From Jackie Craven,
Your Guide to Architecture.
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Definition: A manufactured home is one that is constructed almost entirely in a factory. The house is placed on a steel chassis and transported to the building site. The wheels can be removed but the chassis stays in place.

A manufactured home can come in many different sizes and shapes. It may be a simple one-story "mobile home," or it can be so large and complex that you might not guess that it was constructed off site.

Local building codes do not apply to manufactured homes; instead, these houses are built according to specialized guidelines (Federal HUD regulations in the United States) for manufactured housing. Manufactured homes are not permitted in some communities.

Also Known As: pre-fab home, factory-built home, factory-made home, pre-cut home, mobile home

Examples: A manufactured home is one type of factory-built housing. Other types of factory-built housing include modular homes, panelized homes, mobile homes, and pre-cut homes. Factory-built houses usually cost much less than homes that are "site-built."