In 2024, a Missouri woman got permits for a manufactured home; months after she moved in, officials said zoning barred it and ordered removal, before the mayor admitted the city made mistakes

A Missouri woman who followed every official step to install a manufactured home on her land has been ordered to move it, months after city officials admitted they had approved her permits by mistake. Taylor West, a sergeant with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, bought a manufactured home and planned to place it at 97 Garr Field Avenue in Chillicothe. Before moving ahead, she worked with a local business and applied for the required building permits through the city government. On 31 December 2024, the Chillicothe codes office approved her building permit. The permit included clear conditions from the city, including a requirement for a cement or block perimeter wall and 24 hours’ notice before moving the home onto the property. West followed the requirements, prepared the site, and received a certificate of occupancy on 12 February 2025. She moved in shortly afterward, believing that everything had been properly approved.

Sudden notice to vacate

After West had lived on the property through the summer, the situation suddenly changed. She received a formal letter from the Chillicothe city attorney stating that city zoning rules did not allow manufactured homes in her district. Even though the city’s own codes administrator had reviewed and approved her paperwork, the letter said the structure was not allowed and gave her one year to remove it from the property. West tried to resolve the matter with local officials. She applied for a formal zoning variance that would allow the home to remain, hoping the city would make an exception because of the mistake by its own staff. The request was denied. During a public hearing in early May, the Chillicothe Board of Zoning Adjustment rejected her request for a variance. This left West with few administrative options outside the court system. “We plan to take the city to court,” West said after the board’s decision, noting that she had 30 days to file an appeal.

Municipal mistakes acknowledged

As attention grew around the case, city leaders began publicly acknowledging problems with the paperwork and approval process. Chillicothe Mayor Theresa Kelly confirmed that city staff made major errors while processing West’s original applications. “Mistakes were made by the city staff, and the council has directed the city attorney to possibly make a settlement,” Kelly told local broadcaster KCHI. The city attorney had earlier confirmed to television station KMBC 9 Investigates that the codes department issued the building permit by mistake. However, even after the city acknowledged the error, the order to remove the home remained in place for months.

Slow progress toward resolution

Despite the mayor’s comments about a possible settlement, progress toward an agreement has been slow. In mid-May, Mayor Kelly said that while the city council had directed its legal team to explore a settlement, she was not aware of any specific updates or final offers being sent to West. West also said that her lawyer had not received formal settlement terms from the city attorney’s office. The situation has left West uncertain about what happens next. Moving a modern manufactured home, removing foundation walls, and finding another property could cost tens of thousands of dollars. West faces these expenses after relying on written approvals from city officials. fWith the 30-day deadline to appeal the variance decision approaching, legal action remains possible as both sides deal with the consequences of the city’s permitting mistake.