---
type: "LegalText"
title: "42 U.S.C. § 5420"
description: "Failure to report violations; penalties"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
chapter_number: "70"
chapter_name: "MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS"
section: "5420"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 5420"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s5420"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml"
source_hash: "6be13e192ff9c00d6c6c78d5a74b22064b056942ac2b3eb83f5a63ad2c1f1109"
raw_snapshot_hash: "644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e"
text_hash: "ffbcf67b3047ac566d997c58041df7cf5178b3fb2dfdedfeabd8c3fe53aa25ee"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 42 U.S.C. § 5420 - Failure to report violations; penalties

## Text

Any person, other than an officer or employee of the United States, or a person exercising inspection functions under a State plan pursuant to section 5422 of this title, who knowingly and willfully fails to report a violation of any construction or safety standard established under section 5403 of this title may be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to one year, or both.

(Pub. L. 93–383, title VI, § 621, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 712.)

## Notes

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DateSection effective upon the expiration of 180 days following Aug. 22, 1974, see section 627 of Pub. L. 93–383, set out as a note under section 5401 of this title.