Central Huron zoning for small homes

Municipality of Central Huron, in the County of Huron. Population 7,799 (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 · Central Huron’s term: “additional residential unit (ARU) in an accessory building”

In the R1 zone on full services, up to two ARUs are permitted, with a maximum of one in a detached accessory building. On partially or privately serviced lots, one ARU (in the house or an accessory building) is permitted where the lot is 1 acre or larger. ARUs in accessory buildings are also permitted in agricultural zones, and a mobile or modular home may serve as an ARU. [1]

Number allowed: Fully serviced: max. 2 ARUs, max. 1 in a detached accessory building; partially/privately serviced: 1 ARU [1]
Maximum size: No greater than 75% of the gross area of the main floor of the dwelling including attached garages, within maximum lot coverage (R1 s. 21.11) [1]
Maximum height: 6 m (R1 s. 21.11) [1]
Setbacks: Rear or interior side yard only; rear yard min. 3 m; interior side yard min. 3 m [1]
Parking: 1 on-site space per ARU in addition to the main dwelling's parking [1]
Minimum lot size: 1 acre or larger on partial or private services (R1 s. 21.11.B) [1]
Servicing: On partial/private services must use the same laneway and the same well and/or septic as the main dwelling [1]
Where allowed: R1 and R2 residential zones; AG1 and AG4 (within 60 m of the main dwelling, same laneway) [1]

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. [2][3][4]

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 Huron’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The R1 zone requires a minimum total ground floor area of 65 m² for the main dwelling, and the AG4 small holding zone requires a minimum dwelling unit floor area of 84 m². The lakeshore and recreational residential zones require 50 m². [1]

Minimum dwelling size: R1: 65 m² total ground floor area of the main dwelling (s. 21.4.13); AG4: 84 m² (s. 7.4.10); NE3: 84 m²; NE4, RC1, LR1: 50 m² [1]

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. [2][5][6][7][8][9][10]

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 Huron’s term: “mobile home / travel trailer / park model trailer”

Mobile homes (CSA Z240, at least 50 m²) are permitted only in the AG1, AG3, AG4 and Mobile Home Park (R4) zones, or as an ARU wherever ARUs are permitted. Travel trailers and motor homes may not be used for permanent living in any zone, and park model trailers are excluded from the definition of dwelling. Garden suites are considered through a temporary use by-law under Planning Act s. 39.1. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile homes only in AG1, AG3, AG4 and R4 Mobile Home Park zones, or as an ARU where ARUs are permitted (s. 3.25.6) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Applications considered through a temporary zoning by-law amendment under Planning Act s. 39.1, with an optional agreement on installation, removal and occupancy (s. 3.8) [1]
Approvals: No travel trailer or motor home may be used for primary residential, permanent living in any zone unless permitted; occasional short-term use up to 2 weeks per calendar year (s. 3.22.9) [1]

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. [10][5][2][7][6]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Allowed with limits · Central Huron’s term: “guest cabin”

One guest cabin (sleeping only, no plumbing, max. 40 m²) is a permitted accessory use in the NE4, RC1 (Recreational Residential–Seasonal) and LR1 (Lakeshore Residential–Year Round) zones. In other zones, such as R1 and the agricultural zones, accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation. [1]

Maximum size: 40 m² floor area [1]
Maximum height: 4.5 m (accessory buildings in RC1 and LR1) [1]
Number allowed: One guest cabin [1]
Kitchen: Sleeping accommodation only; no plumbing permitted [1]
Where allowed: NE4, RC1 and LR1 zones [1]

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. [7][5][2][11]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The title page reads 'Consolidated: June, 2026', but the page footers read 'November, 2025'. ARU provisions come from By-law 27-2022. The R2 and R3 zones also permit ARUs (s. 22.11, s. 23.11); their detailed limits were not extracted. The NE3 84 m² minimum was not checked line by line beyond the grep hit for s. 10.4.9.

Sources

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