Central Elgin zoning for small homes

Municipality of Central Elgin, in the County of Elgin. Population 13,746 (2021 census).

Backyard suite

A separate home in the yard of a house: garden suite, laneway suite or coach house, including prefab, modular or container units used this way.

Allowed with limits · Central Elgin’s term: “additional residential unit in an accessory structure”

All three zoning by-laws in force in Central Elgin (Yarmouth 1998, Belmont 91-21, Port Stanley 1507) permit one additional residential unit in an accessory structure with a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling, but only where municipal water and municipal sanitary services are available. [1][2]

Servicing: Municipal water supply and municipal sanitary system must be available (Yarmouth s. 7.6.2; same rule in Belmont s. 5.1.9.13.2) [3]
Number allowed: Maximum 2 additional residential units per lot: 1 in the main dwelling and 1 in an accessory structure (Yarmouth s. 7.6.3; Port Stanley s. 7.29.3) [3]
Maximum size: Floor area of additional unit(s) no more than 40% of the combined floor area of the primary dwelling and additional units (s. 7.6.6) [3]
Maximum height: 4 metres (s. 7.6.5 b) [3]
Setbacks: Minimum rear yard 1.2 m and side yard 1.2 m; rear or interior side yard only (s. 7.6.5 b-c) [3]
Parking: Minimum 1 space per additional unit; may be tandem (s. 7.6.8) [3]

Ontario-wide rule

Ontario law stops municipalities from banning one residential unit in a building ancillary to a detached house, semi-detached house or rowhouse on a parcel of urban residential land, as long as the lot has no more than three units in total. Municipalities still set most other zoning rules, but provincial law limits parking requirements, minimum unit size, lot coverage and separation distances. These units are also exempt from development charges and parkland dedication. [4][5][6]

Tiny home on a foundation

A small house as the main home on its own lot. The key rule is any minimum dwelling size.

Allowed with limits · Central Elgin’s term: “single detached dwelling / one-family dwelling”

The Yarmouth by-law sets minimum ground floor areas for dwellings in its main residential and rural zones (800 sq ft for a one-storey dwelling in R1 and OS1), with higher minimums in the R2 and R3 zones; the Port Stanley by-law sets 950 sq ft (R1) and 875 sq ft (OS2).

Minimum dwelling size: Yarmouth R1 zone: ground floor area 800 sq ft for a one-storey one-family dwelling; 750 sq ft for more than one storey (s. 9.2.1.10) [3]
Minimum dwelling size: Yarmouth OS1 (rural/agricultural) zone: ground floor area 800 sq ft one-storey; 950 sq ft split level; 750 sq ft more than one storey (s. 8.2.1.5) [3]
Minimum dwelling size: Yarmouth R2 zone: 1,800 sq ft floor area (s. 9.3.1.10); R3 Estate Residential: 185 m² (s. 9.4.1.10) [3]
Minimum dwelling size: Port Stanley R1 zone: ground floor area 950 sq ft for a one-storey one-family dwelling (s. 9.2.1.10); OS2 zone: 875 sq ft one-storey (s. 8.3.1.7) [2]

Ontario-wide rule

Ontario law sets no minimum total size for a house that is the main dwelling. The Building Code sets minimum room areas, so the smallest compliant dwelling is roughly 17.5 m² by the Province's own estimate. Municipalities may still set minimum floor areas for main dwellings in their zoning by-laws. The provincial ban on minimum sizes covers only additional residential units. [4][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.

Allowed with limits · Central Elgin’s term: “mobile home / travel trailer”

The Yarmouth and Port Stanley by-laws prohibit mobile homes (defined to include house trailers) in all zones unless specifically listed as permitted, and Yarmouth prohibits using a mobile home, motor home or trailer as a place for sleeping or living. Mobile homes are listed as permitted in the Yarmouth Open Space Zone 3 (recreational) and a mobile home park is permitted on site-specific OS3-1 lands in Port Stanley; garden suites appear only as site-specific permissions.

Where allowed: Yarmouth s. 7.1.17: mobile homes prohibited in any zone, temporarily or permanently, unless specifically listed as a permitted use; OS3 zone lists 'Mobile homes and tents' as permitted buildings (s. 8.4.1.3) [3]
Where allowed: Port Stanley s. 7.26 prohibits mobile homes in all zones unless specifically permitted; OS3-1 lands may be used for a mobile home park (s. 8.4.2.1.2) [2]
Temporary garden suite: No general garden suite provision; a 'Garden Suite' is listed as permitted only on individual site-specific OS1 exception properties [3]
Approvals: Yarmouth s. 7.1.11: no land may be used to park or locate a motor vehicle, mobile home, motor home or trailer used as a place for sleeping, living or eating [3]

Ontario-wide rule

Ontario has no single rule for living full-time in a tiny home on wheels. A unit on wheels can count as a 'building' that needs a permit and must meet the Building Code once it stays in one place, is hooked up to services or is anchored. Park model trailers are recognized only as seasonal recreational buildings. Municipalities may allow a portable garden suite under a temporary-use by-law for up to 20 years, with extensions of up to 3 years each. [12][7][4][9][8]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.

Not allowed · Central Elgin’s term: “accessory building”

In Yarmouth residential zones no accessory building may be used for human habitation (s. 7.2.4.7), and the Port Stanley by-law defines an accessory building as one not used or intended for human habitation. Neither by-law contains a sleeping cabin or bunkie provision.

Approvals: 'No accessory building shall be used for human habitation' (Yarmouth s. 7.2.4.7, residential zones) [3]
Approvals: Accessory building defined as a building 'which is not used or intended for use as human habitation' (Port Stanley s. 2.1) [2]

Ontario-wide rule

Ontario law has no rule written specifically for bunkies or sleeping cabins. Whether one needs a building permit depends on the Building Code Act's definition of 'building' and the Code's shed exemption. That exemption covers only storage-use sheds, so it does not cover a structure used for sleeping. Municipal zoning rules for accessory buildings still apply. [9][7][4][13]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Central Elgin has no single zoning by-law: the former Township of Yarmouth By-law 1998 (most of the municipality, including rural areas), Village of Belmont By-law 91-21 and Village of Port Stanley By-law 1507 each apply to their former areas (area map: https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/centralelgin-002-ca/media/vqwgtbfe/consolidated-zoning-by-law-areas-1.pdf). All three are office consolidations to September 2025. Answers are based on the Yarmouth by-law, with Port Stanley and Belmont cross-checked; the additional residential unit provisions are the same in all three (Yarmouth amended by By-law 2621, 2021). Belmont's R1 zone sets no general minimum dwelling floor area (minimums of 74 m² for a one-storey dwelling appear in site-specific exceptions). Bunkie answer rests on the Yarmouth residential-zone prohibition and the Port Stanley definition; the Yarmouth Open Space Zone 1 (rural) has no explicit bunkie provision, but it permits one dwelling per lot and 'dwelling' is defined to include a sleeping place. A 'Zoning By-law Update' has been announced but no draft was reviewed.

Sources

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