North Middlesex zoning for small homes

Municipality of North Middlesex, in the County of Middlesex. Population 6,307 (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 · North Middlesex’s term: “additional residential unit (in an accessory building)”

Additional residential units are a permitted use in the residential and agricultural zones, including one in a detached accessory building, under s.6.50 (lots with public water and sewer) or s.6.51 (lots without both public services). Unserviced lots face extra limits on size, distance from the house and septic capacity. [1]

Number allowed: Serviced lots: up to 3 ARUs per lot, max. 2 in one accessory building (s.6.50). Unserviced lots: up to 2 ARUs per lot, max. 1 in an accessory building (s.6.51) [1]
Maximum size: Unserviced lots: 75% of the principal dwelling's gross floor area; where the dwelling's ground floor area exceeds 140 m² (1500 ft²), max. 120 m² (1300 ft²) (s.6.51 c) [1]
Maximum height: 7.0 m from grade to peak (s.6.50 g v; s.6.51 c v) [1]
Setbacks: Serviced lots: 1.5 m interior side and rear yard; exterior side yard as base zone; not in a front or exterior side yard (s.6.50 g) [1]
Separation from house: Serviced lots: min. 2.0 m from another building containing a dwelling unit; unserviced lots: max. 30.0 m from the principal dwelling (s.6.50 g iv; s.6.51 c iii) [1]
Parking: 1 additional space per ARU, may be tandem (s.6.50 c; parking table) [1]
Servicing: Serviced lots: must connect through the principal dwelling's existing water and sanitary connections. Unserviced lots: septic evaluation by a qualified professional required (s.6.50 f; s.6.51 c x) [1]
Where allowed: Listed as a permitted use in the A1 and R1 zones (s.7.1, s.10.1); a detached ARU may not share a lot with a garden suite (s.6.51 c iv) [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 · North Middlesex’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The A1 and R1 zone regulations read for this entry set no minimum floor area for a single detached dwelling. A 175.0 m² minimum applies only on lots whose only access is a road not maintained year-round (s.6.16). [1]

Minimum dwelling size: None in the A1 or R1 zone regulations; 175.0 m² only where the sole access is a road not maintained year-round (s.6.16 a) [1]
Minimum lot size: R1: 400 m² for a single detached dwelling (s.10.2.1) [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 · North Middlesex’s term: “mobile home / trailer”

Mobile homes are prohibited except as the by-law specifically provides, and in residential zones no trailer may be used for temporary or permanent living or sleeping. A trailer park or modular home community is permitted only on specific A1-4 lands, and trailer parks (temporary or seasonal use) in the PR zone. [1]

Where allowed: Trailer park or modular home community on A1-4 lands (Map 13) (s.7.4.4); trailer park in the Parks and Recreation (PR) zone (s.26.1) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suites only by temporary use by-law under s.39 of the Planning Act, max. 20 years, one per lot, with a single detached dwelling (s.6.52) [1]
Approvals: A mobile home is a prohibited use except as specifically provided for by the by-law (s.6.35 e) [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 · North Middlesex’s term: “accessory building”

An accessory building is defined as not used for human habitation. The only exception is in Ailsa Craig, Parkhill or Nairn on lots connected to municipal water and wastewater, so a sleeping cabin is not permitted on typical rural lots. [1]

Where allowed: Habitable accessory buildings only in the urban/community settlement areas (Ailsa Craig, Parkhill, Nairn) on lots with municipal water and wastewater (definition 5.2) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 5.5 m in residential zones; 10.5 m in other zones unless stated (s.6.3.3) [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

The definition of accessory building (5.2) allows human habitation only in serviced settlement areas, yet s.6.51 permits an ARU in an accessory building on lots without full services. Section numbers are as printed in the body text; the table of contents numbering is off by one in places (e.g. Prohibited Uses is 6.35 in the text and 6.36 in the TOC). No ARU guide found.

Sources

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