Huron East zoning for small homes

Municipality of Huron East, in the County of Huron. Population 9,512 (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 · Huron East’s term: “additional residential unit (ARU) in an accessory building”

On a fully serviced R1 lot, one of up to two additional residential units may be in a detached accessory building. On partially or privately serviced lots, a single unit is permitted only where the property is 2 acres or larger.

Number allowed: Fully serviced lots: up to 2 ARUs, one of which may be in a detached accessory structure (s.18.8.1.1); partially or privately serviced lots: 1 ARU (s.18.8.2.1) [1]
Minimum lot size: 2 acres for partially or privately serviced lots (s.18.8.2.1) [1]
Maximum size: No larger than 75% of the gross floor area of the main floor of the main dwelling including attached garages (s.3.2.2.7, s.18.8.2.2) [1]
Maximum height: 6 m (s.18.8.1.4, s.18.8.2.2) [1]
Setbacks: Rear or interior side yard; no closer than 3 m to a property line; not closer to a street than the main building (s.3.2.2.7) [1]
Parking: 1 on-site space per ARU in addition to the main dwelling's parking; must use the same entrance/driveway as the main dwelling (s.3.2.2.7, s.18.8) [1]
Separation from house: AG1 zone: detached ARU no more than 60 m from the main dwelling (s.4.4) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suites permitted through a temporary use by-law under Planning Act s.39.1 and count toward the maximum number of units (s.3.13) [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 · Huron East’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The R1 zone sets a minimum total ground floor area of 84 m² for a one-storey single detached dwelling and 55 m² for 1½ storeys or more. The AG4 zone sets a minimum dwelling unit floor area of 84 m².

Minimum dwelling size: R1: 84 m² (one storey) or 55 m² (1½ storey or more) total ground floor area (s.18.5); AG4: 84 m² dwelling unit floor area (s.7.5) [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 · Huron East’s term: “mobile home / travel trailer”

Mobile homes may be established only in the General Agriculture (AG1), Agricultural Small Holding (AG4) and Mobile Home Park (R4) zones. Travel trailers and motor homes may not be used for permanent living, and garden suites are available through a temporary use by-law.

Where allowed: Mobile homes prohibited in any zone except AG1, AG4 and R4; an existing mobile home in an R1 zone may be replaced (s.3.30.5); AG1 main dwelling may take the form of a mobile home (s.4.3); AG4 permits a mobile home on a solid masonry foundation wall (s.7.3) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Permitted under Planning Act s.39.1 temporary use by-law, with an agreement on installation, occupancy and removal (s.3.13) [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 (s.3.27.9) [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.

Not allowed · Huron East’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory uses do not include any building used for human habitation except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use. The by-law has no sleeping cabin or bunkie provision.

Where allowed: Accessory uses exclude "Any building used for human habitation except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use" (s.3.2.1.2) [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 September 2026 consolidation, prepared by the County of Huron and Huron East. ARU provisions were added by By-law 84-2022. s.3.2.2.7 says a mobile home may not be used for an ARU, but AG4 (s.7.3) allows an ARU as a modular home or mobile home. No official ARU guide was found. Zoning page: https://www.huroneast.com/build-invest/zoning/

Sources

Not legal advice

Confirm with your municipality before you buy, build or move in.

Suggest a correction or source

Know of a by-law change, an exception or an official page we missed? Tell us. An editor checks every suggestion before the page changes.

Find help nearby

We don’t have a directory page for Huron East’s area yet. These cover all of Ontario.

All Ontario municipalities