Baldwin zoning for small homes

Township of Baldwin, a single-tier municipality. Population 579 (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 · Baldwin’s term: “additional residential unit / garden suite”

An additional residential unit, including one in a detached accessory building, is permitted as an accessory use to a single detached, semi-detached or row dwelling, except in the Mobile Home (R3) and Seasonal and Waterfront (R4) zones and where it cannot be serviced by an on-site sewage system. A portable garden suite requires a site-specific temporary use by-law. [1]

Where allowed: Accessory use in zones such as R1 and Rural (RU); not permitted in the R3 or R4 zones (ss. 4.1.2 4, 8.3 2, 9.3 5) [1]
Servicing: Not permitted where the unit cannot be adequately serviced with an individual on-site sewage system (s. 4.1.2 4) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 6 m in R1 and RU zones (ss. 6.2, 18.2) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Requires a site-specific temporary use by-law under s. 39 of the Planning Act; max 50% of the main dwelling's gross floor area, one storey, rear or interior side yard, 3 m from rear/interior side lot lines (s. 4.1.8) [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 with limits · Baldwin’s term: “single detached dwelling / tiny house”

The main residential and rural zones set minimum dwelling unit areas above 37 m². The by-law defines a 'tiny house or small house' (27.8–41.8 m²) but such a house would not meet these zone minimums. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: R1 zone: 83 m² (893.4 sq ft); Rural (RU) zone: 65 m² (699.7 sq ft); R4 Seasonal and Waterfront zone: 52 m² (559.7 sq ft) (ss. 6.2, 18.2, 9.2) [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 · Baldwin’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”

Mobile homes built to the Building Code are a permitted principal use in the Residential Mixed Mobile Home (R3) zone and the Rural (RU) zone. Recreational vehicles may only be stored in residential zones, and a vacant lot in the R or R4 zones may not be occupied by one. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile Home permitted in R3 and Rural (RU) zones (ss. 8.1, 18.1); R3 regulates mobile home parks and sites [1]
Minimum dwelling size: RU zone minimum dwelling unit area of 65 m² applies to all uses (s. 18.2) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite via s. 39 temporary use by-law; the definition excludes a mobile home or recreational vehicle (s. 4.1.8 and definitions) [1]
Approvals: Recreational vehicles: one may be stored on a lot with a main building; no vacant lot in an R or R4 zone may be actively used or occupied for a recreational vehicle (s. 4.21.4) [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.

Allowed with limits · Baldwin’s term: “guest cabin (sleep cabin)”

One guest cabin or one loft-above-a-garage is permitted per lot as an accessory use to a dwelling in the Seasonal and Waterfront Residential (R4) zone only, and not on a lot with a garden suite. [1]

Where allowed: R4 Seasonal and Waterfront Residential zone only (s. 4.1.2 1) [1]
Number allowed: One guest cabin or one loft-above-a-garage per lot (s. 4.1.2 1) [1]
Setbacks: At least 3 m from any interior or rear lot line and from the main building (s. 4.1.2 2); R4 interior side yard for a guest house or garden suite 6 m (s. 9.2) [1]
Maximum height: 6 m for accessory buildings in the R4 zone (s. 9.2) [1]
Maximum size: Accessory buildings in the R4 zone: 112 m² maximum gross floor area (s. 9.2) [1]
Kitchen: No cooking facilities; may contain sanitary facilities (definition of Guest Cabin) [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

Read the by-law PDF dated February 1, 2021 (Tunnock Consulting, File P-2895); it is not a consolidation and amendments since 2021 were not checked. Schedule (map) is posted separately. The 112 m² R4 figure is the accessory-building maximum gross floor area, not a guest-cabin-specific limit.

Sources

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