The 1957 California Legislature recognized the need to establish construction standards in order to assure the health and safety of California purchasers and occupants of mobilehomes, commercial modulars and recreational vehicles (originally referred to as trailer coaches). The Legislature passed laws requiring HCD to establish regulations and standards and that an insignia of approval be issued to all such mobile units to indicate compliance. Inspections and insignia issuance began when the first regulations became effective on September 1, 1958.
The insignia distinguishes units constructed to the California standards from those contracted in states or countries without equivalent standards or no standards at all. California law prohibits the sale or offering for sale, rent, or lease of mobilehomes, commercial modulars, special purpose commercial modulars manufactured on or after September 1, 1958, that do not bear a California Insignia of Approval, or manufactured homes manufactured on or after June 15, 1976, that do not bear a Federal HUD Label. It is a misdemeanor to sell, rent, or lease such units without the required insignia or label.
The authority to develop the construction standards, conduct inspections, and issue the insignia is assigned by law to HCD.