Bonfield zoning for small homes

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 · Bonfield’s term: “additional dwelling unit (ADU) - detached”

By-law 2025-11 permits up to two additional dwelling units (three units in total) on a lot in the R1, R2 and Rural zones, including a detached ADU in the rear or side yard, subject to size limits and septic approval from the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority. ADUs are not added in the Residential Limited Service zone. [1]

Where allowed: Residential First Density (R1), Residential Second Density (R2) and Rural (RU) zones; located in the rear or side yard in R1/R2 [2]
Number allowed: Up to 2 ADUs (max 3 dwelling units per lot); in the Rural zone max one detached ADU [2]
Maximum size: GFA of an ADU not to exceed 60% of the GFA of the primary dwelling; minimum 17.5 m² (188 sq ft) [2]
Parking: 1 space per ADU, may be tandem [2]
Servicing: NBMCA on-site sewage permit or file review certificate required; hydrogeological assessment may be required on lots under 0.6 ha and 60 m frontage [2]
Approvals: Building permit; must comply with Ontario Building Code [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 with limits · Bonfield’s term: “single detached dwelling”

Schedule B and C set a minimum floor area of 75 m² for dwellings in the R1, R2 and Rural zones and 40 m² in the Residential Limited Service zone. By-law 2025-11 adds a 'tiny home' definition (17.5 to 37 m²) but does not exempt it from these minimums. [2]

Minimum dwelling size: 75 m² in R1, R2 (per dwelling unit) and RU zones; 40 m² in RLS zone [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. [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 · Bonfield’s term: “recreational vehicle / trailer / mobile home”

No recreational vehicle may be used for living or sleeping for more than 90 days in any 10 consecutive months unless in a mobile home park or tourist establishment. Only existing mobile homes are recognized, with infilling of individual mobile homes in established mobile home parks in the Rural zone; garden suites were deleted by By-law 2025-11. [12]

Where allowed: Existing legally established mobile homes permitted (not trailers); infilling of individual mobile homes in established mobile home parks in the Rural zone where the two nearest mobile homes are within 150 m (s. 3.40) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite definition and Section 3.39 deleted by By-law 2025-11 [2]
Approvals: RVs: max 90 days in any 10 consecutive months for living/sleeping unless in a Mobile Home Park or Tourist Establishment (s. 3.22) [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. [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 · Bonfield’s term: “guest cabin”

A guest cabin (additional sleeping quarters for occasional guests, no sanitary or kitchen facilities) is a permitted use in the Residential Limited Service (RLS) zone; it is not listed in the R1, R2 or Rural zones.

Where allowed: Residential Limited Service (RLS) zone [1]
Kitchen: Guest cabin excludes sanitary and kitchen facilities (definition) [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. [8][6][3][13]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

No office consolidation exists online. Researched the May 2013 text of By-law 2012-49 with By-law 2025-11 (ADUs, hunt camps, accessory structures; passed May 13, 2025), which the Township's zoning page lists as its planning by-law amendment, applied by hand. By-law 2025-16 (trailer/RV licensing, Municipal Act) also limits trailer occupancy to May 1-Dec 15 and 120 days/yr without a licence on lots with a dwelling. Site-specific amendments since 2013 were not checked. No guest-cabin size limit found; Schedule B accessory-building column (3 m) not interpreted.

Sources

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Bonfield zoning for small homes

Backyard suite

Ontario-wide rule

Tiny home on a foundation

Ontario-wide rule

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Ontario-wide rule

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

Ontario-wide rule

Official links

Sources

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