Huron-Kinloss zoning for small homes

Township of Huron-Kinloss, in the County of Bruce. Population 7,723 (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-Kinloss’s term: “additional residential unit (in a detached accessory building)”

An additional residential unit may be placed in a new or existing detached accessory building in the R1, R2, R3 and AG3 zones (and on farms in AG1 and AG4), within 30 m of the main dwelling. Lots on private or partial services need at least 0.4 ha. In the Lakeshore Settlement Area it is allowed only on full municipal services, and in the Silver Lake and Purvis Lake areas only inside the main dwelling. [1]

Where allowed: R1, R2, R3 and AG3 zones (s. 4.6); AG1 and AG4 farms (s. 4.7); not in the Lakeshore Settlement Area without full municipal services (s. 4.6 b, 12.2, 13.2, 14.2); in the Silver Lake and Purvis Lake areas only inside the main dwelling (s. 4.6 g) [2]
Number allowed: Up to 2 additional units on full municipal services, only 1 of them in a detached accessory building; on private or partial services 1 unit on lots of 0.4 ha or more and 2 on lots of 0.6 ha or more; no more than 3 units in total including any garden suite (s. 4.6 a, b, h, n) [2]
Maximum height: 6 m (accessory building rules apply, s. 4.6 i and s. 4.1.4) [2]
Setbacks: Not in the required front or exterior side yard; 1.5 m from rear and interior side lot lines (s. 4.1.2, 4.1.3) [2]
Separation from house: Within 30 m of the principal dwelling (s. 4.6 j) [2]
Maximum size: No floor area cap stated; all accessory buildings together limited to 10% lot coverage (s. 4.1.5); total lot coverage on full services may be 45% (s. 4.6 o) [2]
Parking: Must share the parking and yards of the main dwelling; no new driveway (s. 4.6 k) [2]
Servicing: Must connect to water and to septic or sewer, with sufficient capacity (s. 4.6 d, e) [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 · Huron-Kinloss’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The regulations for single detached dwellings in the R1 zone (and the AG3, AG1 and AG4 zones) set lot area, yards, coverage and height but no minimum dwelling floor area.

Minimum dwelling size: None set for single detached dwellings in the R1, R2, AG1, AG3 or AG4 zones (s. 6.2-6.3, 8.2, 9.2-9.3, 12.4, 13.3.1) [2]
Minimum lot size: R1: 470 m² in Lucknow/Ripley; 4,000 m² in hamlets; Lakeshore 1,850 m² on municipal water or 6,000 m² on private services (s. 12.4.1) [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.

Allowed with limits · Huron-Kinloss’s term: “mobile home”

Mobile homes and mobile home parks are permitted uses in the Lifestyle Community Residential (LCR) zone. A recreational trailer is defined as not occupied continuously or as a principal residence, and year-round use of mobile homes or park model trailers in a campground is not permitted.

Where allowed: Lifestyle Community Residential (LCR) zone: mobile home and mobile home park (s. 15.1) [2]
Minimum dwelling size: Mobile home park dwellings: minimum ground floor area 40 m² on lots of at least 550 m² (s. 15.2.6, 15.2.12) [2]
Temporary garden suite: A garden suite (portable) is defined and counted in the 3-unit limit (s. 4.6 n), but no zone lists it as a permitted use and the by-law sets no garden suite provisions [2]
Approvals: Recreational trailers are for temporary living only, not continuous occupancy or a principal residence (s. 3 definition); campgrounds may not be used year-round for mobile homes or park model trailers (s. 3 definition) [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.

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

Unless the by-law provides otherwise, no accessory building may be used for human habitation, which the by-law defines as overnight accommodation whether or not cooking facilities are present. The by-law has no sleeping cabin or bunkie provision.

Approvals: No accessory building shall be used for human habitation unless otherwise provided (s. 4.1.1); 'human habitation' means overnight accommodation regardless of whether sanitary or cooking facilities are present (s. 3, By-law 2019-123) [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 cover and s. 1.1 identify the by-law as By-law 2018-98 (dated August 13, 2018), not 2019-98 as in the inventory. The cover says 'Office Consolidation – May 2026' (file named July 10, 2026). The by-law has no maximum floor area for a detached ARU apart from accessory lot coverage. The Bruce County ARU page is a county-wide toolkit, not Huron-Kinloss-specific. Garden suites are defined but have no provisions or zone permissions.

Sources

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