Middlesex Centre zoning for small homes

Municipality of Middlesex Centre, in the County of Middlesex. Population 18,928 (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 · Middlesex Centre’s term: “additional residential unit (accessory structure)”

Additional residential units are permitted on lots with a principal dwelling, including in a detached accessory structure. Up to two may be in an accessory structure on fully serviced lots, and one on lots without full municipal services. [1]

Number allowed: Fully serviced: up to 3 ARUs per lot, maximum 2 in an accessory structure; not fully serviced: up to 2 ARUs per lot, maximum 1 in an accessory structure (Section 4.2) [2]
Maximum size: Not fully serviced lots: accessory ARU up to 75% of the principal dwelling's gross floor area, to a maximum of 120 m² where the principal dwelling's ground floor area exceeds 140 m² (1,500 ft²); serviced lots: lot coverage for all buildings up to 55% [2]
Maximum height: 7.0 m (23.0 ft) [2]
Setbacks: Serviced lots: 1.2 m (4.0 ft) interior side and rear yard; exterior side yard as base zone; at least 2.0 m (6.5 ft) from another building containing a residential unit; not in front or exterior side yard [2]
Separation from house: Not fully serviced lots: maximum 30 m from the principal dwelling [2]
Parking: One additional parking space per ARU, tandem permitted [2]
Servicing: Unserviced lots require a well and septic evaluation by a qualified professional (possibly a nitrate study) and shared road access; must meet MDS I [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 with limits · Middlesex Centre’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The Agricultural (A1), Community Residential First Density (CR1) and Hamlet Residential (HR1) zones set a minimum floor area of 90.0 m² for a single detached dwelling. No minimum floor area was found in the Urban Residential First Density (UR1) regulations.

Minimum dwelling size: 90.0 m² (969 ft²) for a single detached dwelling in the A1 (5.1.8), CR1 (10.1.8) and HR1 (12.1.7) zones; no minimum listed in UR1 (7.1) [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 · Middlesex Centre’s term: “mobile home / park model trailer / garden suite”

Using a recreational motor vehicle for living or sleeping for more than 30 days a year is prohibited outside a campground. Year-round mobile homes and park model trailers are permitted in the PR-3 Lifestyle Community zone, and a portable garden suite needs a temporary use by-law. [1]

Where allowed: PR-3 zone (Lifestyle Community): mobile homes and park model trailers permitted for year-round occupancy if they meet the Ontario Building Code; travel trailers and RVs not permitted there [2]
Temporary garden suite: Permitted only by temporary use by-law under s.39 of the Planning Act, accessory to a single detached dwelling; maximum 20 years from building permit; one per lot; not where a detached ARU exists; services shared with the principal dwelling; frontage on an improved public street (Section 4.10) [2]
Approvals: Prohibited: 'the use of a recreational motor vehicle for the living, sleeping, or eating accommodation of persons for a period exceeding thirty (30) days per annum, except in a campground facility' [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

Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except where a dwelling unit is permitted as an accessory use. A detached sleeping space would have to meet the additional residential unit rules instead.

Maximum size: Accessory buildings: lesser of 120.0 m² (1,292 ft²) or 10% lot coverage in Urban, Hamlet and Community Residential zones; in Agricultural zones the lesser of 3% lot coverage or 120 m² (lots under 5,000 m²) / 165 m² (larger lots) [2]
Maximum height: 5.5 m in Urban and Community Residential zones; 7.0 m in Hamlet Residential and Surplus Residence zones [2]
Approvals: No accessory building 'shall be used for human habitation, except where a dwelling unit is permitted as an accessory use' (Section 4.1 a.i) [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 consolidation is titled 'January 2026' but already contains the text of HAF amendment By-law 2026-007 (ZBA-01-2026; per the municipality's notice of passing, decided February 11, 2026, appeal deadline March 3, 2026), including Section 4.2 (ARUs) and Section 4.10 (garden suites). The ARU and garden suite wording was checked against the by-law 2026-007 PDF. The 2026-007 PDF numbers two clauses as '(v)'. In the by-law, the 120 m² cap is followed by '(1,300 m²)'; the second figure appears to be a typo for 1,300 ft². No standalone ARU guide page was confirmed.

Sources

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