(Effective July 1, 2003.) Prior to installing, performing on-site work or equipment installation work on a manufactured home, certified manufactured home installers or the retailers by whom they are employed shall obtain an "installer certification tag" from the department or from the local enforcement agency who participates in tag sales. The installer certification tag shall be in the form approved by the department. No manufactured home may be installed by a certified installer without an installer certification tag affixed thereto. Only currently certified manufactured home installers shall be issued installer certification tags.

Homeowners performing the installation, on-site work or equipment installation work on their own manufactured home are not required to acquire and affix an installer certification tag.

(1) Installer certification tags may only be purchased by a certified manufactured home installer or by a manufactured home retailer licensed by Washington state department of licensing.

(a) The certified manufactured home installer or manufactured home retailer purchasing the installer certification tag is responsible for complying with the security, use, and reporting requirements of this chapter.

(b) Manufactured home retailers may purchase installer certification tags in bulk and issue them to certified manufactured home installers employed by the manufactured home retailer.

(2) In order to purchase installer certification tags, the certified manufactured home installer or manufactured home retailer shall submit an application to the department or local enforcement agency on a form approved by the department. The application shall be accompanied by the appropriate installer certification tag fee as set forth in WAC 365-210-063.

(3) The department or manufactured home retailer may issue a maximum of thirty certification tags to a certified manufactured home installer. A certified manufactured home installer may not have more than thirty installer certification tags issued at any one time for which the reporting requirements of this section have not been met.

(4) Installer certification tags shall not be transferred or assigned without the written approval of the department. Fees paid for installer certification tags are not refundable.

(a) If a certified manufactured home installer's certification is suspended, revoked, or expires, all unused installer certification tags assigned to the certified manufactured home installer shall be returned to the department.

(b) If a certified manufactured home installer or manufactured home retailer ceases to do business, all unused installer certification tags shall be returned to the department.

(c) If a manufactured home retailer changes ownership, unused installer certification tags may be transferred to the new ownership if the department approves the transfer following receipt of a written request for transfer from the manufactured home retailer.

(5) Issuance of installer certification tags may be denied if:

(a) The certified manufactured home installer's certification has been revoked or suspended pursuant to chapter 43.63B RCW;

(b) The certified manufactured home installer has failed to comply with the reporting requirements of this chapter;

(c) The department has evidence that the certified manufactured home installer has misused the installer certification tag by not complying with the requirements of this chapter; or

(d) The certified manufactured home installer possesses installer certification tags in excess of the quantity authorized by subsection (3) of this section for which the reporting requirements of this chapter have not been met.