Lee County Hits Pause on Manufactured Housing Code After Community Backlash

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In response to strong community opposition, the Lee County Board of Supervisors has decided to halt the implementation of its recently updated manufactured housing code, inviting further discussion and input from residents. The reversal follows significant feedback received both through direct calls and social media, prompting the board to reconsider its stance.

District 3 Supervisor and Board President Wesley Webb took to social media to announce the pause. “We value your feedback and are pausing any changes to the code regarding manufactured housing at this time,” he stated. “The Board of Supervisors is committed to making Lee County a better place to live, and we’ll be hosting a town hall meeting soon to hear more of your thoughts. Stay tuned for details. Thank you.”

Engaging the Community

The board plans to schedule a town hall meeting to gather more input from residents before moving forward with any further changes to the code. As of Tuesday, the meeting has yet to be scheduled.

The existing code, last updated in 1994, aimed to modernize regulations to align with contemporary health standards, especially regarding water and sewer systems. The proposed updates included several new requirements, such as a two-acre minimum lot size, a minimum distance of 60 feet from the road, and a requirement for mobile homes to have a brick, stucco, stone, or veneer skirt. Other stipulations included a single home per lot, a minimum lot width of 200 feet, and a distance of at least 250 feet between structures, along with a covered front porch and pitched roof.

Despite efforts to adjust the ordinance before the vote, some residents expressed concerns about its strictness. Webb explained that the two-acre minimum was meant to ensure sufficient wastewater and sewer hookups, though the code did allow for a variance down to one acre.

Community Concerns and the Push for Flexibility

Under Mississippi state law, counties and municipalities have the authority to regulate manufactured housing, provided they establish “reasonable appearance and dimensional criteria” without prohibiting manufactured homes outright.

Chad Mills, a local business owner involved in various mobile home services, voiced his concerns publicly. Mills, who shared that he grew up in a mobile home because it was the only affordable option for his single mother, argued that the updated code would limit opportunities for families like his own. “Lee County Board of Supervisors, how can you look a single mother, a mother and father trying to raise a family and put a roof over the family’s heads with little money and tell them they can’t place a home there because it’s not good enough for you?” Mills wrote in his social media post.

The Road Ahead

With the decision to pause the code update, the Lee County Board of Supervisors is signaling its intent to find a balanced solution that meets the needs of the community while ensuring safety and modern standards. The upcoming town hall meeting will be a critical opportunity for residents to share their perspectives and help shape the future of manufactured housing in the county.