Centre Hastings zoning for small homes

Municipality of Centre Hastings, in the County of Hastings. Population 4,801 (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 · Centre Hastings’s term: “detached additional dwelling unit”

One additional residential unit in an ancillary building is permitted on urban residential land, but only where the lot fronts on a year-round municipally maintained public road and the unit is connected to municipal services (s.4.26A). A portable garden suite is also possible through a temporary use by-law (s.4.11). [1]

Where allowed: Urban residential land; lot with frontage and direct access to a year-round municipally maintained public road; not in front or exterior side yard (s.4.26A, 4.26A.1) [2]
Servicing: Must be connected to municipal services (s.4.26A v) [2]
Number allowed: One unit in an ancillary building, if the house has no more than two units (s.4.26A iii) [2]
Parking: One space per additional dwelling unit (s.4.26A vi) [2]
Setbacks: Principal dwelling yards and height, or in a rear/interior side yard to a minimum 1.2 m from the lot line if no taller than the accessory height limit; in Urban and Hamlet designations a 1.8 m solid privacy fence is then required (s.4.26A.1) [2]
Maximum size: No floor area cap stated; must meet the accessory structure lot coverage maximum: 10%, or 5% in the RR and LSR zones (s.4.26A.1, s.4.1.4) [2]
Maximum height: Principal dwelling maximum, or 5.0 m (16.40 ft) where the reduced 1.2 m setback is used (s.4.26A.1, s.4.1.4) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Temporary use by-law for up to 10 years; rear yard min 4.5 m (14.8 ft), height max 4.5 m (14.8 ft), max 4.5 m (14.8 ft) from the principal dwelling, behind the house, connected to the principal dwelling's services, site plan control and agreement with the municipality (s.4.11) [2]

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. [3][4][5]

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 · Centre Hastings’s term: “single detached dwelling house”

Each main residential and rural zone sets a minimum dwelling unit floor area well above 37 m². A smaller dwelling would need a minor variance or rezoning.

Minimum dwelling size: R1: 62 m² (670 sq ft) with full basement, 91 m² (980 sq ft) with no basement (s.9.2.4); RU: 84 m² (900 sq ft) (s.8.2.10); RR: 84 m² (900 sq ft) (s.13.2.4); LSR: 65 m² (700 sq ft) (s.14.2.4) [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. [3][6][7][8][9][10][11]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

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

Not allowed · Centre Hastings’s term: “mobile home / trailer”

A dwelling house is defined as a permanently affixed building and excludes mobile homes and trailers, use of tents and trailers for human habitation is prohibited except for temporary uses or occasional guests, and mobile home parks are prohibited unless specifically permitted. No zone permits mobile homes generally; one site-specific exception (RR-5) permits a mobile home as a dwelling house.

Where allowed: Not permitted as a dwelling; dwelling house excludes a mobile home or trailer (s.3.47); tents and trailers prohibited for habitation except temporary uses or occasional accommodation of guests (s.4.24.5); trailer and mobile home parks prohibited unless specifically permitted (s.4.33) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suites (temporary use by-law, s.4.11) exclude single or double wide mobile homes, motorized mobile homes, travel trailers and tent trailers (s.3.81) [2]

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. [11][6][3][8][7]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Allowed with limits · Centre Hastings’s term: “sleeping cabin”

One sleeping cabin is permitted as an accessory structure on a residentially zoned lot with frontage on a water body, in the side or rear yard only. Other accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation unless the by-law specifically permits it.

Where allowed: Residentially zoned lots with frontage onto a water body; side or rear yards only (s.4.1.14) [2]
Number allowed: One (s.4.1.14) [2]
Maximum height: 4.5 m (14.8 ft); one storey (s.4.1.14) [2]
Setbacks: Rear, interior side and exterior side yards min 3.0 m (9.8 ft); setback from high water mark as per principal structure (s.4.1.14) [2]
Separation from house: Maximum 6.0 m (19.68 ft) from the principal residence (s.4.1.14) [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. [8][6][3][12]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The inventory's link (Word .doc, 'Updated April 13, 2010') is stale. The official zoning page also links a PDF (labelled on the page as 'Hastings County Interactive Zoning Information', file title 'ZONING BY LAW Amend1') whose cover says 'Updated May 3rd, 2023'; this was used. It includes s.4.26A Additional Dwelling Unit provisions. Amendments after May 2023 may be missing. Sleeping cabin provisions state no maximum floor area or kitchen restriction. Resort Commercial (C4) zone permits tent and trailer parks (temporary tourist use), which do not provide for permanent occupancy.

Sources

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