Augusta zoning for small homes

Township of Augusta, in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Population 7,386 (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 · Augusta’s term: “secondary suite (in an accessory building)”

One secondary suite per lot may be located in a detached accessory building on the lot of a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling, up to 45% of the primary dwelling's gross floor area. Secondary suites are not permitted on lots zoned Floodplain. Ontario's Planning Act (s. 35.1) overrides zoning provisions that would prohibit one unit in a building ancillary to a house on serviced urban land. [1][2]

Number allowed: A maximum of one (1) secondary suite on a residential lot (s.6.39.3 c) [3]
Maximum size: Not more than 45% of the gross floor area of the primary dwelling (s.6.39.3 g) [3]
Setbacks: A new accessory building containing a suite must meet the minimum setbacks for the main residential building; an existing accessory building uses accessory building setbacks (s.6.39.3 d, e) [3]
Maximum height: Accessory building height by zone: 6.5 m (21.3 ft) RV, A and RU; 6 m (19.7 ft) RE; 5 m (16.4 ft) RW [3]
Parking: Minimum of 1 parking space in addition to those required for the main dwelling (s.6.39.3 f) [3]
Where allowed: Not permitted on lots zoned Floodplain (s.6.39.3 b); listed as a permitted use in the RV, RE and RW zones [3]
Servicing: Sewage and servicing capacity must be confirmed prior to occupancy or construction (Township guide) [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][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 · Augusta’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The RV, RE, RW, A and RU zone requirements set no minimum floor area for a single detached dwelling. The Township's tiny homes page says a tiny home must be a building meeting the Ontario Building Code and may be a primary dwelling. [6]

Minimum dwelling size: No minimum dwelling floor area in the RV, RE, RW, A or RU zone requirements (only RM mobile home sites set a 55 m² (592 sq ft) minimum floor area) [3]
Minimum dwelling size: Township guide: generally at least 17.5 m² (188 sq ft) total floor area under the Ontario Building Code [6]

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][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.

Allowed with limits · Augusta’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”

Mobile homes are prohibited except on lands zoned to specifically permit them (the Mobile Home Park Residential RM zone), and a dwelling excludes a trailer or motor home. A garden suite under a temporary use by-law must not be a mobile home or recreational vehicle. [6]

Where allowed: "The placement or use of mobile homes is prohibited except on lands which are zoned to specifically permit a mobile home" (s.6.36.2); RM zone permits mobile home dwellings and parks: park minimum 4 ha, site minimum 375 m², minimum floor area 55 m² (592 sq ft), one mobile home per site [3]
Temporary garden suite: Subject to a site-specific temporary use by-law (Planning Act s.39): minimum lot 450 m² (4,844 ft²), maximum net floor area 50 m² (538 ft²), maximum height 6 m (19.7 ft), 3 m setback from rear/side lot lines; a garden suite excludes a mobile home or recreational vehicle [3]
Approvals: Human habitation is not permitted in any recreational vehicle, truck, bus, coach or streetcar body unless it meets the Fire Code, Ontario Building Code and other applicable regulations (s.6.28) [3]

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. [12][7][2][9][8]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.

Not allowed · Augusta’s term: “accessory building”

Use of any accessory building for human habitation is not permitted except where specifically listed as a permitted use, and no zone lists a sleeping cabin or bunkie. The Waterfront Residential (RW) zone permits only a single detached dwelling, secondary suite, home occupation and accessory uses.

Where allowed: "The use of any accessory building for human habitation is not permitted except where specifically listed as a permitted use" (s.6.1.1) [3]
Maximum size: Accessory buildings: maximum 100 m² (1,076 ft²) gross floor area in a residential zone (s.6.1.1) [3]

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. [9][7][2][13]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The text PDF is a scanned office consolidation (as of January 22, 2026; includes 2025 amendments) with no text layer; it was read page by page as images. The zoning page warns this version may not reflect the most recent amendments. The secondary suite rules (s.6.39, By-law 3398-2019; definition By-law 2965-2021) predate later provincial ARU changes and the guide also states one suite per lot. The by-law defines 'Dwelling, Park Model Trailer', but no zone permitting park model trailers was found in the zones reviewed (RV, RE, RW, RM, A, RU); other zones (e.g. Rural Destination RUD) were not checked. Section 6.28 also restricts habitation of accessory buildings unless they meet the Fire and Building Codes, which sits alongside the s.6.1.1 prohibition.

Sources

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