Barrie zoning for small homes
City of Barrie, a single-tier municipality. Population 147,829 (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 · Barrie’s term: “additional residential unit in an accessory building (detached ARU / coach house)”
An additional residential unit in an accessory building is permitted on residentially zoned lots: up to two such buildings, each with up to two units, and up to three ARUs (four units) per lot. The lot must front a municipal street, and units are not permitted in front yards or flood or erosion hazard areas. [1]
- Maximum height
- 4.5 m or the height of the principal building, whichever is less (Table 5.2.9.2 a); 5.5 m or principal building height in Table 14.5.2 zones (R5, NMU) [2]
- Setbacks
- Table 5.2.9.2 a): front 7.0 m, interior side 3.0 m, exterior side 3.0 m, rear 3.0 m; Table 5.2.9.2 b): front 7.0 m, interior side 1.2 m, exterior side 1.5 m, rear 1.2 m; landscaped buffer required; entrance no more than 40.0 m from the front lot line [2]
- Maximum size
- No floor area cap; counts toward the 10% maximum lot coverage for accessory buildings (s.5.2.9.2(m), 5.3.5(h)); no basement permitted [2]
- Number allowed
- Max 3 ARUs per lot (4 units total); max 2 accessory buildings containing an ARU; each accessory building up to 2 dwelling units [2]
- Parking
- Minimum 1 space per dwelling unit in R1–R5, RM1, RM1-SS, RM2, RM2-TH and RM3 zones; tandem permitted (s.5.2.9.3) [2]
- Servicing
- ARUs must connect to municipal water and sewer where available; one connection per property [3]
- Where allowed
- R1, R2, R3, R4, RM1, RM1-SS, RM2, RM2-TH zones (s.5.2.9) and R5, NMU zones (s.14.5.2) [3]
- Approvals
- Building permit; ARU is registered with the City automatically [3]
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. [4][5][6]
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 · Barrie’s term: “single detached dwelling”
The 'Dwelling unit floor area (min.)' row of the residential zone standards table was deleted by By-law 2021-086, so standard residential zones have no minimum dwelling size. Lot frontage, yards, coverage and height standards still apply, and some site-specific exceptions keep a 90 m² minimum.
- Minimum dwelling size
- None in standard residential zones; 'Dwelling unit floor area (min.)' deleted by By-law 2021-086 (Table 5.3) [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. [4][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.
Not allowed · Barrie’s term: “trailer / recreational vehicle / mobile home”
No trailer or recreational vehicle may be used for living or sleeping in the City except in a licensed trailer camp, and new privately owned trailer camps are a prohibited use. Mobile homes and trailer parks are defined, but no zone lists them as a permitted use.
- Where allowed
- None: privately owned trailer camps (other than those existing before the by-law) are a prohibited use (s.4.3.1(e)); no zone permits mobile homes or trailer parks [2]
- Approvals
- s.4.3.2(a): 'No trailer or recreational vehicle shall be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes within the City of Barrie except where such trailer is located in a licensed trailer camp.' [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. [12][7][4][9][8]
Bunkie or sleeping cabin
A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.
Not allowed · Barrie’s term: “accessory building”
The by-law defines an accessory building or structure as one that 'is not used for human habitation'. A sleeping cabin is therefore not permitted, and only a full additional residential unit may be occupied in an accessory building.
- Maximum height
- Ordinary accessory buildings: 4 m; max 10% lot coverage (s.5.3.5) [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. [9][7][4][13]
Official links
- City of Barrie website
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2009-141 (office consolidation July 31, 2026)
- Barrie’s guide to additional units
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- City of Barrie web page (barrie.ca)
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2009-141 (office consolidation July 31, 2026)
- Barrie’s guide to additional units
- 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
Suggest a correction or source
Know of a by-law change, an exception or an official page we missed? Tell us. An editor checks every suggestion before the page changes.
Find help nearby
Directory pages that cover Barrie.