Mobile Home Skirting in Lakeland, FL

Vinyl, lattice, insulated and faux stone skirting installed or repaired on mobile homes in Lakeland and Polk County, with the vents the rules require.

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Leveling and tie-down requests go to state-licensed installers
Single-wides, double-wides and park homes
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Mobile home with wooden front steps and dark skirting along its base — Photo: Stephen McDaniel / Pexels

Skirting is required in Polk County

Unincorporated Polk's Land Development Code says all mobile homes must have skirting around the lower perimeter, in materials compatible with the home's exterior finish. See Sec. 715 of Chapter 7.
On a new setup, Polk won't release power until the skirting inspection passes, and it checks the skirting within 60 days of the set-up inspection. Code enforcement can follow if it's missing. See Polk's skirting affidavit.
If the owner does the skirting, Polk requires a separate permit.
Inside a city, ask the building department. Lakeland's set-up package includes skirting details. See Lakeland's permit checklists.

Vents and access

Polk: at least 1 square foot of vent for every 150 square feet of enclosed space, with openings within 3 feet of each corner and the rest spaced evenly. Vents are covered with mesh, with voids no larger than 2 inches.
HUD: the same 1 per 150, or 1 per 1,500 when a vapor retarder covers the ground, with vents on at least two opposite sides. Vent covers must keep rodents out. See 24 CFR 3285.505.
As an example, a 1,200-square-foot home needs 8 square feet of vent area at 1 per 150.
Access: a door at least 18 by 24 inches that's easy to open, so crews can reach pipes and piers.
Appliance vents that exit under the home must extend outside the skirting, and dryers must vent past it.
Polk also says rainwater from attached porches and decks must be kept out of the enclosed space, with skirting behind the porch or deck.

HUD's skirting rules

Weather-resistant materials.
No attachment that traps water between the siding and trim.
Wood within 6 inches of the ground must be pressure-treated.
It must not restrict the home's expansion and contraction.
See 24 CFR 3285.504.

Materials and costs

Timber lattice: about $500 to $700 for a single-wide, or $600 to $800 for a double-wide.
Vinyl: about $1,000 to $1,500, or $1,400 to $3,000.
Faux brick: about $1,300 to $2,500, or $2,000 to $4,000.
Faux stone: about $1,500 to $2,500, or $2,000 to $4,000.
Insulated vinyl: about $1,500 to $3,000, or $2,500 to $4,500.
Timber: about $1,500 to $2,500, or $2,500 to $5,000.
Brick or concrete: about $2,000 to $4,000, or $3,500 to $6,000.
These HomeGuide figures include materials and installation. Hauling off old skirting, new vents and an uneven lot can add to them.

In a park

Skirting is an exterior change, so get the park owner's written approval first (Fla. Stat. 723.023). A park can't make you buy underskirting from the park. It can set the style or quality if that's in your prospectus, and you buy from the vendor you choose (Fla. Stat. 723.043). Ask the office what style is allowed before you get quotes.

What skirting won't do

FEMA says skirting is mainly for looks and doesn't add to the strength of the foundation. It won't take the place of tie-downs. It does help keep animals out and protects the underbelly. In a flood hazard area, FEMA points to skirting designed to break away under flood loads, so ask your installer. See FEMA P-85.

Repair or replace?

A few cracked panels or a loose rail are usually a simple repair. Replacement makes more sense when panels are brittle all the way around, the bottom rail has rotted, or the vents never met the rule. Before new skirting goes on, have the crew look underneath. It's the cheapest time to fix leveling, straps or a torn belly. If you're on the waiting list for Florida's free tie-down program, it takes off and puts back skirting as part of the work.

Questions to ask before you sign

Which material, and does it match what my park or the county allows?
How much vent area will you install, and where?
Is an access door included?
Do you haul off the old skirting?
Does this job need a permit, and who pulls it?
Can your insurance agent send proof of coverage?

Mobile Home Skirting: common questions

Is skirting required on a mobile home in Polk County?

Yes, in unincorporated Polk. The Land Development Code says all mobile homes must have skirting around the lower perimeter, with vents and an access opening. On a new setup, the county won't release power until the skirting inspection passes.

How much does mobile home skirting cost?

HomeGuide puts it at about $1,000 to $2,500 for a single-wide and $2,000 to $4,000 for a double-wide. Timber lattice costs the least, at about $500 to $800, and brick or concrete the most, at up to $6,000.

How many vents does mobile home skirting need?

Polk asks for at least 1 square foot of vent for every 150 square feet of enclosed space, with openings within 3 feet of each corner. A 1,200-square-foot home needs about 8 square feet of vent area.

Do I need a permit for skirting?

In unincorporated Polk, a separate skirting permit is required when the owner does the skirting on a new setup. For replacing skirting on an existing home, ask the Building Division at 863-534-6080. Inside a city, ask that city.

Can my park tell me what skirting to use?

It can set the style or quality if that's disclosed in your prospectus, but it can't make you buy from the park. You'll also need written approval before an exterior change.