05/11/2026
House Bill 160 (Kentucky 2025 manufactured housing law)
House Bill 160 is a 2025 Kentucky House Bill 160 that overhauls how local governments in Kentucky may regulate manufactured homes. Signed into law on April 1, 2025, it amends KRS 100.348 to prevent cities and counties from using zoning rules that treat qualified manufactured homes differently from site-built single-family houses.
Key facts
* State / session: Kentucky, 2025 Regular Session
* Core subject: Zoning rules for manufactured (factory-built) homes
* Statute affected: KRS 100.348 (planning and zoning)
* Governor’s signature: April 1, 2025 (Acts Chapter 154)
* Effective date: July 1, 2026
What the law does
HB 160 bars local governments from adopting or enforcing zoning regulations that exclude or discriminate against “qualified manufactured homes” in any zone where single-family homes are allowed. Localities may still regulate certain architectural or design features—such as roof pitch, exterior materials, setbacks, and orientation—but any such standards must be applied equally to manufactured and site-built single-family homes.
The law also allows smaller manufactured homes on a lot when a larger home cannot reasonably fit, as long as all other standards are met.
Definition of a “qualified manufactured home”
HB 160 revises the definition of a “qualified manufactured home.” Under the updated KRS 100.348, a qualified home must:
* Be no more than five years old when installed.
* Have all transport-only parts (like wheels, axles, tow bars) removed.
* Be affixed to a permanent foundation.
* Be at least 20 feet at its narrowest width.
* Have a front door facing the street.
* Provide at least 900 square feet of living space.
Policy intent and impact
The General Assembly explicitly balances two goals: protecting neighborhood property values and expanding access to “quality, affordable housing” via manufactured homes.
Supporters frame HB 160 as a response to housing shortages, aiming to open more residential lots statewide to modern manufactured homes by preempting local exclusionary zoning. Early coverage in 2026 shows Kentucky cities updating their zoning codes to comply before the July 1, 2026 effective date.