(a) As used in this Act, “manufactured home” means a factory-assembled, completely integrated structure designed for permanent habitation, with a permanent chassis, and so constructed as to permit its transport, on wheels temporarily or permanently attached to its frame, and is a movable or portable unit that is (i) 8 body feet or more in width, (ii) 40 body feet or more in length, and (iii) 320 or more square feet, constructed to be towed on its own chassis (comprised of frame and wheels) from the place of its construction to the location, or subsequent locations, at which it is connected to utilities for year-round occupancy for use as a permanent habitation, and designed and situated so as to permit its occupancy as a dwelling place for one or more persons, and specifically includes a “manufactured home” as defined in subdivision (53) of § 9-102 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The term shall include units containing parts that may be folded, collapsed, or telescoped when being towed and that may be expected to provide additional cubic capacity, and that are designed to be joined into one integral unit capable of being separated again into the components for repeated towing. The term excludes campers and recreational vehicles. Mobile homes and manufactured homes in mobile home parks must be assessed and taxed as chattel. Mobile homes and manufactured homes outside of mobile home parks must be assessed and taxed as real property whether or not such mobile homes and manufactured homes are affixed to a permanent foundation as defined in Section 5-5 of the Conveyance and Encumbrance of Manufactured Homes as Real Property and Severance Act, and whether or not such mobile homes and manufactured homes are real property as defined in Section 5-35 of the Conveyance and Encumbrance of Manufactured Homes as Real Property and Severance Act. The words “mobile home” and “manufactured home” are synonymous for the purposes of this Act. Any such structure located outside of a mobile home park shall not be assessed and taxed as chattel, but must be assessed and taxed as real property as defined by Section 1-130 of the Property Tax Code. All mobile homes and manufactured homes located inside mobile home parks must be taxed according to this Act. Mobile homes and manufactured homes located on a dealer’s lot for resale purposes or as a temporary office shall not be subject to this tax.
     (b) Mobile homes and manufactured homes that (i) are located outside of mobile home parks and (ii) are taxed under this Act on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly must continue to be taxed under this Act and shall not be assessed and taxed as real property until the home is sold, transferred, or relocated to a different parcel of land outside of a mobile home park. If a mobile home or manufactured home described in this subsection (b) is sold, transferred, or relocated to a different parcel of land outside of a mobile home park, then the home must be assessed and taxed as real property whether or not the mobile home or manufactured home is affixed to a permanent foundation as defined in Section 5-5 of the Conveyance and Encumbrance of Manufactured Homes as Real Property and Severance Act and whether or not the mobile home or manufactured home is real property as defined in Section 5-35 of the Conveyance and Encumbrance of Manufactured Homes as Real Property and Severance Act. Mobile homes and manufactured homes that are located outside of mobile home parks and assessed and taxed as real property on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly must continue to be assessed and taxed as real property whether or not the mobile homes and manufactured homes are affixed to a permanent foundation as defined in Section 5-5 of the Conveyance and Encumbrance of Manufactured Homes as Real Property and Severance Act or installed on permanent foundations and whether or not the mobile homes and manufactured homes are real property as defined in Section 5-35 of the Conveyance and Encumbrance of Manufactured Homes as Real Property and Severance Act. If a mobile or manufactured home that is located outside of a mobile home park is relocated to a mobile home park, the home must be taxed according to the Mobile Home Local Services Tax Act. The owner of a mobile home or manufactured home that is located outside of a mobile home park may file a request with the county that the home be assessed and taxed as real property.
     (c) Mobile homes and manufactured homes that are located in mobile home parks must be taxed according to this Act.