South Huron zoning for small homes

Municipality of South Huron, in the County of Huron. Population 10,063 (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 · South Huron’s term: “additional residential unit (ARU) in an accessory building”

One ARU is permitted in a detached accessory structure in the R1 zone and in agricultural zones; on partially or privately serviced lots the property must be at least 4,000 m². ARUs are not listed in the Lakeshore Residential (LR1) zone.

Number allowed: R1 with full services: up to 2 ARUs, max 1 in a detached accessory structure; partial/private services: 1 ARU (s. 30.4.2) [1]
Minimum lot size: 4,000 m² on partially or privately serviced lots (s. 3.2.7 h, s. 30.4.2 c) [1]
Maximum height: 7.5 m (s. 3.2.7 b) [1]
Maximum size: General provision: total floor area not more than 75% of the main dwelling including attached garage (s. 3.2.7 g); R1 zone provision: not more than 100% of the dwelling's total floor area including attached garage (s. 30.4.2 d iv) [1]
Setbacks: Rear or interior side yard, at least 1.5 m from a property line, no closer to a street than the main building (s. 3.2.7 a) [1]
Separation from house: At least 3 m from the existing dwelling (s. 3.2.7 f); AG1 and AG4: within 60 m of the main dwelling (s. 4.4.3, 7.5.2) [1]
Parking: 1 additional on-site space; must use the same entrance/driveway as the main dwelling (s. 3.2.7 c, 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. [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 · South Huron’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The R1 single detached dwelling provisions and the agricultural zone provisions set no minimum dwelling floor area. Minimum floor areas apply only to specific cases such as the Residential Park (R5) zone and accessory residences in commercial/campground zones.

Minimum dwelling size: None in R1 (s. 30.5) or AG4 (s. 7.4) provisions; R5 Residential Park zone: 55 m² unit floor area [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 · South Huron’s term: “mobile home; park model trailer; travel trailer”

No travel trailer or park model trailer may be used for primary, permanent living in any zone. Mobile homes (built to CSA mobile home standards) are prohibited unless a zone provides for them, such as the Mobile Home Park (R4) zone and the Agricultural Small Holding (AG4) zone, and may be used as an ARU wherever ARUs are permitted.

Where allowed: Mobile homes: R4 Mobile Home Park zone; AG4 'single detached dwelling, including a mobile home' (s. 7.1); as an ARU in any zone permitting ARUs (s. 3.29.5) [1]
Temporary garden suite: 'Garden suite' is defined but no general temporary garden suite provision was found [1]
Approvals: No travel trailer or park model trailer used for primary residential, permanent living; occasional temporary non-commercial use up to 2 weeks per year (s. 3.26.11) [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.

Allowed with limits · South Huron’s term: “guest cabin”

A guest cabin (sleeping accommodation only, no plumbing) is permitted as an accessory use to a single detached dwelling in the Lakeshore Residential (LR1) zone. Elsewhere, accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation unless a dwelling is a permitted accessory use.

Where allowed: LR1 Lakeshore Residential zone, accessory to a single detached dwelling (s. 24.2) [1]
Kitchen: Sleeping accommodation only; shall not contain plumbing (definition 'Guest Cabin'; s. 3.2.6) [1]
Maximum height: 7.5 m for accessory buildings in Residential zones (s. 3.2.3) [1]
Setbacks: Residential zones: rear or interior side yard, at least 1.5 m from the property line (s. 3.2.4) [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

Consolidation dated 'Updated May 26, 2026'. Within the consolidation, the general ARU accessory-building size cap (75% of main dwelling, s. 3.2.7 g) differs from the R1 zone provision (100%, s. 30.4.2 d iv). No specific guest-cabin size or number limit was found beyond general accessory rules; the settlement-area accessory floor area limit (s. 3.2.5) may apply depending on location. No ARU guide page found.

Sources

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