Morris-Turnberry zoning for small homes

Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, in the County of Huron. Population 3,590 (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 · Morris-Turnberry’s term: “Additional Residential Unit (ARU)”

An ARU in a detached structure is permitted in the General Agriculture (AG1) zone and, in the village residential zones (VR1, VR2), only on properties of at least 8,000 m² (2 acres) with an unconverted single detached dwelling. In the Agricultural Small Holding (AG4) zone the one ARU must be within or attached to the main residence, except where a site-specific zone allows otherwise.

Where allowed: AG1: one ARU in a detached structure (plus one within the main dwelling); VR1 and VR2: one ARU within, attached to or detached from the main residence; AG4: within or attached to the main residence only (s. 3.54, 4.2) [1]
Minimum lot size: VR1 and VR2: minimum property size 8,000 m² (2 acres) (s. 3.54) [1]
Separation from house: An ARU in an accessory building may be at most 60 m from the main dwelling (s. 3.54, 4.4.4.a) [1]
Parking: One additional on-site parking space; must use the same entrance/driveway as the main dwelling (s. 3.54) [1]
Maximum size: VR2: a detached structure containing an ARU may be no greater than 75% of the gross area of the main floor of the dwelling, including attached garages (s. 3.54) [1]
Maximum height: Detached accessory buildings: 6 m and not more than two storeys (s. 3.4.3); VR1 accessory buildings: 6 m (s. 14.5.3) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suites are permitted under Planning Act s. 39.1 (temporary use by-law), subject to an agreement with the municipality; a garden suite may transition to a permanent ARU (s. 3.18) [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 · Morris-Turnberry’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The VR1, VR2, AG1 and AG4 zones set no minimum floor area for a single detached dwelling. A minimum floor area (84 m² for a detached residence) applies only to accessory residences in the Agriculture Commercial Industrial (AG3) zone.

Minimum dwelling size: None stated for the VR1, VR2, AG1 or AG4 zones; AG3 accessory residential uses: fully detached residence 84.0 m², mobile home 50 m² (s. 6.6.2) [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 · Morris-Turnberry’s term: “mobile home / travel trailer”

Mobile homes (CSA Z240 units of at least 50 m² on permanent foundations) may be located only in the AG1, AG3, AG4 and Residential Park (R4) zones. No tourist or travel trailer may be used for temporary or permanent living accommodation in any zone, except for sleeping for up to 14 days a year.

Where allowed: Mobile homes only in the AG1, AG3, AG4 and R4 zones (s. 3.34.6.1); AG4 permits one detached dwelling or a mobile home on a foundation wall (s. 7.3); R4 permits mobile homes in a residential park (s. 16.2) [1]
Minimum dwelling size: A mobile home is defined as having a floor area of not less than 50 m², built to CSA Z240 and placed on permanent foundations (s. 2) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suites are permitted under Planning Act s. 39.1 (temporary use by-law), subject to an agreement with the municipality (s. 3.18) [1]
Approvals: No tourist or travel trailer may be used for temporary or permanent living accommodation in any zone; sleeping accommodation in a trailer, truck camper or motor home is allowed for up to 14 days annually (s. 3.32) [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 · Morris-Turnberry’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use. The by-law has no separate provision for sleeping cabins, so a detached sleeping space would need to qualify as an Additional Residential Unit.

Maximum height: Detached accessory buildings: 6 m, not more than two storeys (s. 3.4.3) [1]
Approvals: Private garages or other accessory buildings shall not be used for human habitation except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use (s. 3.4.1) [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 August 2026 office consolidation, which includes amendments up to By-law 18-2026. AG4-17 (By-law 18-2026) is a site-specific zone that allows a detached ARU in AG4. The exception in s. 3.4.1 ('except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use') may allow habitable accessory buildings in zones such as AG1 and AG3, where dwellings are accessory uses; the bunkie answer reflects the village residential zones. The municipality has no lakefront residential zone. No municipal ARU guide was found; Huron County's planning pages were not checked.

Sources

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