Mobile Home Donation by State: A 10-State Process Guide
Mobile home donation and removal processes vary significantly by state — from the agency that handles title authority to the common recipient types and environmental rules that determine which paths are actually open. This guide covers the ten states with the highest manufactured housing activity, with the specific agency, form, and timeline for each.
Why State Matters for Mobile Home Donations
Three state-specific variables shape the mobile home donation process most significantly: the agency that handles manufactured home titles and what forms it uses, the availability of 501(c)(3) recipients who accept manufactured housing in your specific market, and the environmental rules that govern what can and cannot be done with a deteriorated structure — particularly air quality restrictions on training burns and asbestos abatement requirements.
The guidance below covers the ten states with the highest manufactured housing populations. For each state, key information includes: the title authority and primary form name, the most common recipient categories in that state, the approximate title process timeline, and one state-specific quirk that meaningfully affects the donation path. Where we have dedicated location pages for that state or its major cities, those links are included for additional city-level resources. See the step-by-step donation guide for the full process walkthrough that applies in all states.
Texas
Texas has more manufactured homes than any other state. Title authority runs through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), which issues Statements of Ownership and Location (SOL) rather than conventional vehicle titles. Title transfer for a donation or elimination requires a completed SOL application, evidence of ownership, and a $55 filing fee. Missing title situations use a bonded title affidavit process through TDHCA. Expected timeline: 4–8 weeks for standard transfers.
Common recipient types: volunteer fire departments in rural East Texas, the Hill Country, and the Panhandle are among the most receptive to training burn donations in the country. Housing nonprofits in border counties (Rio Grande Valley corridor) occasionally accept livable homes for transitional housing. Habitat for Humanity ReStores operate in all major Texas metros. See Texas location pages. Key quirk: Texas does not have county-level air quality authority that restricts training burns the way California AQMD districts do — most rural counties permit controlled structural burns with appropriate fire department oversight, making Texas one of the more accessible states for the fire department donation path.
Florida
Florida's manufactured home title authority runs through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). There are two critical form paths depending on the home's decal status. Homes carrying an MH (motor vehicle) decal use form HSMV-82109 for title transfer and HSMV-82101 for certificate of destruction. Homes converted to real property status through RP affixation use a different path involving the county property appraiser and a title company. Many older Florida mobile homes were never formally converted — confirm the decal status before assuming which process applies.
Common recipient types: faith-based housing ministries in rural North Florida and the Panhandle occasionally accept well-maintained single-wides for transitional housing. Fire department training burns are permitted in most rural counties but restricted in coastal and densely developed counties. Habitat ReStores operate throughout all major metro areas. See Florida location pages. Key quirk: Florida's hurricane and flooding exposure means many donated homes have undisclosed moisture or mold issues. Most housing nonprofits in Florida require a mold inspection before accepting a whole home, which adds a step — and potentially significant remediation cost — to the process.
California
California's manufactured home title authority runs through the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for homes in manufactured housing communities and through DMV for homes classified as personal property on private land. HCD form 415B handles title transfers for HCD-titled homes; DMV REG 256 handles personal property situations. California's decertification process requires multiple inspections and can take 3–6 months — significantly longer than most other states.
Common recipient types: housing nonprofits and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in the rural San Joaquin Valley and Inland Empire regions have active manufactured housing rehabilitation programs. Training burns are effectively prohibited in most of California by CARB and regional Air Quality Management Districts — this path is generally unavailable statewide. Habitat ReStores accept building materials statewide. Key quirk: California's Mobilehome Residency Law gives residents of mobile home parks significant legal protections, and park closure rules affect what owners can do with homes on leased lots. Consult a Mobilehome Residency Law attorney if your home is in a California park before initiating any transfer.
Georgia
Georgia routes manufactured home title cancellation through the Department of Revenue using form T-234 (Request to Cancel Certificate of Title). For transfer rather than cancellation, form T-234A is used. The process typically takes 3–6 weeks. If the home has been permanently affixed to land and the title was previously retired through a real property conversion, county deed records serve as the ownership documentation and the DOR process may not apply.
Common recipient types: faith-based housing ministries in rural South Georgia (Albany, Valdosta, Tifton corridor) have historically accepted donated manufactured homes for transitional housing programs. Volunteer fire departments in rural counties are receptive to training burn requests. Atlanta location page covers metro Atlanta resources. Key quirk: Georgia has a relatively streamlined abandoned manufactured home process for landowners dealing with homes left by prior tenants. The landlord-tenant statute and county magistrate court can establish authority to proceed with demolition in as little as 60 days in clear abandonment cases — faster than most other states' abandoned property processes.
North Carolina
North Carolina routes manufactured home title authority through NC DMV using form MVR-46G (Title Application for Manufactured Home). For homes permanently affixed to owned land, an affidavit of affixation (form MVR-46G-A) initiates the title retirement and real property conversion process. For donation title transfer, the current title holder signs as seller, the receiving organization signs as buyer, and the completed MVR-46G is submitted with applicable fees. Bonded title situations use form MVR-4 as a supporting affidavit.
Common recipient types: rural housing nonprofits in Western NC (Appalachian region) and Eastern NC (coastal plain) have active manufactured housing programs serving both permanent and seasonal housing needs. Local CDFIs occasionally accept donated homes for rehabilitation and resale to low-income families. Charlotte location page covers Piedmont area resources. Key quirk: NC has strict floodplain regulations affecting manufactured homes in coastal and river-adjacent counties. Homes in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas may require additional permitting and potentially elevation certification before removal or demolition — confirm with the county floodplain administrator.
Arizona
Arizona routes manufactured home titling through the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (ADOT MVD). Form 96-0236 (Affidavit of Affixture) is used for homes on owned land; standard title transfer documentation applies for personal property homes. Title transfer typically takes 3–5 weeks. Arizona has a relatively straightforward title cancellation path for homes being demolished — the Certificate of Cancellation process through MVD eliminates the title record once demolition is complete.
Common recipient types: faith-based housing organizations in rural Maricopa and Pinal counties occasionally accept manufactured homes in livable condition. Training burns are permitted in rural Maricopa, Pinal, and Mohave counties subject to county burn ordinance rules. Heat conditions in the Phoenix metro make summer burns logistically difficult — departments that accept structures typically schedule exercises in fall, winter, and spring. Phoenix location page. Key quirk: Arizona has significant manufactured housing in age-restricted retirement communities, and many of these homes carry park-specific deed restrictions that affect what happens when the home is vacated. Review your park's CC&Rs and lease before initiating any transfer.
Tennessee
Tennessee routes manufactured home title authority through the Department of Safety and Homeland Security using standard vehicle title forms for personal property homes and through the county tax assessor for homes converted to real property. Tennessee does not maintain a separate manufactured housing agency — the process more closely follows standard vehicle title protocol than states like Texas or Florida that have dedicated housing authorities. Title transfer typically takes 3–5 weeks once paperwork is submitted.
Common recipient types: faith-based ministries in East Tennessee (Appalachian region) and rural Middle Tennessee occasionally accept donated manufactured homes for transitional housing or disaster relief programs. Rural fire departments across the state are generally receptive to training burn requests — Tennessee does not have state-level air quality restrictions that would broadly prohibit residential structure burns. Key quirk: The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) funds nonprofit acquisitions of mobile home parks, which occasionally creates opportunities for donated home placements in rehabilitated park communities. Contact THDA or local housing nonprofits if your home is in livable condition.
Ohio
Ohio routes manufactured home titling through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) for homes taxed as personal property and through the county auditor for homes converted to real property using BMV form BMV 4811 for the conversion. Title transfers for donation use standard BMV title endorsement. Ohio has relatively complex rules for homes in parks — homes on leased lots must comply with park rules regarding title transfer, which may require park management notification or consent depending on lease terms.
Common recipient types: community land trusts and rural housing nonprofits in Appalachian Ohio (southeast counties) have active manufactured housing programs. Urban fire departments in major Ohio metros are generally unable to conduct live-fire burns; rural fire departments in southeast and central Ohio counties are more receptive. Key quirk: Ohio's manufactured home property tax system is unique. Homes taxed as 'manufactured home' pay an annual manufactured home tax through the county auditor rather than standard real property tax. When donating or transferring a home, confirm the manufactured home tax account is current and that the transfer includes a tax clearance from the county auditor — outstanding manufactured home tax can create complications for title transfer.
Michigan
Michigan routes manufactured home title authority through the Secretary of State using form TR-29 (Manufactured Housing Title Application). Michigan has an unusually high proportion of older manufactured homes — significant housing stock built in the 1960s and 1970s — which affects both condition considerations and asbestos prevalence. Title processing takes 4–8 weeks. Michigan's manufactured housing statute requires disclosure of known defects in title transfers, even for charitable donations made at zero consideration.
Common recipient types: faith-based housing ministries in rural Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula counties occasionally accept donated homes for seasonal use or transitional housing programs. Training burns are permitted in rural areas of most Michigan counties subject to township open burning rules. Key quirk: Michigan's mobile home park statute gives residents significant tenant protections, and homes in licensed Michigan parks may be subject to park approval rights for title transfers. Check your park lease and confirm with park management before initiating any donation or removal process.
Washington
Washington routes manufactured home title authority through the Department of Licensing (DOL) using standard vehicle title processes for personal property homes and through the county assessor for homes converted to real property. Title transfers for donation use the DOL title endorsement process. Washington's manufactured housing stock is concentrated in rural eastern counties — Yakima, Okanogan, Stevens, Ferry — and in southwestern counties including Lewis, Pacific, and Wahkiakum.
Common recipient types: rural housing nonprofits in eastern Washington (Yakima Valley, Columbia Basin) have active manufactured housing programs serving agricultural worker housing needs. Training burns are subject to county and Department of Ecology smoke management rules — western Washington counties in the Puget Sound air shed have significant air quality restrictions that effectively prohibit most structural burns; eastern Washington counties are more permissive. Key quirk: Washington has a specific Certificate of Cancellation process through DOL when a manufactured home is being demolished. The process requires a completed demolition affidavit and confirmation that the home's personal property tax account is closed with the county treasurer before DOL will finalize the cancellation.
Related Articles
Get Your Mobile Home Removed — Free
Qualifying property owners pay nothing. Apply in 30 seconds.
Apply for Free Removal →