed fees

ItemPriceSource and date
Setup services alone, national, higher on undeveloped land$3,000 to $4,000HomeAdvisor, page updated June 19, 2026
Full-service move with setup, single-wide, national$4,000 to $8,000 (table average $6,000)HomeAdvisor, June 19, 2026
Full-service move with setup, double-wide, national$8,000 to $15,000 (average $11,500)HomeAdvisor, June 19, 2026
Transport only up to 60 miles, national (you arrange permits, disconnection, reconnection and setup)$1,000 to $3,500HomeAdvisor, June 19, 2026
AMHC installation decal (bought by the installer)$130AMHC rule 535-X-19-.03, read October 17, 2026
AMHC pre-delivery site inspection$100AMHC rule 535-X-19-.03
Mobile County move permit$11.25 per homeMobile County License Commission, October 17, 2026
ALDOT single-trip permit (move day)$10 up to 12 feet wide and 75 feet long; $20 if wider or longer; $4 added to each credit card paymentALDOT fee schedule, March 11, 2025
MAWSS new residential water account$100 minimum deposit plus $60 service fee (next-business-day or later service)MAWSS, retrieved October 17, 2026

These are national figures plus fixed Alabama fees. They are not a Mobile price. The full-service rows cover the whole move, and HomeAdvisor says they include disconnection, reconnection, setup and permits.

Mobile home installation cost, single wide setup cost and double wide installation cost

HomeAdvisor gives one national setup-alone range and does not split it by home size. A single wide setup cost and a double wide installation cost will differ, since a second section adds piers, joining and sealing, but no dated source gives the gap. Compare the full-service rows only against full-service quotes. Do not add the rows together, because the fees above are small next to labor, materials and site work.

Mobile home site prep cost and mobile home concrete pad cost

We found no Alabama or Gulf Coast price for site preparation, a gravel or concrete pad, or utility connections, and HomeAdvisor's guide gives none either. A flat price given before anyone has seen your lot leaves out soft ground and access. Ask for the site work as its own line, with a unit price for extra fill or piers if the ground is soft.

What changes the setup cost: undeveloped land, pad work, home size and wind zone

  • Undeveloped land. HomeAdvisor names it as a reason setup can run above its range.
  • Access and soil. Hard-to-reach sites take more time, and added or adjusted piers or support can raise the price (This Old House, June 5, 2026).
  • Home size and sections. More sections mean more piers, joining, sealing and crossovers.
  • Pad work. Pier pads follow the state minimum of 16 by 16 by 4 inches; ask for the pad and any slab as their own lines.
  • Wind zone and anchor count. In the Hurricane Zone, the table counts ties by length and by pier height over 24 inches, and the soil class sets the anchor.
  • Flood zone. Floodplain rules can call for a different design than the state minimum (see the pier list below).
  • Sewer and septic. Septic needs county approval first.
  • Extras. Decks and porches can add materials and labor (HomeAdvisor). Ask whether steps and skirting are in the price.
  • Re-inspection and fixes. Ask who pays if the inspector finds a deficiency.

How long does mobile home setup take?

No official source gives the days the work itself takes. The Manufactured Housing Institute says single-section homes are faster to install, which is all a sourced answer can add. Ask the installer for a start date and a finish date in writing, and plan around the waits that stack:

  • 811: see the 811 section below for the notice window.
  • Move-day permits: the Mobile County permit is good for 14 calendar days per section.
  • AMHC: deficiencies must be fixed within 30 days.
  • Alabama Power: apply up to 45 days ahead; about 24 hours to enter the county's release; a call if no meter within two business days after inspection.
  • MAWSS: up to 24 to 48 hours to process a new account.

We found no published county inspection turnaround and no septic approval time, so those waits are unknown.

How soon can I move in after mobile home setup?

The Mobile County checklist ends with the county's release to Alabama Power, which needs about 24 hours to enter it. Ask Mobile County Inspection Services and the AMHC when you may move in. Utilities and inspections come after the home is on its piers, so delivery day is not move-in day.

Why proper installation matters: doors, floors, roof seams, wind resistance, warranty and lender requirements

Alabama makes proper installation a legal duty first: only a certified installer may do it (AMHC rule 535-X-12-.01). Past the law, the work decides how the joints and anchors hold.

  • Doors and floors. Ask the installer what level tolerance the manufacturer's manual sets; pier spacing is in the foundation section.
  • Roof seams and the marriage line. In a double-wide, the sections are lagged and sealed together per the maker (rule 535-X-13-.07). After exterior close-up, no gap is allowed at the joint (24 CFR 3285.802).
  • Wind resistance. Anchors and ties set to the Hurricane Zone table are the state's wind requirement for the home. See the wind zone section below.
  • Warranty and lender requirements. Ask the maker, the lender and the insurer in writing what they need before the work starts.

What does mobile home setup include?

The steps below follow the Alabama rules and the Mobile County checklist. Each step has a longer section below.

  1. Check that the home fits the site. Read the data plate for the wind zone and check that each section has its HUD label.
  2. Agree who prepares the site. This goes in a written contract, with a signed Site Preparation form.
  3. Collect the local paperwork. That means the 911 address, the legal description, the percolation test number where it applies, and the permits.
  4. Call 811 before any grading or trenching.
  5. Prepare the site. Clear it, grade it, slope it and drain it.
  6. Take delivery. The installer's decal goes on the home on arrival, and the Commission is told where it sits.
  7. Position the home, then set piers on footings.
  8. Level the home and check it.
  9. Anchor it to the Hurricane Zone table.
  10. Join the sections of a multi-section home and seal the marriage line.
  11. Connect utilities through licensed trades, with their permits.
  12. Pass the AMHC set-up inspection.
  13. Pass the county inspection and get the power release.
  14. Skirt the home after the AMHC inspection.
  15. Register the home within 30 days of purchase.

Is setup included in a moving quote, and can I hire a mover and a separate installer?

Is setup included when you move my home? It depends on the quote. HomeAdvisor says some moving companies include setup and others charge for it separately, and its transport-only range leaves permits, disconnection, reconnection and setup to the owner. In Alabama, setup is done by an AMHC-certified installer, and a carrier alone may not install the home. A moving quote includes setup only when a certified installer does it. Ask which lines are in the price before you compare.

Can I hire a mover and a separate installer?

Yes. That means two quotes and two schedules. The transporter is responsible for safety-related damage while the home is in its care (AMHC rule 535-X-12-.04), and the installer answers for the installation. Ask both companies who signs off at hand-over, who notifies the AMHC and who is on site for the inspection. If one company handles both the move and the setup, it still needs an AMHC certificate for the setup, so ask for the number.

How to compare a mobile home setup company or contractor

Whether a business calls itself a mobile home setup company, a mobile home setup contractor or one of the mobile home installation specialists, hold every quote to the same questions.

  1. What is the installer's AMHC certificate number, and is that installer or an employee with a certificate of training on site the whole time?
  2. Will the decal go on the home on arrival, and who tells the AMHC where the home sits?
  3. If one company moves the home and another sets it up, who is responsible for damage and who signs off?
  4. Which lines are in the price: clearing, grading and drainage, gravel or pad, piers and footings (how many, what pad size), leveling, anchors (how many per side for my home's length), joining and sealing, crossovers, steps and landings, skirting with vents and a ground cover, decals, permits, the 811 call and debris?
  5. Which anchor type will be used, and is the soil probe-tested or will a C4 or C5 anchor be used?
  6. Who are the plumber, gas fitter, electrician and HVAC contractor, who pays them and who pulls their permits?
  7. Who asks for the AMHC and county inspections, and who pays for a fix or a re-inspection?
  8. Is the Site Preparation form signed, and who owns site work: me, the park or the company?
  9. What happens if the soil is soft? Is there a unit price per extra pier or load of fill?
  10. Is the estimate in writing, is it free, and does it include a site visit?

Red flags: no certificate number or one that does not match the decal; a company that offers to block, level or tie down but is not a certified installer; a turn-key price with plumbing and electric and no trade named; skirting before the inspection; a price with no line items; no mention of 811; a Wind Zone I home offered for a Hurricane Zone site; and "lowest bid" as the only reason to choose. Compare scope first and price second.

Mobile home setup on raw land, in a park, new or used

Mobile home setup on raw land

HomeAdvisor says setup can cost more when moving to undeveloped land. Expect a 911 address, a percolation test or a sewer connection, power and water from scratch, clearing, drainage, an 811 call and, in some places, flood-zone review. The county and septic waits are not published.

Mobile home setup in a park

In a park, the park owner is responsible for site preparation, and the AMHC does not regulate parks, so ask the city or county about park rules (AMHC FAQ). Get the park's move-in terms, lot approval and any utility rules in writing before you pay a deposit. Your installer still must be certified, and the AMHC inspects installations.

New mobile home setup and used mobile home setup

For a new mobile home setup, the installer follows the manufacturer's manual. For a used mobile home setup, the manual governs if it exists; otherwise the state minimums for blocking apply. Proof that taxes or registration are paid comes before the move permit. For registration, Mobile County asks for a title or Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (homes 20 years old or newer) and a bill of sale, and registration is due within 30 days of purchase.

Mobile home delivery and setup

Mobile home delivery and setup are two separate jobs with two sets of rules. A carrier must give 72 hours' notice before delivery and may not unhitch until an inspector decals the home. A home not installed at once must be blocked until a certified installer installs it (AMHC rule 535-X-12T-.08).

Mobile home setup requirements before the home arrives

Mobile County Inspection Services publishes a Mobile Home Checklist of what must exist before electric service can start (Mobile County Mobile Home Checklist). Start from it:

  • A 911 address from the Mobile County Engineering Department.
  • The legal description of the property.
  • A percolation test number from the Mobile County Health Department, which the plumbing and electrical permits use.
  • Plumbing and HVAC permits taken out before inspection.
  • An application to Alabama Power after the electrical permit is issued.
  • The AMHC inspection decal and the installer's decal, both on the home.

The move itself has its own papers: proof that property taxes or the current registration are paid, then the county move permit, good for 14 calendar days per section (Mobile County License Commission; Alabama Department of Revenue rule 810-4-2-.09). The fees for the county move permit and the ALDOT single-trip permit are in the cost table.

Inside the city of Mobile, manufactured homes are allowed only by conditional use permit in certain residential districts (City of Mobile Local Recovery Plan, 2024). Where a lot of record already holds more than two dwellings or buildings with living space, Mobile County requires site plan approval from the County Engineer before a permit. This page verifies only the Mobile County steps. For Baldwin County, the city of Mobile or another town, call the local office for your address before you set a date.

Utility hookups, permits and the inspection before power is released

Who hooks up the utilities after a mobile home move?

Licensed or certified contractors do, not the mover and not the installer unless that person holds that license. Alabama's rule names gas, electrical, central heat and air, sewer and water connections (AMHC rule 535-X-12-.02). Get a name for each trade, who pays that person and who pulls the permit.

  • Sewer or septic. Mobile County requires a connection to public sewer where it is available. A private septic system approved under Alabama Department of Public Health rules, and enforced by the Mobile County Health Department, is allowed only where public sewer is not available.
  • Plumbing. The county permit needs an Alabama Master Plumbing License, or a general contractor's license for sewer and water line work.
  • Electric. An electrical permit comes first. Then you apply to Alabama Power.
  • Water. In its service area, the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS) opens the account. A new residential account needs a $100 minimum deposit and a $60 service fee (next-business-day or later service), and processing takes up to 24 to 48 hours (MAWSS, retrieved October 17, 2026). That page does not list tap, meter or capacity fees, so ask MAWSS what your lot will pay.

The county will not approve electric or water service unless the buildings served have been legally permitted, inspected and approved, the use complies with the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, and the Health Department has approved the intended use (Mobile County code amendments). That is why a quote with a "turn-key" utility price and no named trade deserves questions.

Mobile home installation permit and inspection order in Mobile County

Three offices look at the same home. This is the sequence.

  1. AMHC decal and location notice. The installer's decal goes on the home immediately on arrival, before work starts, and shows the date, the installer's name and the certification number. Decals cannot be moved to another installer. Whoever pulls and drops the home must tell the Commission its exact location within 72 hours of arrival (rules 535-X-12-.04 and 535-X-13-.11).
  2. AMHC set-up inspection. The Commission may inspect any installation and sends a written report. The installer must fix deficiencies within 30 days or risk suspension or revocation (rule 535-X-12-.07).
  3. County inspection. For the mobile home installation inspection, the county checks the items on its checklist, including both decals.
  4. Power release. Alabama Power needs about 24 hours to enter the county's release.

Alabama Power's builder guide adds practical points. The release must match the 911 address exactly. For permanent service the address is shown in the front window and on the meter socket. An external disconnect on the load side of a new residential meter base has been required since January 1, 2022. If the meter is not set within two business days after inspection, the guide says to call the Business Service Center. The guide is undated and written for builders, so it never mentions manufactured homes. Use it for the sequence and ask the utility what applies to your pole or pedestal.

Whether your site also needs a Mobile County building permit is not settled in what we read. The county's code says the owner, installer and contractor share responsibility for a building permit, while the mobile home checklist lists electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits and no building permit. Ask Inspection Services.

Site preparation and foundation prep: mobile home site preparation, drainage and the pad

Alabama leaves mobile home site preparation to a contract. The landowner and the retailer or installer put in writing who does the work and who pays. Inside a park, the park owner is responsible. For a secondary siting with no retailer outside a park, site preparation falls to the installer (AMHC rule 535-X-13-.04). The retailer or installer gives the owner and the Commission a signed Site Preparation form and the property locator. A retailer, installer or park owner may also ask for a pre-delivery site inspection from the Commission, which costs $100 (rule 535-X-19-.03).

The site must be graded, crowned and sloped so water does not stand or run under the home. For new homes the AMHC installer page repeats the federal drainage rule: water must be diverted from the home and fall at least one-half inch per foot for the first ten feet. Grass, roots, twigs and wood scraps must come out from under the home, and no footing may sit on a mound (rule 535-X-13-.06). The Mobile County code table rates termite infestation as "Very Heavy" for code-built structures, which is one more reason to leave no wood debris in the ground.

Water is the Gulf Coast problem. The City of Mobile's recovery plan calls the city low-lying and notes 660 repetitive-loss properties and flash flooding made worse by missing, undersized or worn-out drainage. If your lot is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, ask the Mobile County Flood Plain Administrator what applies to a manufactured home. The county's building-permit sheet asks for an elevation certificate or a waiver in flood zones, but the manufactured home checklist does not mention one, so get the answer for your lot in writing.

Before the home moves, confirm property access. HUD recommends that installation instructions tell the installer to confirm the truck and home can reach the site, and that runoff ditches and culverts should meet local requirements (24 CFR 3285.902). Ask the company to walk the route and the pad before quoting. Mark utility locations before any digging; the 811 call below covers buried lines.

Call 811 before grading and digging

Alabama law requires notice at least two but not more than 10 working days before excavation starts. The law counts grading and backfilling as excavation. Ask the installer whether driving anchors needs its own ticket. A revised law takes effect January 1, 2027, so check al811.com for changes. A notice is valid for 20 working days. Near a marked line, dig by hand or vacuum within the line's width plus 18 inches on each side. A first violation can bring a civil penalty of up to $500 per incident (Alabama 811). Ask the installer who calls, and ask for the ticket number.

Mobile home foundation installation: piers, footings and the pad

Under the state minimums, mobile home foundation installation means piers on footings directly under the main frame. For a new home, the installer follows the manufacturer's installation manual, which must meet or exceed the HUD installation standards. For a used home without instructions, the state minimums apply (AMHC rule 535-X-13-.06). Those minimums are:

  • Piers directly under the main frame, no more than 6 feet apart and no more than 2 feet from each end of the frame.
  • A concrete pad of at least 16 by 16 by 4 inches under each pier, on ground that bears 2,000 pounds per square foot.
  • Piers over 32 inches tall double-tiered.
  • At least 12 inches of clearance under the frame.
  • A pier height of no more than 60 inches, unless an engineer designs it or National Flood Insurance Program floodplain rules call for something else.

In a multi-section home the roof loads add support. Piers go at marriage-wall and sidewall openings 48 inches or wider, under each ridge-beam column, at both ends of the marriage wall and under heavy loads such as a masonry fireplace. Perimeter piers rest on 8 by 16 by 4 inch pads (rule 535-X-13-.06).

Mobile home concrete pad and permanent foundations

"Pad" means two things. The 16 by 16 by 4 inch pad under a pier is the state minimum; the height limit is in the pier list above. Ask whether a slab or permanent foundation is in the quote, as its own line, since no sourced Alabama price exists (see the cost section).

Mobile home blocking, leveling and level verification

Blocking is the pier system that carries the frame: piers, pads and the clearance under it (rule 535-X-13-.06). Leveling is part of setting up the home, which only a certified installer may do (AMHC rule 535-X-12-.01); ask what level tolerance the manufacturer's manual sets. A carrier is not allowed to do this. It may block a unit only far enough to remove the wheels and axles, and any further blocking counts as installation (AMHC rule 535-X-12-.02).

On a double-wide, the two sections must meet along the marriage line with no gaps once the exterior is closed up (24 CFR 3285.802).

Can a mobile home be re-leveled if it isn't moving?

Installation takes an AMHC-certified installer (rule 535-X-12-.01). The rules we read do not say whether re-leveling a home that is already set counts as installation, so ask the AMHC and ask the installer for the certificate number before work starts. The mobile home leveling page covers re-leveling in depth.

Skirting, mobile home steps installation and finishing

No skirting goes up until an AMHC inspector has inspected the set-up. If the Commission has not inspected within ten days after notice, the home may be skirted (rule 535-X-13-.11). Enclosed space under the home must be vented, a 6-mil polyethylene ground cover should run under the whole home with joints overlapped 12 inches, and all decayable material must be gone (rule 535-X-13-.06). Materials, vents and repair are on the mobile home skirting page.

Mobile home steps installation, landings, decks and porches are lines to ask about. HomeAdvisor notes that homes with decks or porches may need extra materials and labor. Ask whether steps and landings are in the price and who builds them. Ask the county inspector what is checked at your address. Whether skirting, steps or a deck count as "installation" under the AMHC rule is also open, so ask the Commission.

Joining multi-section homes: double wide setup and double wide installation

A double wide installation adds work that a single-section home never needs. The HUD standards define crossovers as the utility interconnections where the sections meet, including heating and cooling ducts, electrical circuits, water pipes, drain plumbing and gas lines (24 CFR 3285.5). Structural connections are made inside and out along the marriage line. Before close-up, gaps of up to one inch are allowed only under set conditions, with the sections in contact, a proper gasket seal and dimensional-lumber shims. After exterior close-up, no gaps are allowed (24 CFR 3285.802). Sealing seams is part of the joining: the gasket along the marriage line is what keeps the joint closed.

Alabama adds its own rules. Multi-section homes must be lagged and sealed together per the manufacturer, and every shear-wall location needs an anchor and a support pier (rule 535-X-13-.07). A multi-section home may not be trimmed out until an AMHC inspector has inspected the marriage line from inside and out (rule 535-X-13-.11). Each section carries its own HUD label, so a double-wide has two and a triple-wide three.

For tight lots, equipment makers describe remote-control crawlers that push a home into place and mate halves without jacking or rolling. These are makers' own descriptions, not a requirement. Ask the certified installer how the home will be placed if a truck cannot reach the pad.

Single wide setup

A single wide setup is simpler. There is no marriage line, no crossovers and no second set of piers. The Manufactured Housing Institute calls single-section homes the easiest to transport and faster to install onsite. The state steps still apply in full: certified installer, decal, Hurricane Zone ties, inspection and licensed utility trades.

Anchoring and tie-downs to the wind zone: requirements for mobile home setup

The data plate shows the wind, roof-load and thermal zones the home was built for. The installer must make sure the home is not placed in a zone beyond its design limits, and a Wind Zone I home cannot be installed in Wind Zone II (AMHC rules 535-X-13-.03 and .07). Mobile and Baldwin counties are named Hurricane Zones in rule 535-X-13-.02, so a home bound for Daphne, Fairhope, Saraland or Mobile must be built for it. Check the plate before you buy, not after delivery.

The data plate is usually in a kitchen cabinet, at the electrical panel or in a bedroom closet. Each section carries a HUD label, and a home built on or after June 15, 1976 cannot be installed in Alabama without the label and the plate (rule 535-X-13-.03).

The Hurricane Zone anchoring table sets ties per side. A home up to 40 feet long needs 5 vertical and 5 diagonal ties, 41 to 60 feet needs 7 and 7, and 61 to 90 feet needs 9 and 9, not counting the draw bar. One more diagonal tie is added for each extra 12 inches of pier height over 24 inches (rule 535-X-13-.07). Soil class decides the anchor, and unless the soil is tested with a probe, the installer must use a Commission-approved C4 or C5 anchor. Alabama law also says a relocated home must be tied down immediately on the new site (Code of Alabama 24-5-32). The mobile home tie-downs page covers anchors, straps and soil in depth.

After Hurricanes Sally and Zeta in 2020, 852 households in mobile homes in the city of Mobile applied for FEMA individual assistance, equal to 70% of the city's households in mobile homes (City of Mobile Local Recovery Plan, 2024). The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.

Signs a home wasn't set up properly, the first month after setup and how to fix improper mobile home installation

Warning signs on a new or recently moved home:

  • A gap along the marriage line after close-up (24 CFR 3285.802).
  • Standing water under or beside the home, or grass, roots or wood scraps left under it (rule 535-X-13-.06).
  • Skirting up before an AMHC inspector has inspected the set-up (rule 535-X-13-.11).
  • Fewer ties than the Hurricane Zone table sets for the home's length and pier height (rule 535-X-13-.07).
  • No installer decal on the home on arrival, or a certificate number that does not match the decal (rule 535-X-12-.04).

The first month after setup

  • Check that the Commission has been told where the home sits: the location notice is due within 72 hours of arrival (rule 535-X-13-.11).
  • Check that the AMHC inspected before any skirting went up, or that ten days passed after notice with no inspection (rule 535-X-13-.11).
  • Check that the meter was set. Alabama Power's guide says to call its Business Service Center if there is none within two business days after inspection.
  • Register the home within 30 days of purchase.
  • If the AMHC cites a deficiency, the installer must fix it within 30 days (rule 535-X-12-.07).

If something is wrong, write to the installer first with dates and photos. The AMHC inspects installations and handles consumer complaints. The Commission has said it cannot require repairs more than one year after a new home is installed in several cases, including cosmetic problems and contract disputes (AMHC response to the 2024 sunset report), so report problems early. If you hire a different installer to fix it, ask for the AMHC certificate number first.

Mobile home setup questions

How much does mobile home setup cost?

Nationally, $3,000 to $4,000 for setup services alone, and more on undeveloped land (HomeAdvisor, June 19, 2026). No dated source publishes an Alabama installer price. Fixed fees such as the $130 installation decal and the $11.25 Mobile County move permit are small next to labor and site work.

How long does setup take?

No official figure covers the work. Ask for dates in writing. The sequence of notices, inspections and the power release adds waits of its own.

Does the mover set up the home?

No, not as a mover. Setup is installation work for an AMHC-certified installer. A carrier may remove wheels and axles and temporarily secure the home after an AMHC inspector decals it, but it may not install it unless it is also a certified installer.

What is a wind zone?

HUD's wind zone sets the design wind load a home was built to resist, and it is printed on the data plate. Mobile and Baldwin counties are Wind Zone II, which the AMHC calls the Hurricane Zone.

What if my home was set up badly by someone else?

Document the problems and write to the installer. You can file a complaint with the AMHC, which inspects installations. Ask the AMHC what repairs a certified installer must make.

Do mobile homes require tie-downs in Mobile, Alabama?

Yes. Alabama's installation standards include anchoring, and Mobile and Baldwin counties are Hurricane Zone counties, so the Hurricane Zone anchoring table applies (AMHC rules 535-X-13-.02 and .07). A relocated home must be tied down immediately on the new site (Code of Alabama 24-5-32).

Does the installer build the foundation?

The installer sets the pier-and-footing system to the manual or the state minimum (AMHC rule 535-X-13-.06). Piers over 60 inches need an engineer's design unless floodplain rules call for something else. Ask whether a slab or permanent foundation is in the quote.

Why is professional installation important?

In Alabama it is a legal duty: every manufactured home must be installed by a person the Commission certifies, and hiring an uncertified installer can bring a fine of up to $500 per home (rules 535-X-12-.01, .04 and .08). A certified installer must also hold a $20,000 bond and $100,000 in general liability insurance (AMHC installer page).

What is a HUD label?

It is the label each section carries, showing the home was built to the HUD Code. A home built on or after June 15, 1976 needs it to be installed in Alabama.

Do I have to call 811 before setup?

Yes, before any grading or digging. Give notice two to 10 working days before the start, and ask the installer whether driving anchors needs its own ticket.

Talk to a local mobile home setup company

Before you call, have a photo of the data plate, the address of the new site and your target date ready. The contact page lists what else helps.