How Much Snow Can a Mobile Home Roof Hold? CA Load Rules
How much snow can a mobile home roof hold? It depends on the roof load the home was built for, which is shown on its data plate. Federal HUD standards set roof live loads of 40 pounds per square foot (psf) in the North Zone, 30 psf in the Middle Zone, and 20 psf in the South Zone. California also sets its own minimum roof loads for installed homes, and those rise with elevation in the mountains.
Picture a retiree in a San Bernardino County mountain park watching snow pile up on the carport. This guide covers roof loads, carport rules, and safe snow clearing.
Key takeaways
- HUD roof live loads are 40 psf (North), 30 psf (Middle), and 20 psf (South), and your data plate shows your home's zone or design load.
- California's Title 25 sets 20 to 60 psf by region and elevation, and above 4,000 feet local snow load ordinances apply.
- California rules say carports must meet the same structural requirements as awnings, which must handle snow loads where they exceed 10 psf.
- OSHA advises using snow rakes or drag lines from the ground.
How Much Snow Can a Mobile Home Roof Hold Under HUD Rules?
The federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, at 24 CFR 3280.305, say roofs "shall be designed to resist the following live loads, applied downward on the horizontal projection as appropriate for the design zone marked on the manufactured home":
- North Zone: 40 psf
- Middle Zone: 30 psf
- South Zone: 20 psf
The North and Middle zones are made up of listed states and counties, and no California counties appear in either list. The regulation says states and counties not listed "are deemed to be within the South Roof Load Zone".
How to Find Your Home's Roof Load Zone
Start with the data plate. Under 24 CFR 3280.5, it must be "affixed in a permanent manner near the main electrical panel or other readily accessible and visible location". HUD's manufactured home labels page says: "The Data Plate can be found in a kitchen cabinet, an electrical panel, or a bedroom closet".
Section 3280.305 says the data plate "shall designate the wind and roof load zones or, if designed for higher loads, the actual design external snow and wind loads for which the home has been designed".
If the plate is missing, HUD says: "You may be able to obtain the data plate by contacting the In-Plant Primary Inspection Agency (IPIA) and the manufacturer".
The federal installation standard at 24 CFR 3285.103 states: "Manufactured homes must not be located in a roof load zone that exceeds the design roof load for which the home has been designed".
California Roof Loads in Mountain Areas
California's Title 25 adds its own minimums. Section 1338 says "every MH-unit installed shall have the capacity to resist the applicable minimum roof live load" for its region:
- Region I (includes Los Angeles and Ventura): 20 psf up to 4,000 feet.
- Region II (includes Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, Fresno, and Inyo): 20 psf up to 3,000 feet, 30 psf from 3,001 to 3,500 feet, and 60 psf from 3,501 to 4,000 feet.
- Region III (includes El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Mono, and Tuolumne): 20 psf up to 2,000 feet, 30 psf from 2,001 to 3,000 feet, and 60 psf from 3,001 to 4,000 feet.
The table values apply unless the state has approved greater or lesser snow loads set through a survey of the region. Above 4,000 feet, in any region, Section 1338 says "snow loads established for residential buildings by local ordinance shall apply". The exception is Section 1338.1: a park above 4,000 feet that operates a snow roof load maintenance program approved by the enforcement agency may install a home that can resist a roof live load of 60 psf or greater, if the other listed conditions are met.
For homes "manufactured prior to October 7, 1973, or an MH-unit with a designed roof live load less than that specified", Section 1338 calls for a method of protecting the home from snow loads that is "acceptable to the enforcement agency", or a ramada designed for the regional load.
Carport and Awning Rules in California Parks
Carports and awnings follow their own rules. Section 1468 says awnings must support "all dead loads plus a minimum vertical live load of ten (10) psf except that snow loads shall be used where snow loads exceed this minimum". Awnings with live loads over 10 psf must be completely freestanding, with limited exceptions for areas with a roof live load not to exceed 20 psf.
Under Section 1478, "A carport shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the structural requirements for awnings as specified in section 1468". It also says at least two sides, or one side and one end, "shall be maintained at least fifty (50) percent open and unobstructed at all times".
Before adding or changing a carport or awning, check the permit rules. Section 1018 says no person shall erect, construct, or alter "any building, structure, accessory building or structure" in a park without first obtaining "a written construction permit from the enforcement agency". Canvas or cloth awnings are among the listed exceptions.
How to Clear Snow Safely
OSHA's roof snow removal hazard alert, written for workers, lists ways to avoid going on the roof: "Use snow rakes or drag lines from the ground". It also advises: "Remove small amounts at a time to avoid strain or from being hit or buried by falling snow". It says to "Maintain a distance of at least 10 feet from any power line".
Fairfax County's snow and roof damage guide lists signs for homes with flat roofs, such as a sagging ceiling, new cracks in drywall or plaster, "Popping, cracking or creaking sounds," and doors or windows that can no longer be opened or closed. Fairfax County says that if you notice any of these signs, "evacuate the home or building immediately. Call or text 9-1-1". For other structural concerns, it says to contact a licensed structural engineer, building inspector or other qualified individual.
If you live in a park or are shopping for one, our mobile home park lease checklist covers what to review first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What roof load zone is California in?
Under HUD's 24 CFR 3280.305, no California counties are listed in the North or Middle roof load zones, so they fall in the South Zone, set at 20 psf. Title 25 Section 1338 sets minimums of 20 to 60 psf by region and elevation up to 4,000 feet. Above 4,000 feet, the local residential snow load ordinance applies, and it can be higher.
Where is the data plate on a mobile home?
HUD says the data plate can be found in a kitchen cabinet, an electrical panel, or a bedroom closet. It shows your home's roof load zone, or its actual design snow load if it was built for higher loads. If it is missing, contact the IPIA and the manufacturer.
Does a carport need to handle snow in California?
Yes. Title 25 says carports must meet the structural requirements for awnings in Section 1468, which calls for a minimum vertical live load of 10 psf, with snow loads used where they exceed that minimum. Section 1018 requires a construction permit for accessory structures.
Protect Your Home Through Winter
Snow damage questions often come down to what your policy says. At Farmers Insurance - Young Douglas, we can walk through your mobile home policy with you, and our housing advice library has more guides for California homeowners. Coverage depends on your policy. Get a free quote and coverage review with our team.
Written by LaMonte Douglas, owner of Young Douglas Insurance, a Farmers Insurance agency serving California from Ontario. CA License #4091974.
Sources (accessed September 23, 2026): Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 24 CFR 3280.305, 24 CFR 3280.5, 24 CFR 3285.103; HUD: Manufactured Housing HUD Labels; California Code of Regulations, Title 25 (via Cornell LII): Section 1338, Section 1338.1, Section 1468, Section 1478, Section 1018; OSHA: Falls and Other Hazards to Workers Removing Snow from Rooftops; Fairfax County: Snow and Roof Damage.
Last updated: September 23, 2026.