Brighton zoning for small homes

Municipality of Brighton, in the County of Northumberland. Population 12,108 (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 · Brighton’s term: “additional residential unit (in an ancillary building)”

One additional residential unit is permitted in an ancillary building or structure in all Residential Zones and in the Rural and Agricultural Zones, subject to the general provisions of Section 4.9.3 and the accessory building standards of Section 4.24. [1]

Where allowed: All Residential Zones (R1–R4, SHR, RR, HR) and the Rural and Agricultural Zones (s. 4.9.3; Table 1, provision 8) [2]
Number allowed: One additional residential unit in an ancillary building; in Residential Zones only if the main dwelling contains a single residential unit (s. 4.9.3) [2]
Maximum size: Less than the gross floor area of the principal residential unit (s. 4.9.3 iv) [2]
Maximum height: 4.5 metres (accessory building height, s. 4.24.3; detached units must meet s. 4.24) [2]
Setbacks: Minimum 1.2 m from interior side and rear lot lines; front and exterior side yards as for the main building (s. 4.24.1) [2]
Separation from house: Minimum 2.0 m from the main building (s. 4.24.1 v) [2]
Parking: One off-street parking space in addition to the principal unit's parking (s. 4.9.3 v) [2]
Servicing: Subject to adequate municipal or private on-site servicing; not permitted on a private road not assumed and maintained year-round by the Municipality (s. 4.9.3 i–ii) [2]
Approvals: Not within 10 m of an EP Zone boundary or 30 m of a top-of-bank (s. 4.9.3 vii); a detached unit is not permitted within 30 m of the high water mark of any waterbody (s. 4.24.1 vi); may not be severed from the principal dwelling [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 · Brighton’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The consolidated by-law's residential, rural and agricultural zone standards set no minimum dwelling floor area for a single detached dwelling; lot area, frontage, yard and height standards apply.

Minimum dwelling size: None stated in the zone standards (e.g. Table 10 for RR, SHR and HR zones lists lot, yard, coverage and height standards only) [2]
Minimum lot size: 4000 m² in the RR, SHR and HR zones (Table 10) [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.

Not allowed · Brighton’s term: “mobile home / travel trailer / park model trailer”

Mobile homes may not be used for residential purposes in any zone unless a zone or special zone provision specifically permits it, and travel trailers or motor homes may not be used for living accommodation for more than 60 days in a calendar year; no general mobile home park zone is established.

Where allowed: Mobile homes prohibited in all zones unless specifically indicated as a permitted use in a zone or Special Zone Provision, or temporarily during construction or as emergency shelter (s. 4.4.1) [2]
Temporary garden suite: No general garden suite provision; one Rural Residential special provision refers to a garden suite permitted on a temporary basis until 2009 (s. 8.1.4) [2]
Approvals: No travel trailer or motor home may be used for living, sleeping or eating accommodation for more than 60 days in any calendar year unless permitted in the zone (s. 4.6) [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 allowed · Brighton’s term: “accessory building”

No accessory building or structure may be used for human habitation unless specifically permitted by the by-law; the by-law contains no general sleeping cabin or bunkie provision, so a habitable detached building would need to qualify as an additional residential unit.

Maximum height: 4.5 metres for accessory buildings (s. 4.24.3; Table 10) [2]
Approvals: No accessory building or accessory structure shall be used for human habitation except if specifically permitted by this By-law (s. 4.5) [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. [8][6][3][12]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Read the office consolidation of By-law 140-2002 incorporating amendments up to By-law 130-2019 (Dec 2, 2019); cover dated January 2020 though the file name says April 2020. Amendments after Dec 2019 are not consolidated and were not checked. The 'Bunkhouse' use in the by-law is farm-worker accommodation, not a bunkie. RC-1 special zone permits a seasonal trailer park (max 160 days occupancy per 12 months). Provincial Planning Act additional-residential-unit permissions (s. 35.1) may apply beyond the by-law text.

Sources

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