A Mobile Home Park
Michigan
The case reaffirmed the power of municipalities as to the definition of "temporary
residences." Because stays in local hotels were limited to 30 days, the court
agreed that stays in trailer parks should be limited to the same length of time
since the infrastructure was not designed for an extended stay.
Spitler reflects a growing municipal concern in the thirties. By the 1930's, recreational; trailer use was giving way to more permanent habitation. Class divisions and prejudices intersected with justifiable health concerns, leading to cases like Spitler, which tried to restrict the use of the trailer park. Eventually this culminated in cases like Davis -v. MacPherson which restricted the parks themselves.