Strathroy-Caradoc zoning for small homes
Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, in the County of Middlesex. Population 23,871 (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 · Strathroy-Caradoc’s term: “additional residential unit (in an accessory building)”
Section 4.6(4) permits additional residential units in an accessory building on a lot with a principal dwelling. Serviced lots may have up to three ARUs (two in one accessory structure); lots without full municipal services may have up to two, with one in an accessory building, plus size, separation and well/septic requirements. [1]
- Number allowed
- Full municipal services: max. 3 ARUs per lot, max. 2 within one accessory structure. Without full services: max. 2 per lot, max. 1 in an accessory structure (s.4.6(4)) [1]
- Maximum height
- 7.0 m (7.0 m to the peak on lots without full services) (s.4.6(4)) [1]
- Setbacks
- Min. interior side yard 1.2 m; min. rear yard 1.2 m; exterior side yard as underlying zone; not in a front or exterior side yard (s.4.6(4)) [1]
- Separation from house
- Min. 2.0 m from another building containing a residential unit; on lots without full services, max. 30.0 m from the principal dwelling (s.4.6(4)) [1]
- Maximum size
- Lots without full services: cumulative GFA of ARUs in accessory buildings max. 75% of the principal dwelling's GFA, and max. 120 m² (1,300 ft²) where the principal dwelling's ground floor area exceeds 139 m² (1,500 ft²) (s.4.6(4)(l)). Serviced lots: max. total lot coverage 55% (s.4.6(4)(e)) [1]
- Parking
- 1 space per ARU; spaces may be tandem (s.4.23, item 20i) [1]
- Servicing
- Unserviced lots: same driveway as principal dwelling, MDS I setbacks, and a well and septic evaluation (plus nitrate study where services are not co-located) (s.4.6(4)(j),(k),(n)) [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 · Strathroy-Caradoc’s term: “single detached dwelling”
The R1, R5 (Rural Residential) and A1 zone regulations set no minimum floor area for a single detached dwelling. Minimum floor areas appear only in specific zones or exceptions, such as 55 m² in the R4 Lifestyle Community zone and 75 m² in the R1-5 exception. [1]
- Minimum dwelling size
- None in the R1 (s.5.3), R5 (s.9.3) or A1 (s.18.3) lot provisions; R4 Lifestyle Community zone 55 m² (s.8.4(1)); R1-5 exception (Kensington Village) 75 m² (s.5.5(5)) [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 · Strathroy-Caradoc’s term: “mobile home / park model trailer / travel trailer”
Using a travel trailer, truck camper or motor home for living or sleeping for more than 30 days in any 10 consecutive months is not permitted. Mobile homes (CSA Z240, on a permanent foundation) are a permitted use in the R4 Lifestyle Community zone, which prohibits park model trailers, travel trailers and truck campers as dwellings. Temporary garden suites are permitted in the A1 and A2 zones by a by-law under s.39.1 of the Planning Act. [1]
- Where allowed
- Mobile homes and modular homes: R4 Lifestyle Community zone (Twin Elm Estates) (s.8.2); park model trailers, travel trailers and truck campers are prohibited as dwellings there (s.8.4(2)) [1]
- Temporary garden suite
- Permitted in the A1 and A2 zones under s.39.1 of the Planning Act; min. lot area 2 ha; not in a front or exterior side yard; agreement with the Municipality required (s.4.9) [1]
- Approvals
- Travel trailers, truck campers or motor homes may not be used for living, sleeping or eating for more than 30 days in any 10 consecutive months (s.4.32(3)) [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 · Strathroy-Caradoc’s term: “accessory building”
Section 4.2(1)(a) says no accessory building shall be used for human habitation except for a secondary suite (additional residential unit). The by-law has no separate sleeping cabin or bunkie provision. [1]
- Approvals
- Accessory buildings shall not be used for human habitation, except in the case of a secondary suite (s.4.2(1)(a)) [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
Sources
- Zoning By-law 43-08 (consolidated May 2026)
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 299/19: Additional residential units (Ontario e-Laws)
- Development Charges Act, 1997 (Ontario e-Laws)
- Government of Ontario PDF
- Build or buy a tiny home: Building Code requirements (Government of Ontario)
- Building Code Act, 1992 (Ontario e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 163/24: Ontario Building Code (Ontario e-Laws)
- 2024 Ontario Building Code (Government of Ontario)
- Build or buy a tiny home: permits and inspections (Government of Ontario)
- Building Code updates (Government of Ontario)
Not legal advice
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