                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DECLARATION OF POLICY (§ 36-72)

Industrialized building units and mobile homes, because of the manner of their
construction, assembly, and use and that of their systems, components, and
appliances, including heating, plumbing, and electrical systems, like other
finished products having concealed vital parts, may present hazards to the
health, life, and safety of persons and to the safety of property unless
properly designed and manufactured. In the sale or rental of industrialized
building units and mobile homes, there is also the possibility of defects not
readily ascertainable when inspected by purchasers or users or by the local
building official. It is the policy and purpose of the Commonwealth to provide
protection to the public against those possible hazards and to promote sound
building construction, and for that purpose to forbid the sale, rental, or use
of new industrialized building units and mobile homes that are not so
constructed as to provide reasonable safety and protection to their owners and
users and involve reasonably sound building practices. It is further the policy
of the Commonwealth to minimize the unique problems presented by a lack of
uniform standards and inspection procedures affecting the mass production of
housing and to hereby declare its intention to (i) encourage the reduction of
construction costs and (ii) make housing more feasible for all residents of the
Commonwealth.

HISTORY: 1970, c. 305; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 103; 1986, c. 37.