Registration of House Trailers, Mobile Homes, & Similar Vehicular Struc. Ordinance 01/01/77217
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION OF HOUSE
TRAILERS, MOBILE HOMES, AND SIMILAR VEHICULAR STRUCTURES,
AND THE ISSUANCE OF EVIDENCE OF REGISTRATION TO BE E1(HIBITED
UPON SAID VEHICLES
WHEREAS, house trailers, mobile hones and similar vehicular devices and
structures, as defined berein, -have become increasingly prominent as temporary
and pe manent business or residentail quarters, and are classified for ad valorem
tax purposes as personal property, are subject to inspection and approval as to
construction and component parts pursuant to the State Building Code, and are
subject to other applicable laws; and
WHEREAS, due to the mobility of said vehicles, it is difficult to ascertain
those subject to listing for ad valorem tax purposes and subject to other appli-
cable local ordinances as referred to herein; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable to establish a means of registering said vehicles
within Harnett County and to provide an annual record of said mobile homes and
similar devices located within the County for ad valorem tax purposes, and to
provide a record of said vehicles for other lawful governmental purposes; and
WHEREAS, it appears the establishment of a procedure and means of registering
said vehicles will provide for effective regulation and control for the purposes
referred to herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINOD by the Board of Commissioners of Harnett
County:
Sdetion 1. Definition
As used in this Ordinance, the tems "mobile home," trailer," or "house
trailer" (all being referred to herein as "mobile homes ") shall mean and shall be
' so construed to mean any vehicle or structure so designed and constructed as will
Pemit occupancy thereof as sleeping quarters or a residence, temporary or
permanent, for one or nore persons; or the conduct of any business or profession,
occupation or trade, or similar use thereof as a selling or advertising device;
and so designed that it is or may be mounted on wheels for the purpose of
conveyance on the public streets, roads or highways, propelled or drawn by its
own or other power; and shall include all such mobile homes, regardless of the
fact that they are underpinned or placed on a permanent foundation, until such
time as the mobile home assumes the character of real property and is se listed
for ad valorem tax purposes. This definition shall include, but is not limited
to, a mobile home as defined in any applicable County District or other local
Health Regulations in force and effect in Harnett County, in Article 9A of
Chapter 143 of the North Carolina General Statutes, Article 18, of Chapter 105
of the General Statutes, and other applicable General Statutes of the State of
North Carolina.
Section 2. Duty of Owner or Person in Possession
Every owner or person in possession thereof, if other than the owner, of
a mobile home located within Harnett County, except (1) a mobile home temporarily
located within Harnett County with the express predetemined intent and purpose
of conveyance outside of the County within thirty (30) days after arrival; (2)
a mobile home half for display or exhibition purposes by a mobile home dealer
licensed by the State of North Carolina as such and displaying said license; and
(3) a mobile home passing through Harnett County on a public Street, road or highway
for conveyance elsewhere, and (4) a mobile hone helf for sale by a manufacturer,
shall register said mobile home during the regular advalorem tax - listing period
of each year with the Tax Supervisor's office of Harnett County; provided that
registration as herein referred to shall not relieve any person from the obligation
to list all property for ad valorem tax purposes in the manner required by law, and
more particularly the Machinery Act of 1971 (G.S. 105 -271, et sew.) and provisions
contained therein, including but not limited to G.S. 105 -316, 105 -316.1 et seq.
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Section 3. Registration
Registration shall occur when the mobile home is properly listed with the '
Harnett County Tax Supervisor's office for ad valorem tax purposes; and upon such
listing, the Tax Supervisor's office shall deliver a numhered plate, sticker or
other appropriate device to the person registering or listing such mobile home,
which device shall be displayed on the mobile hone on or near the main door or
exit so as to be clearly visible from the exterior; provided, however, that any
mobile home otherwise required to be registered pursuant to this Ordinance shall
not be deemed exempted from the provisions of the Ordinance, if listing for ad
valorem tax purposes is not required.
Section 4. Registration After January I
Mobile homes moved into or located within Harnett County after January 1
of each year shall likewise be registered within thirty (30) days after said
mobile homes become located within Harnett County; and in such event, registra-
tion shall be made by application to the Harnett County Tax Supervisor's
office or to the appropriate Department of Inspections (at the time of electrical
inspection or other required approval), if the mobile home at that time has not
been registered. No permit provided for pursuant to Harnett County Ordinances,
including but not limited to a special -use permit, or the State Building Code shall
be issued until the said mobile home shall be registered as herein required.
Section S. Information
Registration shall consist of delivery of a sticker or decal or other
appropriate device upon receipt of the following information to be obtained from
the owner or other person registering the vehicle:
(a) Name of the owner and person to be in possession if other
than the owner;
(b) Year, make, and mobel of the mobile home or vehicle; and
(c) Place, meaning tax block, if'.applicable, and lot where the
mobile home is or will be located.
Section 6. Registration Period
The period of registration for mobile homes shall be for the twelve (12)
month period of January 1 through December 31 of each year, and such mobile I
homes shall be registered annually thereaster, in the manner required herein.
The decal of other device shall show the year for which issued and the date of
expiration.
Section 7. Issuance of Evidence of Registration
For every registered mobile home, the Harnett County Tax Supervisor's
Office or other department referred to herein shall issue the person registering
the mobile home an appropriate numbered plate, sticker or decal. Upon satisfactory
evidence that any such registration numbered plate, sticker or decal has been
lost or destroyed, the registrar shall issue a duplicate to the owner or person
listing.
Section 8. Display of Evidence or Registration
Every mobile home located within Harnett County, except as otherwise herein
provided, shall, throughout the current issue year, display the assigned numbered
plate, sticker or decal as herein required and in such manner as to be visible
from the exterior at all times.
Section 9. Registration by Department of Inspections
In Order to facilitate the registration of mobile homes under the provisions
of this Ordinance and to provide a procedure for registering mobile homes at times
other than when property is listed for ad valorem tax purposes, the head of the
Department of Inspections or his designee is hereby authorized to register said
vehicles as herein provided, and shall forthwith make a report of such registra-
tion to the Harnett County Tax Supervisor.
Section 10. Violation
Any owner or person in possession of a mobile home who shall violate or
fail to comply with any of the provisions of the Ordinance, or any person who
shall counsel, aid, or abet any such violation or failure to comply shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not to exceed fifty dollars
($50.00), or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days.
Section 11. Severability
If any section, provision, or part of this Ordinance shall be adjudged
invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect
the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or of any other section, provision, or
part hereof.
Section 12. Effective Date
This ordinance shall become effective on January 1, 1977.
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