California PMTP Compliance: What Park Managers Must Know in 2026
The PMTP Deadline Has Passed — But You Still Have a Clear Path Forward
If you manage a mobilehome or recreational vehicle park in California and you haven't yet completed the Park Manager Training Program (PMTP), you are not alone. The compliance deadline of May 1, 2026 has come and gone, yet thousands of parks across the state still have not met the training and examination requirements. The good news: getting compliant is straightforward, and you can complete the entire process in a matter of days.
This guide explains exactly what PMTP requires, who needs it, what happens if you are behind, and how to resolve it quickly.
What Is the Park Manager Training Program?
The Park Manager Training Program is a California requirement designed to ensure that every mobilehome park and recreational vehicle park has at least one properly trained and certified manager. The requirement is established under California Code of Regulations, Title 25, Division 1, Chapter 2.3, and Health and Safety Code section 18876.1.
The intent behind the program is straightforward: park residents deserve managers who understand the regulations, responsibilities, and best practices that govern park operations. Training creates a more consistent standard of management across the state.
Who Needs to Complete PMTP?
Each park must ensure that at least one person employed as a manager — or acting in an onsite or offsite managerial capacity — completes the training and successfully passes the examination. This applies whether the manager works directly at the park or oversees it remotely.
If your park has multiple people in management roles, only one designated manager needs to hold the active certification, though many operators choose to train more than one person for continuity and coverage.
What the Training Involves
PMTP training is delivered by HCD-approved third-party providers and is structured to be thorough without being burdensome:
Initial training: Between six and eight hours of coursework during the first year, followed by an online examination.
Follow-up training: Every two years thereafter, managers complete between two and four hours of follow-up coursework, followed by another online examination.
Because the training is offered online and is self-paced, most managers can complete the initial requirement comfortably across a few sessions — or in a single focused day.
Certificates of Compliance and Exemption
When a park manager successfully completes the training and examination, the third-party provider issues a Certificate of Compliance. Managers who qualify for an exemption from the training requirement receive a Certificate of Exemption instead.
Either certificate must be posted in a conspicuous location within the park being managed, so that residents and inspectors can readily see that the park meets its management training obligations.
Understanding the Annual Fee
All parks — regardless of whether their manager is certified through training or qualifies for an exemption — are required to pay an annual Certificate of Compliance or Exemption issuance fee of $350. This fee is assessed when a park's permit to operate is initially issued or renewed.
It is important to understand that this fee is separate from the cost of the training course itself. The fee is an ongoing obligation tied to the park's permit, while the training is a requirement tied to the individual manager.
What Happens If You Missed the Deadline
The May 1, 2026 deadline has passed, and a significant number of California parks — by recent estimates, close to 2,800 — have not yet completed the requirement. If your park is among them, the priority now is simply to get compliant as efficiently as possible.
Non-compliance with the training and examination requirements can ultimately jeopardize a park's permit to operate. That is a serious consequence, but it is also entirely avoidable. The training requirement was designed to be accessible, and completing it now puts your park back on solid footing.
If you were hired as a manager more recently, note that the original requirement allowed managers until May 1, 2026, or within one year of their hire date, whichever occurred later. Managers hired closer to the deadline may still be within their individual compliance window — but it is always safer to confirm your status and complete the training sooner rather than later.
How to Get Compliant Quickly
Catching up on PMTP compliance is far less complicated than many park managers expect. The process looks like this:
Enroll with an HCD-approved provider. Only training from an approved third-party provider satisfies the requirement.
Complete the six to eight hours of coursework. Because the course is online and self-paced, you control the schedule.
Pass the online examination. The exam confirms that the core material has been understood.
Receive and post your certificate. Your provider issues your Certificate of Compliance, which is then posted within the park.
For most managers, the entire process — from enrollment to certificate in hand — can be completed within a few days.
Get Started Today
The MH Trainer is an HCD-approved education provider specializing in manufactured housing compliance and professional training across California. Our online Park Manager Training Program is built to help managers meet the state requirement efficiently, with expert instruction drawn from nearly three decades of manufactured housing industry experience.
If your park still needs to meet the PMTP requirement, the simplest next step is to enroll and complete the course. Missing the deadline is a setback — but it is one you can fully resolve this week.
Have questions about PMTP compliance, exemptions, or corporate enrollment for multiple parks? Contact The MH Trainer and we will help you find the fastest path to compliance.
