Cutaway of manufactured home. Modular and Other Mobile Structures

           *** Important information regarding the new WA State Building Code***

Effective date is March 15, 2024.

The Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code Is NOT Adopted.

Updates:

3/19/2024 - WUI not adopted

The State Building Code Council voted on September 15, 2023 to delay the effective date of the 2021 Washington State codes. The previous effective date was October 29, 2023 and July 1, 2023 respectively.

Updates:
01/29/2024 - 2021 WSEC Code Cycle 2nd Notice
09/26/2023 - Recent 2021 Code Cycle Adoption Delay - All Codes
05/30/2023 - 2021 Code Cycle Adoption Delay - All Codes
05/09/2023 - 2021 WSEC Code Cycle

Original:
02/28/2023 - 2021 Code Cycle Adoption by the FAS Program - All manufacturers of modular buildings, commercial coaches, and temporary worker housing - please read this document.

Structures that require permits

Modular buildings: Buildings which are constructed in factories and at other offsite locations and then shipped to Washington building sites must be approved by L&I. The building must have an L&I insignia prior to shipping from the factory. This includes equipment shelters that can be entered by personnel.

Recreational vehicles and park models: All RVs and Park Model RVs for sale or lease in Washington must have an L&I approval label.

Commercial coaches: Commercial coach trailers must be inspected and approved by L&I.

Temporary Worker Housing (TWH): TWH units fabricated in factories and being shipped to Washington must be inspected by L&I as they are constructed.

See examples of labels for these structures.

    Submit plans

    Visit or mail the plans to the L&I office nearest you.

    Plan review by licensed professionals

    This process allows you to use an L&I-approved professional engineer or architect to review your plans.

    Here’s how it works:

    Below is a list of products included in the review process. Choose either an L&I-approved professional engineer, or the standard review.

    In either case, L&I must process all the plans. The L&I inspection process remains the same.

    The process is available for the following design plan submissions:

    Commercial coaches
    Plan review & submittal guidelines

    Factory-built housing and commercial structures
    Plan review & submittal guidelines - Commercial buildings  *Updated 02/01/2024
    Plan review & submittal guidelines - Residential buildings *Updated 02/01/2024
    Standard procedures for existing plans

    Recreational park trailers
    Plan review & submittal guidelines
    Standard procedures for existing plans

    Recreational vehicles 
    Plan review & submittal guidelines
    Standard procedures for existing plans

    Conversion vendor units (food trucks) and medical units
    Plan review & submittal guidelines
    Standard procedures for existing plans

    Note: When using this process, you will still need to pay filing fees with L&I, besides the cost of the private architect or engineer.

    Contact us 

    FAS1@Lni.wa.gov
    1-800-705-1411 Option 3

    Mailing address
    Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
    PO Box 44430
    Olympia WA 98504-4430

    Location
    7273 Linderson Way SW
    Tumwater WA 98501

    Mobile Medical Units

    If you are building a mobile medical unit, we must approve your alteration plans, inspect your unit, and issue a permit. Use this page to determine if you have a mobile medical unit, and follow the steps outlined below to get your permit.

    Find out if your mobile medical unit needs a permit and inspection

    Is your vehicle a mobile medical unit?

    Answer yes or no to the following questions:

    • Is the vehicle used for something other than emergency response?
    • Are medical examinations, treatments, medical or dental services or procedures provided in the vehicle?
    • Is the vehicle built on a chassis?
    • Is the vehicle designed for use at temporary locations?
    • Does the vehicle include electrical, plumbing, or gas piping systems of some sort? If the answer is “yes” to all of the questions above, then you have a mobile medical unit, and you will need to submit plans and have it inspected.

    Submit plans and have your unit inspected

    Here's the process for getting your mobile medical unit alteration plan approved and the work inspected and approved by us:

    First, you need to create a plan and submit it to us for review

    The conversion vendor unit (or mobile medical unit) plans you submit for plan review must contain enough information to determine conformance with the applicable conversion vendor and medical unit codes.

    Structural: Only concentrated loads of 500 pounds or more in a 16-square-foot area need to be addressed. Compliance can be accomplished by means of WAC 296-150V-0350. This would apply to units that were either built or converted from another structure as a Vendor Unit" under WAC 296-150V. If you wish to build or convert a structure into a "Commercial Coach," please contact us at FAS1@Lni.wa.gov or 1-800-705-1411 Option 3.

    Electrical: Show the general location of outlets, lights, switches, and the main distribution panel box (this may be combined with the floor plan drawing or done as a separate drawing). Include a schedule showing what the breakers in the main panel box are, including breaker sizes and what they control. Provide electrical load calculations that show the overall electrical demand in amps.

    Plumbing (water): Show the locations of all sinks, holding tanks, and other plumbing fixtures. Include pipe sizes for water supply. Provide information on the operating pressure in the water supply system as well as the length of water piping from the inlet or pump to the furthest fixture.

    Plumbing (drain): Show the locations of all sinks, holding tanks, and other plumbing fixtures. Include pipe sizes for drainage, waste, and vent pipes. Show the location and size of the drainage system outlet.

    Mechanical: If you have gas appliances in your commercial coach, you must show the gas piping layout and size. You will be required to supply the BTU/H input requirements for all gas appliances. Show the location of the gas supply inlet or tank. Provide the type of fuel (i.e.: natural gas or propane) and the length of the piping run from the tank or inlet to the furthest appliances. If you have a heating or air conditioning appliance, you will have to show conformance to the state energy code on the forms provided.

    Next, we must review and approve your plan before you start the work

    In order for us to review your plan, you must submit a completed Plan Approval Request — Conversion Vendor/Medical Units form (F622-035-000) and a minimum of 2 complete sets of plans that follow the specifications listed in the form's instructions.

    • You must pay fees in accordance with the published fees schedule in WAC 296-150V-3000 for us to examine the plans for conformance to the proper building codes.
    • You will also have to purchase a Conversion Vendor & Medical Unit insignia. Fill out an Application for Insignia — Conversion Vendor/Medical Units (F623-021-000).
    • Once we review and approve your plan design, we will assign it a plan number and will return to you one copy of the plan by mail.
    • Then, we must inspect and approve the work you've done.

    Note: Be sure to check with all local building departments where you plan to use your unit. Some building departments may not allow the use of conversion vendor units in their jurisdiction. You may be required to have a commercial coach in that jurisdiction.

    Contact us 

    FAS1@Lni.wa.gov
    1-800-705-1411 Option 3

    Mailing address
    Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
    PO Box 44430
    Olympia WA 98504-4430

    Location
    7273 Linderson Way SW
    Tumwater WA 98501