(1) The director or the director's authorized representative may conduct such inspections, investigations, and audits as may be necessary to adopt or enforce manufactured and mobile home, commercial coach, conversion vending units, medical units, recreational vehicle, park trailer, factory built housing, and factory built commercial structure rules adopted under the authority of this chapter or to carry out the director's duties under this chapter.

     (2) For purposes of enforcement of this chapter, persons duly designated by the director upon presenting appropriate credentials to the owner, operator, or agent in charge may:

     (a) At reasonable times and without advance notice enter any factory, warehouse, or establishment in which manufactured and mobile homes, commercial coaches, conversion vending units, medical units, recreational vehicles, park trailers, factory built housing, and factory built commercial structures are manufactured, stored, or held for sale;

     (b) At reasonable times, within reasonable limits, and in a reasonable manner inspect any factory, warehouse, or establishment as required to comply with the standards adopted by the secretary of housing and urban development under the national manufactured home construction and safety standards act of 1974. Each inspection shall be commenced and completed with reasonable promptness; and

     (c) As requested by an owner of a conversion vending unit or medical unit, inspect an alteration.

     (3) For purposes of determining compliance with this chapter's permitting requirements for alterations of mobile and manufactured homes, the department may audit the records of a contractor as defined in chapter 18.27 RCW or RCW 18.106.020(1) or an electrical contractor as defined in RCW 19.28.006 when the department has reason to believe that a violation of the permitting requirements has occurred. The department shall adopt rules implementing the auditing procedures. Information obtained from a contractor through an audit authorized by this subsection is confidential and not open to public inspection under chapter 42.56 RCW.

     (4)(a) The department shall set a schedule of fees by rule which will cover the costs incurred by the department in the administration of RCW 43.22.335 through 43.22.490. The department may waive mobile/manufactured home alteration permit fees for indigent permit applicants.

     (b)(i) Until April 1, 2009, subject to (a) of this subsection, the department may adopt by rule a temporary statewide fee schedule that decreases fees for mobile/manufactured home alteration permits and increases fees for factory-built housing and commercial structures plan review and inspection services.

     (ii) Effective April 1, 2009, the department must adopt a new fee schedule that is the same as the fee schedule that was in effect immediately prior to the temporary fee schedule authorized in (b)(i) of this subsection. However, the new fee schedule must be adjusted by the fiscal growth factors not applied during the period that the temporary fee schedule was in effect.

[2005 c 274 § 296; 2004 c 137 § 1; 2003 c 67 § 1. Prior: 2002 c 268 § 3; 2002 c 268 § 2; 2001 c 335 § 5; 1999 c 22 § 10; 1995 c 280 § 5; 1977 ex.s. c 21 § 5.]

NOTES:

     Part headings not law -- Effective date -- 2005 c 274: See RCW 42.56.901 and 42.56.902.

     Effective date -- 2004 c 137: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect March 31, 2004." [2004 c 137 § 2.]

     Purpose -- Finding -- 2002 c 268: "The purpose of this act is to implement the recommendations of the joint legislative task force created by chapter 335, Laws of 2001. The legislature recognizes the need to improve communications among mobile/manufactured homeowners, regulatory agencies, and other interested parties, to streamline the complex regulatory environment and inflexible enforcement system, and to promote problem-solving at an early stage. To assist in achieving these goals, the legislature:

     (1) Encourages the relevant agencies to conduct a pilot project that tests an interagency coordinated system for processing permits for alterations or repairs of mobile and manufactured homes; and

     (2) Recognizes the task force's work in reviewing agency rules related to alteration permit requirements and supports the task force's recommendations to the agency regarding those rules. The legislature finds that assisting consumers to understand when an alteration of a mobile or manufactured home is subject to a permit, and when it is not, will improve compliance with the agency rules and further the code's safety goals." [2002 c 268 § 1.]

     Effective date -- 2002 c 268: "Sections 1, 2, and 4 through 9 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect immediately [March 29, 2002]." [2003 c 67 § 2; 2002 c 268 § 10.]

     Application -- 2001 c 335: See note following RCW 43.22.335.

     Construction -- 1977 ex.s. c 21: See note following RCW 43.22.431.