Armour zoning for small homes
Township of Armour, a single-tier municipality. Population 1,459 (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 · Armour’s term: “additional residential unit (ARU) in an ancillary building”
One additional residential unit is permitted in a building ancillary to a house on suitable non-waterfront lands in the Rural (Ru) and Residential Settlement (RS) zones, where the lot can accommodate an expanded or additional leaching field if required (By-law 57-2024). It does not apply in the Seasonal Residential, Lakeshore Residential, Flood Plain or Wetlands zones. [1]
- Where allowed
- Non-waterfront lands in the Rural (Ru) and Residential Settlement (RS) zones only [1]
- Number allowed
- One unit in an ancillary building if the house contains no more than two units (s.5.2(b)(iii)) [2]
- Servicing
- Lot must have sufficient area for an expanded or additional leaching field if required by the Conservation Authority (s.2.62.1) [2]
- Minimum lot size
- 0.8 ha (2 acres) for dwellings in the RS zone and for non-farm dwellings in the Ru zone (s.7.2(b), s.6.3(b)) [2]
- Temporary garden suite
- Garden suites only by site-specific amendment as a temporary use, minimum 18.6 m² (200 sq ft), and not where an ARU already exists (s.5.2(c)) [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 · Armour’s term: “single detached dwelling”
The minimum floor area for a dwelling is 18.6 m² (200 sq ft) in the Rural, Residential Settlement, Seasonal Residential and Lakeshore Residential zones (amended by By-law 12-2025).
- Minimum dwelling size
- 18.6 m² (200 sq ft) in Ru (s.6.2(g), 6.3(g)), RS (s.7.2(h)), SR (s.9.2(g)) and LR (s.10.2(h)) zones [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 · Armour’s term: “mobile home / trailer / park model trailer”
A mobile home may be used as a permanent dwelling only in the Mobile Home Park (MHP) zone, on a permanent foundation with running gear removed (s.5.16.1). A trailer or park model trailer may be used only temporarily: during construction of a dwelling, seasonally on a vacant lot under a Township trailer licence, or for occasional guests (s.5.29).
- Where allowed
- Mobile Home Park (MHP) zone; mobile home must be CSA Z240, on permanent foundations, at least 18.6 m² ground floor area and fully serviced (s.5.16.1) [2]
- Temporary garden suite
- By site-specific amendment as a temporary accessory use (s.5.2(c)) [2]
- Approvals
- Trailer licence under the Township's Trailer Licensing By-law for temporary or seasonal use (s.5.29) [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 · Armour’s term: “guest sleeping cabin / rural guest sleeping cabin”
One guest sleeping cabin (no kitchen, not for year-round habitation) is permitted on a waterfront lot with an existing dwelling in the Seasonal Residential and Lakeshore Residential zones. In the Rural zone the by-law instead permits one 'rural guest sleeping cabin', a seasonal building containing a dwelling unit on land that could meet consent requirements.
- Maximum size
- 23 m² (250 sq ft) for a guest sleeping cabin (s.2.84, s.9.4(d), s.10.5(d)); a rural guest sleeping cabin must be at least 18.6 m² (200 sq ft) (s.6.6(e)) [2]
- Maximum height
- 4.5 m (15 ft) (s.9.4(e), s.10.5(e), s.6.6(d)) [2]
- Number allowed
- One per lot, as a separate building; partitioned use of an accessory building for guests is prohibited (s.9.4(f), s.10.5(f), s.6.6(f)) [2]
- Kitchen
- No kitchen; a bathroom or sink is allowed (s.2.84) [2]
- Setbacks
- SR/LR zones: 30 m (100 ft) from high water mark, 3 m interior side yard, 8 m rear yard (s.9.4, s.10.5) [2]
- Where allowed
- Seasonal Residential (SR) and Lakeshore Residential (LR) waterfront lots; rural guest sleeping cabin in the Rural (Ru) zone [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
Sources
- irp.cdn-website.com PDF
- Zoning By-law 27-95, as amended (consolidated as By-law 23-2010)
- 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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