AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 21, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 20, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 22, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 19, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

95

Introduced by Assembly Members Hoover and Wicks

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Harabedian and Carrillo)

February 17, 2026

An act to amend Section 35790 of Sections 35790 and 35790.1 of, and to add Section 35790.2 to, the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: yes

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation or a local authority, upon application in writing and if good cause appears, to issue a special or annual permit for the transporting of a manufactured home that does not exceed 14 feet in total width, exclusive of lights and devices, upon any highway, as specified. Existing law prescribes specified requirements and conditions for transporting the above-described manufactured homes, homes and additional requirements and conditions for manufactured homes exceeding 14 feet but not exceeding 16 feet in width, including requiring the Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, or the local authority to require pilot car or special escort services for the movement of these manufactured housing units, and makes it unlawful for a person to violate any of the terms or conditions of a permit issued to haul specified loads, including the above-described permits. Existing regulations provide a schedule for the number of pilot cars and Department of the California Highway Patrol escorts that are required based on the width and length of the load and the route class.

This bill would remove the good cause requirement for the department or the local authority to issue the above-described permits for manufactured homes under specified conditions. permits. The bill would expand the issuance of a special or annual permit to include transportation of a manufactured home, factory-built housing, and commercial modular, as defined, not exceeding 14 feet in total width. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The bill would clarify that a special permit is not required to move a manufactured home home, factory-built housing, or commercial modular if the applicant has obtained an annual permit. The bill would authorize the Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, or the local authority to require pilot car or special escort services for the movement of the above-described manufactured housing units, as specified.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 35790 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

35790.

(a) The Department of Transportation or a local authority with respect to highways under their respective jurisdiction, upon a written application by a transporter or licensed manufacturer or dealer, may issue a special or annual permit in writing authorizing the applicant to move a manufactured home home, factory-built housing, or commercial modular in excess of the maximum width but not exceeding 14 feet in total width, exclusive of lights and devices provided for in Sections 35109 and 35110, upon any highway under the jurisdiction of the entity granting the permit.

(b) A public agency, in the exercise of its discretion in granting a permit for the movement of an overwidth manufactured home, factory-built housing, or commercial modular, and in considering the individual circumstances of each case, may use merchandising or relocation of residence as a basis for movement for good cause.

(c) (1) The application for a special permit shall specifically describe the manufactured home home, factory-built housing, or commercial modular to be moved and the particular highways over which the permit to operate is requested.

(2) A special permit shall not be required to move a manufactured home home, factory-built housing, or commercial modular if the applicant has obtained an annual permit pursuant to this section.

(3) The application for an annual permit shall specifically describe the power unit to be used to tow the overwidth manufactured home home, factory-built housing, or commercial modular and the particular highways over which the permit to operate is requested. The annual permit shall be subject to all of the conditions of this section.

(d) The Department of Transportation or local authority may establish seasonal or other time limitations within which a manufactured home home, factory-built housing, or commercial modular may be moved on the highways indicated, and may require an undertaking or other security as it deems necessary to protect the highways and bridges from injury or to provide indemnity for any injury resulting from the movement of the manufactured home. home, factory-built housing, or commercial modular.

(e) A permit for the movement of a manufactured home home, factory-built housing, or commercial modular issued pursuant to this section shall not be issued except to transporters or licensed manufacturers and dealers and only under the following conditions:

(1) The manufactured home home, factory-built housing, or commercial modular for which the permit is issued shall comply with Sections 35550 and 35551.

(2) In the case of a permit issued on an individual or repetitive trip basis, the applicant has first received the approval of a city or county if the trip will include movement on streets or highways under the jurisdiction of the city or county. The application for the permit shall indicate the complete route of the proposed move and shall specify all cities and counties that have approved the move. This paragraph does not require the Department of Transportation to verify the information provided by an applicant with respect to movement on streets or highways under local jurisdiction.

(3) It is a violation of a permit that is issued pursuant to this section by the Department of Transportation that authorizes a move only on a state highway for that move to be extended to a street or highway under the jurisdiction of a city or county unless the move has been approved by the city or county.

(f) The Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol or the local authority, may establish additional reasonable permit regulations as it may deem necessary in the interest of public safety. A regulation established pursuant to this subdivision shall be consistent with this section.

(g) The permit, the consent form or forms as required by Section 18099.5 of the Health and Safety Code, and a copy of the tax clearance certificate, certificate of origin, or dealer’s notice of transfer, if the certificate or notice is required to be issued, shall be carried in the manufactured home or power unit to which it refers and shall be open to inspection by any peace officer or traffic officer, any authorized agent of the Department of Transportation, or any other officer or employee charged with the care and protection of the highways.

(h) It is unlawful for a person to violate any of the terms or conditions of a permit issued pursuant to this section. article.

(i) For the purposes of this section, “manufactured home” includes components or modules of factory-built housing as defined in Section 19971 of the Health and Safety Code. article, the following terms have the following meanings:

SEC. 2.

Section 35790.1 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

35790.1.

In addition to the requirements and conditions contained in Section 35790 and notwithstanding any other provision of law, all of the following conditions and specifications shall be complied with to move any manufactured home, as defined in Section 18007 of the Health and Safety Code, that is in excess of 14 feet in total width, but not exceeding 16 feet in total width, exclusive of lights and devices provided for in Sections 35109 and 35110, upon any highway under the jurisdiction of the entity granting the permit:

(a) For the purposes of width requirements under this code, the overall width of manufactured housing specified in this section shall be the overall width, including roof overhang, eaves, window shades, porch roofs, or any other part of the manufactured house that cannot be removed for the purposes of transporting upon any highway.

(b) Unless otherwise exempted under this code, all combinations of motor vehicles and manufactured housing shall be equipped with service brakes on all wheels. Service brakes required under this subdivision shall be adequate, supplemental to the brakes on the towing vehicle, to enable the combination of vehicles to comply with the stopping distance requirements of Section 26454.

(c) In addition to the requirements contained in Section 26304, the breakaway brake device on any manufactured housing unit equipped with electric brakes shall be powered by a wet cell rechargeable battery that is of the same voltage rating as the brakes and has sufficient charge to hold the brakes applied for not less than 15 minutes.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the weight imposed upon any tire, wheel, axle, drawbar, hitch, or other suspension component on a manufactured housing unit shall not exceed the manufacturer’s maximum weight rating for the item or component.

(e) In addition to the requirements in subdivision (d), the maximum allowable weight upon one manufactured housing unit axle shall not exceed 6,000 pounds, and the maximum allowable weight upon one manufactured housing unit wheel shall not exceed 3,000 pounds.

(f) Manufactured housing unit tires shall be free from defects, have at least2/32 of an inch tread depth, as determined by tire tread wear indicators, and shall comply with specifications and requirements contained in Section 3280.904(b)(8) of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(g) Manufactured housing unit manufacturers shall provide transporters with a certification of compliance document, certifying the manufactured housing unit complies with the specifications and requirements contained in subdivisions (d), (e), and (f). Each certification of compliance document shall identify, by serial or identification number, the specific manufactured housing unit being transported and shall be signed by a representative of the manufacturer. Each transporter of manufactured housing units shall have in his or her their immediate possession a copy of the certification of compliance document and shall make the document available upon request by any member of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, any authorized employee of the Department of Transportation, or any regularly employed and salaried municipal police officer or deputy sheriff.

(h) Manufactured housing unit dealers shall provide transporters with a certification of compliance document, specifying that all modifications, equipment additions, or loading changes by the dealer have not exceeded the gross vehicle weight rating of the manufactured housing unit or the axle and wheel requirements contained in subdivisions (d), (e), and (f). Each certification of compliance document shall identify, by serial or identification number, the specific manufactured housing unit being transported and shall be signed by a representative of the dealer. Each transporter of manufactured housing units shall have in his or her their immediate possession a copy of the certification of compliance document and shall make the document available upon request by any member of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, any authorized employee of the Department of Transportation, any regularly employed and salaried municipal police officer or deputy sheriff, or any reserve police officer or reserve deputy sheriff listed under Section 830.6 of the Penal Code.

(i) Transporters of manufactured housing units shall not transport any additional load in, or upon, the manufactured housing unit that has not been certified by the manufactured housing unit’s manufacturer or dealer.

(j) Every hitch, coupling device, drawbar, or other connections between the towing unit and the towed manufactured housing unit shall be securely attached and shall comply with Subpart J of Part 3280 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(k) Manufactured housing units shall be equipped with an identification plate, specifying the manufacturer’s name, the manufactured housing unit’s serial number, the gross vehicle weight rating of the manufactured housing unit, and the gross weight of the cargo that may be transported in or upon the manufactured housing unit without exceeding the gross vehicle weight rating. The identification plate shall be permanently attached to the manufactured housing unit and shall be positioned adjacent to, and meet the same specifications and requirements applicable to, the certification label required by Subpart A of Part 3280 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(l) Manufactured housing units shall be subject to all lighting requirements contained in Sections 24603, 24607, 24608, and 24951. When transported during darkness, manufactured housing units shall additionally be subject to Sections 24600 and 25100.

(m) Manufactured housing units shall have all open sides covered by plywood, hard board, or other rigid material, or by other suitable plastics or flexible material. Plastic or flexible side coverings shall not billow or flap in excess of six inches in any one place. Units that are opened on both sides may be transported empty with no side coverings.

(n) Transporters of manufactured housing units shall make available all permits, licenses, certificates, forms, and any other relative document required for the transportation of manufactured housing upon request by any member of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, any authorized employee of the Department of Transportation, any regularly employed and salaried municipal police officer or deputy sheriff, or any reserve police officer or reserve deputy sheriff listed under Section 830.6 of the Penal Code.

(o) The Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, or the local authority, shall may require pilot car or special escort services for the movement of any manufactured housing unit pursuant to this section, and may establish additional reasonable permit regulations, including special routing requirements, as necessary in the interest of public safety and consistent with this section.

(p) The Department of Transportation shall not issue a permit to move a manufactured home that is in excess of 14 feet in total width unless that department determines that all of the conditions and specifications set forth in this section have been met.

SEC. 3.

Section 35790.2 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

SEC. 4.