Aylmer zoning for small homes

Town of Aylmer, in the County of Elgin. Population 7,699 (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 · Aylmer’s term: “additional residential unit (in an accessory building)”

Where a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling is permitted on an individual lot, one of the two permitted additional residential units may be in an accessory building. It is subject to size, setback, servicing and parking requirements. [1]

Where allowed: Any lot where a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling is a permitted use and on an individual lot (s.3(3)). An 'additional residential unit' is listed as a permitted use in the residential zones, e.g. R1 s.5(2)(g) [2]
Number allowed: Up to two additional residential units per lot, of which at most one may be in an accessory building (s.3(3)(a)) [2]
Maximum size: Floor area may not exceed the lesser of 75 m² or 15% of the lot area (s.3(3)(c)(ii)). Minimum floor area as per the Ontario Building Code [2]
Maximum height: 5.5 m for accessory buildings in any zone other than Industrial or Agricultural (s.3(1)(d)) [2]
Separation from house: At least 3 m from the main building (s.3(3)(c)(i)) [2]
Servicing: Confirmation of full municipal services with sufficient capacity and utility connections (s.3(3)(i)) [2]
Parking: One dedicated parking space per additional residential unit (s.3(3)(ii)) [2]
Approvals: Independent entrance required. Must comply with the Ontario Building Code and Fire Code. No severance permitted (s.3(3)) [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 · Aylmer’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The by-law sets no numeric minimum dwelling size. It requires dwelling units to meet the Ontario Building Code's minimum space, room size and floor area requirements.

Minimum dwelling size: s.3(5)(c) 'Dwelling Unit Area (Minimum)': dwelling units shall conform with the minimum space requirements, room sizes and floor areas in the Ontario Building Code. The R1 zone requirements (s.5(3)) contain no minimum floor area [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 · Aylmer’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”

The by-law prohibits an occupied vehicle for human habitation in all zones, other than a mobile home where specifically permitted. Mobile homes are specifically permitted only in the site-specific M1-1 (Mobile Home) zone.

Where allowed: s.3(24)(xiii) restricts in all zones 'an occupied vehicle for human habitation other than a mobile home where specifically permitted'. Mobile homes are a permitted use in the M1-1 (Mobile Home) special provision zone (s.20(4)(a)), with a maximum height of 3.5 m and an 8 m minimum frontage per unit [2]
Temporary garden suite: The by-law defines a garden suite as a portable one-unit detached residential structure. One site-specific temporary use zone, R2-T-05-2014, permits a garden suite for up to ten years, extendable by Council under s.39(3) of the Planning Act. There is no general garden suite permission [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.

Not addressed

Aylmer is an urban municipality with no rural or waterfront residential zones, and the by-law does not address sleeping cabins or bunkies. General accessory building limits apply instead: 75 m² maximum in residential zones and 5.5 m height. A unit with food preparation facilities would be an additional residential unit.

Maximum size: Accessory buildings in residential zones: at most 75 m², and total accessory coverage at most 15% of lot area (s.3(1)(b)-(c)) [2]
Maximum height: 5.5 m (s.3(1)(d)) [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

The cover reads 'Consolidated July 4, 2025' and covers all amendments adopted by Council before that date. Section numbers cited are from the consolidation, which notes that it includes numbering adjustments. s.3(28) says shipping containers shall not be erected or used in a residential zone or used for human habitation, which affects container-based backyard units. Aylmer has no Agricultural or rural residential zones in its zone list. The Schedule A maps (Jan 2025) are separate and were not reviewed.

Sources

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