Mobile Home Parks

What is the public health concern being addressed?

The Polk County Health Department regulates approximately 50,000 mobile home and RV spaces in over 500 parks throughout the county. Environmental Public Health personnel review construction plans, visit construction sites, conduct inspections, and conduct re-inspections with the objective of preventing environmentally transmitted diseases. County health department staff inspects the parks and camps to ensure that compliance with standards is maintained. During these site visits, staff checks water and sewer connections as well as garbage storage and disposal. Additionally, inspections reveal if roadways are passable for emergency vehicles and if drainage is sufficient to eliminate standing water and the creation of mosquito breeding sites. In RV parks, visitors must have outlets (dump stations) available to empty human wastes and take on potable water (water supply stations).

What are the applicable rules and where can they be found?

The rules governing the operation of mobile home parks, RV parks lodging camps, and recreational camps are known as Chapter 64E-15 of the Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). Also, Chapters 381, 513, and 154 of the Florida Statutes pertain to the health department’s regulation of these establishments. These rules are enforced by your county health department. Your local municipality or county may have additional rules. Chapter 64E-15 F.A.C. and Chapter 381 may be viewed or downloaded at:

https://www.floridahealth.gov/environment/community/mobile/index.html 

What are the key responsibilities of the permit holder?

You should be familiar with all the applicable rules. Some specifics include:

• A safe drinking water supply and sewage disposal system must be provided. You should check with your local county health department before repairing or modifying a drinking well or septic system.
• A safe disease-free pool, if a pool is provided.
• Garbage must be handled in a manner that does not create nuisances, odors, or attract insects or rodents.
• There should be no more mobile homes or RVs than the permitted number of spaces. The establishment cannot increase the number of spaces without approval from the health department.
• An adequate number of properly constructed sewage dump stations should be provided.
• An adequate number of restrooms and shower facilities should be provided and maintained in a clean working manner.
• The roads within the establishment must be maintained to accommodate vehicular traffic including emergency vehicles.
• The establishment should be inspected daily by park staff to ensure all common areas, restrooms, showers, and laundry are maintained in clean and working conditions.
• The local county health department should be notified of outbreaks of disease that occur at the establishment.

Who should you contact with questions?

If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact the Polk County Health Department's Environmental Public Health Division at 863-519-8330. If you have questions about a specific inspection, the name and phone number of the inspector who conducted that inspection can be found near the bottom of the inspection report.