What are eligible organizations and the registration steps?
Manufactured/mobile home communities provide affordable home ownership for households with middle to low incomes and create housing stability and long-term wealth building opportunity. In an effort to encourage and assist the preservation of existing communities, the Washington State Legislature passed SB 5198 during the 2023 session.
Among many important changes effective July 23, 2023, the bill gives residents (tenants) in manufactured/mobile home communities (MHCs) the opportunity to purchase their community or the property on which the community sits. The bill also provides the same opportunity for eligible organizations to receive Notices of Opportunity to Compete to Purchase these communities and the properties on which they sit. An “eligible organization” is defined as:
- Community land trust
- Resident nonprofit cooperative
- Local government
- Local housing authority
- Nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organization
- Federally recognized Indian tribe in the State of Washington
- Regional or statewide nonprofit housing assistance organization
Any eligible organization interested in receiving Notices of Opportunity to Compete to Purchase may submit an application to join the Eligible Organization Registry.
- Apply to join the Eligible Organization Registry
- Download a Registry application (PDF) to send to Commerce via email or USPS
- Request an application be sent to you by contacting the program at 800-964-0852 or OMH@Commerce.wa.gov
- Para acceder a una solicitud de organización elegible, haga clic aquí
- Current registry of Eligible Organizations
All Registry submissions are subject to public disclosure pursuant to RCW 42.56. To request a copy of the Registry, please contact the program at 800-964-0852 or OMH@Commerce.wa.gov.
- Manufactured/Mobile Home Community Closure List (PDF)
- Registered Manufactured/Mobile Home Communities in Washington (Excel)
- The list of Registered Manufactured/Mobile Home Communities in Washington is for informational purposes only. Any unauthorized use, including use for any commercial purpose, is strictly prohibited and may be punishable by law. Community owners who are contacted for commercial purposes as a result of their community appearing on the list should notify the Department of Commerce immediately at omh@commerce.wa.gov or 1-800-964-0852.
- View Opportunity to Compete to Purchase List
The Washington State Legislature tasked the Department of Commerce to make recommendations, assess perspectives, and facilitate discussions about aspects of the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.20). This work began in August 2019, with a final report submitted to the Legislature in December 2020.
Department of commerce (Commerce) Homeownership Unit staff held stakeholder conversations in July and August 2025 with eight manufactured housing community (MHC) stakeholder groups. A conversation with a ninth group, Attorney General/Manufactured Housing Dispute Resolution Program (MHDRP), will be scheduled during the fall. These conversations will set the stage for intentional networking and collaboration about issues that directly impact those who live in and own MHCs, as well as those whose work directly involve MHCs. Conversation materials are organized by stakeholder type below. Each link takes you to a Box folder with a copy of the presentation with notes and a copy of the conversation notes. Additional materials will be added as completed.
Homeownership unit staff prepared a combined stakeholder conversation themes, action items, and solution document. The document pulls main themes and related action items/solutions from each stakeholder conversation into one document. Document contents will help inform our future networking and collaboration efforts.
- Community Owners and Advocates: Community owners (“landlords”) own manufactured housing communities. Advocates are individuals and entities that support and work on behalf of community owners. Manufactured Housing Communities of Washington (MHCW) is a nonprofit, statewide association representing community owners and managers in Washington state.
- Department of Commerce Staff: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) administers multiple programs and funding that impact manufactured housing communities, residents, and owners either directly or indirectly. Some of these programs and funding include the Manufactured/Mobile Home Relocation Assistance Program, Community Engagement, Housing Trust Fund Homeownership Capital Programs, Office of Tribal Relations, and Growth Management Services. Commerce staff are committed to growing internal networking and collaboration opportunities that benefit manufactured housing communities.
- Eligible Organization Registry: The Department of Commerce maintains the Eligible Organization Registry (RCW 59.20.350) for eligible organizations who want to receive a Notice of Opportunity to Compete to Purchase (RCW 59.20.325) when community owners are interested in selling their communities. Eligible organizations include community land trusts, resident nonprofit cooperatives, local governments, local housing authorities, nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organizations, federally recognized Indian tribes in the state of Washington, and regional or statewide nonprofit housing assistance organizations, whose mission aligns with the long-term preservation of the manufactured/mobile home community (RCW 59.20.030(4)). Eligible organizations can apply to join the Eligible Organization Registry.
- Eligible Organizations and Interested Parties: Eligible organizations are entities interested in long-term preservation of manufactured/mobile home communities. Eligible organizations include community land trusts, resident nonprofit cooperatives, local governments, local housing authorities, nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organizations, federally recognized Indian tribes in the state of Washington, and regional or statewide nonprofit housing assistance organizations (RCW 59.20.030(4)). Interested parties are individuals who are concerned about the rights and housing security of homeowners living in manufactured housing communities.
- Homeowner Advocates: Homeowner Advocates are individuals and entities that support and work on behalf of homeowners in manufactured housing communities. Homeowner advocates include local governments, civil legal aid, and affordable housing organizations.
- Homeowners: Homeowners are tenants in manufactured housing communities who own their homes and rent their lots. The Association of Manufactured Homeowners (AMHO) is nonprofit, member organization that addresses the needs of manufactured homeowners in Washington state.
- Manufactured Housing Industry: The manufactured housing industry includes manufacturers, dealers, certified installers, transporters, etc. The Washington Manufactured Housing Association (WMHA) is a nonprofit trade organization that promotes manufactured homes in Washington state.
- State Agencies and Commissions: Many state agencies and commissions play a role in the functioning of manufactured housing communities as well as tenants and community owners, including the Departments of Washington State Department of Revenue, Washington State Department of Licensing, and Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Other entities play a role in funding the purchase and preservation of communities (Washington State Housing Finance Commission) and in reporting census data (Washington State Office of Financial Management). Commerce is committed to growing networking and collaboration opportunities at the state level that benefit manufactured housing communities.
Please contact Brigid Henderson, Manufactured Housing Community Strategies Specialist, at Brigid.Henderson@Commerce.wa.gov or 360-485-8923 if you have questions about Commerce manufactured housing community stakeholder activities.
Commerce has prepared the following guidance to help local governments consider preserving manufactured/mobile home communities as a naturally occurring source of affordable housing.