Admaston/Bromley zoning for small homes

Township of Admaston/Bromley, in the County of Renfrew. Population 2,995 (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 · Admaston/Bromley’s term: “additional dwelling unit / coach house”

On privately serviced lots, one additional dwelling unit, including a coach house in an accessory building, is permitted on lots of 0.8 ha or more. Lots between 0.4 and 0.8 ha need a minor variance, and lots of 0.4 ha or less are not eligible. It is not permitted within 300 m of at-capacity or near-capacity lakes or within 30 m of a navigable waterbody. [1]

Minimum lot size: 0.4 ha or less: not permitted; >0.4–<0.8 ha: minor variance with study; 0.8–<2.0 ha: permitted, shared well/septic; 2.0 ha+: permitted, separate services allowed (s. 3.9.2.2) [2]
Number allowed: One additional dwelling unit per primary dwelling on private services (s. 3.9.2.6); up to two in the Agriculture zone (s. 3.9.2.11) [2]
Setbacks: Coach house uses the primary dwelling's minimum side and rear yards; not in the minimum front yard (RU, A) or in any front yard (other zones); not within 30 m of the high water mark of a navigable waterbody [2]
Maximum height: Height of an accessory building: 5 m (RR, LSR), 9 m (RU, A), 6 m (other zones) [2]
Parking: Minimum one space (may be tandem) [2]
Servicing: Adequate water, wastewater, stormwater and electricity servicing required [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 · Admaston/Bromley’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The Rural Residential, Rural and Agriculture zone provisions set no minimum dwelling floor area. A dwelling may not be occupied until its kitchen, heating and sanitary facilities are usable and its exterior is weatherproofed.

Minimum dwelling size: None stated [2]
Minimum lot size: RR and RU (residential uses): 4047 m², 45 m frontage [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 · Admaston/Bromley’s term: “tiny home / recreational vehicle / mobile home”

A tiny home on wheels is defined as a recreational vehicle, and a recreational vehicle may be occupied only in a recreational vehicle campground. Mobile homes are prohibited except in the Mobile Home Park (MHP) zone and, as a farm-help second dwelling, in the Agriculture zone.

Where allowed: Mobile homes: Mobile Home Park (MHP) zone; Agriculture zone only as a second accessory dwelling for farm help (s. 3.16.1). RVs/tiny homes on wheels: occupied only in an RV campground (s. 3.16.3) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite is defined (temporary, portable, shares servicing; excludes RVs and trailers) but no general permission provision was found [2]
Approvals: RV occupancy allowed up to 3 years incidental to construction (s. 3.16.4); up to 30 days per year/14 consecutive for persons in transit (s. 3.16.5) [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.

Allowed with limits · Admaston/Bromley’s term: “sleep cabin / bunkie”

A sleep cabin is permitted only on waterfront lots of at least 4000 m² on lakes and rivers that are not designated at capacity, and it may not be rented or leased. Elsewhere, accessory buildings may not contain a habitable room.

Where allowed: Waterfront lots on lakes and rivers not 'at capacity', lot area ≥ 4000 m² (1 acre) (s. 3.2.2 a) [2]
Maximum size: 18 m² (194 sq ft) [2]
Maximum height: 4.5 m (14.7 ft) [2]
Kitchen: Not more than two sleeping rooms; no cooking or sanitary facilities, not connected to plumbing (definition 'Cabin, Sleep') [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

By-law 2026-26 was passed May 7, 2026 and repeals By-law 2004-13; the document read is the original passed text (no consolidation). Appeal/in-force status was not stated on https://admastonbromley.com/planning-development/ and was not confirmed. Zoning schedules were updated 2026-08-17. Number of sleep cabins per lot is not stated as a numeric limit (text says 'a sleep cabin').

Sources

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