Can a small factory-built home sit on a concrete slab?

Yes. A slab or concrete runners are one of the foundation options FEMA lists for manufactured homes, alongside piers, pile systems and perimeter walls. A slab gives a clean, stable surface and can include embedded anchors for tie-downs. On expansive Texas clays a slab must be designed for soil movement: Texas TB 10-01 says foundations on expansive soils must follow IBC section 1808.6, and many North Texas cities that use the regional IRC amendments require every foundation to be designed and sealed by a Texas-registered engineer. In freezing climates, HUD's standards say monolithic slabs need a professional design. Plan the slab's size, anchor points and utility stub-ups around the home before the concrete is poured.

Check your local rule. This varies by state, county or city. Your permitting office has the final word; the official lookup pages below show you who that is.

Sources

• FEMA P-85, Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other HazardsFEMA
• IHB Technical Bulletin TB 10-01: Foundations on Expansive SoilsTexas Department of Licensing and Regulation
• 2021 IRC Regional AmendmentsNorth Central Texas Council of Governments