Centre Wellington zoning for small homes

Township of Centre Wellington, in the County of Wellington. Population 31,093 (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 · Centre Wellington’s term: “additional residential unit (detached)”

On any lot where a residential use is permitted, one additional residential unit may be in a detached accessory structure, up to a maximum of three units on the lot. The unit must meet the accessory building rules in Table 4B. In the Agricultural (A) zone, Section 6.1.4 applies instead, with a size cap of 186 m² and siting within the farm building cluster.

Number allowed: Maximum 3 dwelling units per lot including the primary dwelling; maximum 1 additional residential unit in a detached accessory structure (Sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2) [1]
Maximum size: Accessory buildings in R1–R5 zones: 10% of total lot area; lot coverage of all buildings on a lot with additional residential units may not exceed 45% (Table 4B). A zone: no larger than the gross floor area of the single detached dwelling and never more than 186 m² (Section 6.1.4 g) [1]
Maximum height: 6.1 m (20 ft) in R1–R5 zones; 8.0 m for a detached additional residential unit in the A zone (Table 4B; Section 6.1.4 f) [1]
Setbacks: R1–R5: 0.6 m (2 ft) from interior side and rear lot lines, 1.2 m (4 ft) if the building is over 4.6 m tall; not in a required front or exterior side yard (Table 4B) [1]
Separation from house: A zone: within the farm building cluster and no more than 61 m from the existing single detached dwelling; must meet minimum distance separation (MDS) rules (Section 6.1.4 h–i) [1]
Parking: 1 dedicated space per additional residential unit, may be tandem (Section 4.1.3) [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 · Centre Wellington’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The residential and agricultural zone regulations do not set a minimum dwelling floor area. The only minimum found is 75 m² for home sites in the Pine Meadows Retirement Community Residential (R5) zone.

Minimum dwelling size: No minimum in the general residential or A zone regulations; R5 (Pine Meadows retirement community) home sites only: minimum floor area 75 m² (807.3 ft²), maximum 144 m² (Section 7.5.2) [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 · Centre Wellington’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle / garden suite”

Section 4 prohibits using a trailer, motor home or other recreational vehicle for human habitation except temporarily in a permitted trailer park or campground. The by-law defines park model trailers as recreational vehicles. Mobile homes go in the Mobile Home Park (MH) zone, and a transportable garden suite needs a temporary use by-law.

Where allowed: Mobile homes (CSA Z-240 MH) in the Mobile Home Park (MH) zone (Section 12.2); recreational vehicle habitation only as temporary accommodation in a permitted trailer park or campground (Section 4 prohibited uses, item h) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Section 4.15: established only by temporary use by-law under Planning Act s.39 with a development agreement; for farm help or relatives of the owner-occupants; one per single detached dwelling; maximum 186 m² (2,002 ft²); one storey, not over 4.5 m (14.8 ft); 3–15 m from the main residence; shared driveway; farm-help suites need a lot of at least 10 ha [1]
Approvals: Section 4.37.3.1: in the A zone a mobile home may be a temporary residence for up to 12 months while a new single detached dwelling is built [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.

Not addressed · Centre Wellington’s term: “accessory building”

The by-law has no sleeping cabin or bunkie provision. A detached accessory building is governed by the Table 4B size, height and setback rules, and a detached unit with a kitchen would be an additional residential unit.

Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 6.1 m in R1–R5 zones, 6.7 m in the A zone (Table 4B) [1]
Maximum size: Accessory buildings: 10% of lot area in R1–R5 zones, 5% of lot area in the A zone (Table 4B) [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

Read the text-only June 2026 office consolidation; the schedules are posted separately on the township zoning page. The township has no waterfront residential zone in this by-law, so the bunkie answer is judged against the R and A zones. No ARU guide page was found.

Sources

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