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A manufactured home is held to the ground by an anchoring system: steel straps attached to the frame (and sometimes over the roof) and fastened to anchors in the ground. It’s what keeps the home in place when the wind picks up.
Installation of anchoring is covered by federal installation standards (24 CFR Part 3285, checked September 2026) and by state rules. Many states license installers. This guide is about looking, not adjusting.
Know your wind zone
Your home’s data plate lists the wind zone it was built for. Homes built for higher wind zones are designed and anchored for stronger winds. Find the data plate and take a photo of it. You’ll want it for insurance, repairs, and any sale.
What you can check yourself
Once a year, and after any big storm, look under and around the home with a flashlight.
- Rust. Straps and anchor heads should be galvanized and free of heavy rust or flaking.
- Slack. Straps should be snug, not hanging loose or flapping.
- Broken or missing straps. Compare both sides of the home. Missing straps often show up as a gap in an otherwise regular pattern.
- Anchors pulling up. Anchor heads should sit at or near the ground. One that’s lifted or tilted may be losing its grip.
- Soil and water. Washouts, standing water, or erosion around anchors can weaken them.
- Piers. While you’re under there, look for tilted, cracked, or shifted piers. See signs your home needs releveling.
Take photos of anything that looks off. They help an installer quote the job.
When to call a pro
Call a licensed installer if you find rust-through, loose or broken straps, lifted anchors, or if you’ve just bought the home and don’t know when anchoring was last checked. Ask for:
- Proof of license and insurance.
- A written description of what they found and what they’ll do.
- Whether the work meets your state’s installation rules.
Before a storm
Anchoring is only part of storm prep. In a tornado warning, don’t shelter in a manufactured home. The National Weather Service advises getting to a sturdy building if you have time (checked September 2026). Know where you’ll go before the season starts.
Common questions
Can I tighten my own anchor straps?
Leave it to a licensed installer. Anchoring is set to your home's design and your site, and over-tightening or uneven tension can do damage. Many states require a licensed installer for this work.
How do I find my home's wind zone?
It's printed on the data plate inside the home, usually in a kitchen cabinet, a bedroom closet, or near the electrical panel. The data plate also lists the roof load and other design details.
Gear for this job
Mobile home anchoring tie-down kit
Straps and anchors for securing a home. Anchoring is a job for a licensed installer in most states, so use this with one, not instead of one.
See it on Amazon: Mobile home anchoring tie-down kit (opens in a new tab)
This guide is general information, not legal, financial, or professional advice. Rules, codes, and laws vary by state and by community. When a job involves gas, electrical, anchoring, or structure, hire a licensed pro.