Lucan Biddulph zoning for small homes

Township of Lucan Biddulph, in the County of Middlesex. Population 5,680 (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 · Lucan Biddulph’s term: “additional residential unit (ARU)”

The Township's ARU page and March 2026 guide say ARUs, including one in a detached structure, are permitted in all areas of the municipality with a building permit, subject to zoning conditions. The zoning text that implements this (By-law 200-2026) could not be read. [1][2]

Number allowed: Max. 1 ARU in a detached accessory building (guide, Appendix A) [2]
Separation from house: Detached ARU within 30.0 m of the principal dwelling (guide) [2]
Setbacks: Not in a front yard or exterior side yard (guide) [2]
Parking: 1 parking space per ARU in addition to the principal dwelling's (guide) [2]
Approvals: Building permit; a minor variance or zoning amendment if zoning cannot be met (guide) [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.

We haven’t researched Lucan Biddulph’s by-law for this yet.

What applies everywhere in Ontario

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]

Provincial minimum dwelling size: No statute sets a minimum total floor area for a main dwelling. The Planning Act lets zoning by-laws regulate the 'size, floor area' of buildings. The ban on minimum floor areas in ss. 35.1(1.2) and 16(3.2) covers only additional residential units. (Planning Act s. 34(1) para. 4; s. 35.1(1.2)) [3]
Building Code minimum room areas: Living area 13.5 m² (11 m² when combined with kitchen and dining in a unit sleeping 2 or fewer). Dining 3.25 m² combined or 7 m² separate. Kitchen 4.2 m² (3.7 m² for 2 or fewer persons). Master bedroom 9.8 m² (8.8 m² with built-ins). Other bedrooms 7 m² (6 m² with built-ins). Bedroom space combined with other space 4.2 m². A fully combined living, dining, bedroom and kitchen space for 2 or fewer persons must be at least 13.5 m². An enclosed bathroom with a water closet, lavatory and tub or shower is also required. (2024 Building Code, Div. B, Subsections 9.5.3A-9.5.3F) [9]
Smallest practical size (provincial guidance): The Ministry's guide says an open-concept tiny home can be as small as 17.5 m². [10]
Building permit: A building permit is required to build a house, including a factory-built one placed on the lot. (Building Code Act s. 8(1)) [6]
Factory-built homes (CSA A277 / Z240.2.1): A manufactured Part 9 building is deemed to comply with the Code if it is built to CSA Z240.2.1 (sections no wider than 4.88 m) or certified to CSA A277. The Code still applies to components built outside the factory and to site installation, such as foundations and anchorage. (2024 Building Code, Div. B, Article 9.1.1.9.; Div. C, Article 1.12.1.1.) [9]
Tiny houses built off-site: For houses with one dwelling unit and 37 m² or less in building area that are partly built in one municipality and installed in another (or at a location not yet known), the Code sets up a two-permit process. The originating municipality reviews construction. The receiving municipality's permit covers applicable law and site installation. In effect since January 1, 2022 and carried into the 2024 Code. (2024 Building Code, Div. C, Section 1.11.) [9]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

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

We haven’t researched Lucan Biddulph’s by-law for this yet.

What applies everywhere in Ontario

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. [3][6][9][11][10]

When a unit on wheels is a building: Provincial guidance says any structure on wheels can be a building if it stays in the same spot for a period of time, especially if it is connected to water, sewage or electricity, has exterior stairs, or is fixed or anchored to the site. It may then need a building permit and must meet Building Code requirements. This generally does not apply to towed recreational vehicles and campers: 'if you can drive it or if it needs a licence plate, then it is likely not a building.' [11]
Mobile homes (CSA Z240 MH): The 2024 Building Code references the CSA Z240 MH Series (Manufactured homes) and CSA Z240.2.1. A manufactured home built to CSA Z240.2.1 in sections no wider than 4.88 m is deemed to comply with the Code. Its foundation and anchorage may follow CSA Z240.10.1. (2024 Building Code, Div. B, Articles 9.1.1.9., 9.15.1.3., 9.23.6.3.; Table 1.3.1.2.) [9]
Park model trailers (CSA Z241): A manufactured building built to CAN/CSA-Z241 is deemed to comply with the Code only when used or intended to be used as a seasonal recreational building. Provincial guidance says not to buy a Z241 unit to live in year-round. (2024 Building Code, Div. B, Section 9.39.) [9]
Mobile home siting: Unless a zoning by-law or Minister's order authorizes otherwise, a mobile home may be located only on a legally conveyable parcel, and no more than one per parcel. A 'mobile home' is a dwelling designed to be made mobile and built as a permanent residence. Travel trailers and tent trailers are excluded. (Planning Act s. 46(1)-(2)) [3]
Garden suite definition: A garden suite is a one-unit detached residential structure with bathroom and kitchen facilities that is ancillary to an existing residential structure and designed to be portable. (Planning Act s. 39.1(2)) [3]
Garden suite term: A council may authorize a garden suite through a temporary-use by-law under s. 39. The by-law must define its area and may last up to 20 years from passing. Council may grant further periods of up to 3 years each. When the authorization ends, the use does not continue as a legal non-conforming use. Council may require an agreement covering installation and removal, period of occupancy and financial security. (Planning Act s. 39.1(1), (3)-(5)) [3]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

We haven’t researched Lucan Biddulph’s by-law for this yet.

What applies everywhere in Ontario

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. [6][9][12][3]

Permit threshold (Building Code Act): A 'building' includes any structure occupying more than 10 m², and any structure of 10 m² or less that contains plumbing. No one may build a building without a permit. (Building Code Act s. 1(1), definition of 'building'; s. 8(1)) [6]
15 m² shed exemption: A shed is exempt from a permit and from the Code if it is 15 m² or less in gross area, one storey, detached from any other structure, used only for storage ancillary to a principal building on the lot, and has no plumbing. Because of the storage-only condition, the exemption does not cover a bunkie used for sleeping. In effect April 29, 2022 (O. Reg. 451/22) and carried into the 2024 Code. (2024 Building Code, Div. C, Sentence 1.3.1.1.(6)) [9]
Plumbing: A structure of any size that contains plumbing is a 'building' and needs a permit. (Building Code Act s. 1(1), definition of 'building', clause (b)) [6]
Provincial accessory sleeping-structure rule: No provincial statute or regulation specifically regulates bunkies or accessory sleeping cabins. Whether they are allowed is up to the municipal zoning by-law. (Planning Act s. 34(1)) [3]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The November 2024 consolidation (the latest online) contains no ARU provisions. Search-engine results for official Township files show ZBA 1/2026, a township-wide HAF amendment adding an ARU framework, 4 units as-of-right in serviced urban areas and reduced restrictions, was passed as By-law 200-2026 on 17 Feb 2026 (Notice of Passing: https://www.lucanbiddulph.on.ca/sites/default/files/2026-02/Notice%20of%20Passing%20-%20February%2017%202026.pdf). That by-law text was not read: after a few fetches the Township site returned 403 'IP banned', and this was not worked around. The March 2026 ARU guide contradicts itself on size: its summary gives 75% of the house / max. 120 m² and a 7 m height for unserviced lots, while Appendix A gives 50% of the house or 85.0 m² in Hamlet, Agricultural and Surplus zones plus lot-coverage caps. Size and height were therefore left out. For reference only, the pre-amendment Nov 2024 text set a 90 m² minimum floor area for single unit dwellings in the A1, A2, R1, HR and RR zones (5.1.9, 6.1.6, 7.1.9, 11.1.10, 12.1.10). It excluded mobile homes from 'dwelling', had no mobile home zone, barred living in a travel trailer, truck camper or motor home for more than 60 days in any 10 consecutive months (4.23 b), and treated accessory buildings as not used for human habitation. By-law 200-2026 may have changed these, so tiny_home_foundation, tiny_home_wheels and bunkie are omitted until its text or a new consolidation is read.

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

Directory pages that cover Lucan Biddulph.

All Ontario municipalities