Meaford zoning for small homes

Municipality of Meaford, in the County of Grey. Population 11,485 (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 · Meaford’s term: “detached additional residential unit”

One detached additional residential unit is permitted in the R1, R2, R3, R4, RM and RT zones (serviced) and in the R5, CR, RR, SR, RLS, A, SA, RU and D zones (private services). Rural lots without municipal services need a minimum lot area of 0.8 ha. [1][2]

Maximum size: 90% of the gross floor area of the main dwelling unit (s.4.2.1.2 a, 4.2.1.3 b) [1]
Maximum height: 5.5 m in urban serviced zones; 6 m in rural/privately serviced zones (s.4.2.1.2 e, 4.2.1.3 d) [1]
Setbacks: Urban: side yards as for the main dwelling, 4 m rear yard, front yard not less than the main dwelling's; rural: yards as for a main dwelling and no more than 50 m from the main dwelling (s.4.2.1.2, 4.2.1.3) [1]
Minimum lot size: 0.8 ha in rural/privately serviced zones, not applicable where full or partial municipal services exist (s.4.2.1.3 a, j) [1]
Number allowed: 1 detached unit per lot; total of no more than 3 dwelling units on the lot (s.4.2.1.1-4.2.1.3) [1]
Parking: 1 parking space per accessory apartment dwelling unit in addition to the main dwelling's parking (outside the C1 zone) (s.5) [1]
Where allowed: Urban serviced: R1, R2, R3, R4, RM, RT; rural/private services: R5, CR, RR, SR, RLS, A, SA, RU, D [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. [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 · Meaford’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The residential zone standards set no minimum gross floor area in the R1-R5, RT, RR, SR, RLS or MH zones, and the agricultural and rural zone tables set none. The exception is the Country Residential (CR) zone for estate subdivisions, which requires 90 m² on the first storey. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: Table 6.2.1: minimum gross floor area 'n/a' in all residential zones except CR (90.0 m², required for the first storey) [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. [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 · Meaford’s term: “mobile home dwelling / park model home / trailer”

The by-law prohibits using any trailer for human habitation except in a campground, tourist establishment or trailer park (which are temporary or seasonal), or for temporary farm help accommodation. Mobile home dwellings (CSA Z240) are permitted only within a Mobile Home Park (MH) zone, which applies to lands already developed as mobile home parks. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile home dwellings only within a mobile home park (MH zone); trailers only in campgrounds, tourist establishments, trailer parks or as temporary farm help accommodation (s.4.17 a; definitions) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite is defined as a portable one-unit detached residential structure, subject to a temporary use by-law under the Planning Act (definition, Part 3) [1]
Approvals: A mobile home, park model home or recreational trailer may be used temporarily during construction of a dwelling for up to 2 years (not in D, R1-R4, RM, RT zones) or after a fire (s.4.24.1) [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. [11][6][3][8][7]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Allowed · Meaford’s term: “bunkie”

One bunkie (an accessory sleeping building with no cooking facilities; plumbing and sanitary facilities allowed) is permitted accessory to a dwelling in the RLS, SR, RR, A, RU and SA zones, up to 27.9 m². [1]

Where allowed: RLS, SR (shoreline residential), RR, A, RU and SA zones (s.4.1.4) [1]
Number allowed: Maximum 1 per lot (s.4.1.4) [1]
Maximum size: 27.9 m² total floor area, counted toward accessory lot coverage (s.4.1.4) [1]
Maximum height: 4.5 m for detached accessory buildings generally; 5.5 m in RR, RU, A and SA zones (s.4.1.1.4) [1]
Kitchen: No cooking facilities; may contain plumbing and sanitary facilities (definition) [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. [8][6][3][12]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Office consolidation dated April 2024, 'up to and including By-law 2024-24'; ARU provisions are as amended by By-law 2024-15. Any amendments after April 2024 are not included. The input guide URL (meaford.ca/en/our-government/2024-zoning-by-law-update.aspx) returns 404 and no homeowner ARU guide was found; the by-law hosting page is https://www.meaford.ca/zoning-bylaw/. The parking figure comes from the parking table row 'Accessory Apartment Dwelling Units in zones other than C1' and may not have been renamed to match 'additional residential unit'.

Sources

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