Brockton zoning for small homes
Municipality of Brockton, in the County of Bruce. Population 9,784 (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 · Brockton’s term: “Dwelling, Additional Residential Unit (detached accessory building)”
An additional residential unit is a listed permitted use in the R1, R2, Hamlet Residential and A1 zones, and one per lot may be in a detached accessory building. It is not listed in the Inland Lake Residential (LR) zone, and on lots with private or partial services a minimum lot area applies. [1]
- Number allowed
- Up to two ARUs on full municipal services; on private or partial services one ARU if lot is over 0.4 ha, two if over 0.6 ha; only one per lot in a detached accessory building; max three units in total including a garden suite (s. 3.8.3 i, ii, ix, xv) [2]
- Minimum lot size
- Private or partial services: more than 0.4 ha for one ARU, more than 0.6 ha for two (s. 3.8.3 ii) [2]
- Separation from house
- Within a maximum distance of 30 m of the principal dwelling (s. 3.8.3 xi) [2]
- Maximum height
- Accessory buildings in residential zones: 5 m (16 ft) where setback is under 3 m; 6 m (19 ft) where setback is 3 m or more (s. 3.6.4 ii) [2]
- Maximum size
- Accessory buildings: max lot coverage 10%, increased to 15% with an ARU; max three accessory buildings (s. 3.6.5); total lot coverage on full services may be 45% (s. 3.8.3 iii) [2]
- Setbacks
- Residential zones: 1.2 m (4 ft) from rear and interior side lot lines; 3 m from any dwelling on an adjoining lot (s. 3.6.3.1) [2]
- Parking
- Shares the parking and yards of the principal dwelling, no new driveway (s. 3.8.3 xii); parking table: 1 space per ARU dwelling unit (s. 3.26) [2]
- Servicing
- Must connect to water and septic or sewer, with sufficient capacity (s. 3.8.3 vi, vii) [2]
- Where allowed
- R1, R2 (Table 8), HR (s. 8.2) and A1 non-farm lots (s. 6.1); not listed in LR (s. 9.2) [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 · Brockton’s term: “Dwelling, Single Detached”
The zone provisions for the A1, R1, HR and LR zones set lot, yard, height and coverage standards but no minimum floor area for a single detached dwelling.
- Minimum dwelling size
- None stated in the A1 (s. 6.2), R1/R2 (s. 7), HR (s. 8.3) or LR (Table 16) zone provisions [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 · Brockton’s term: “mobile home / park model trailer / travel trailer”
A dwelling excludes mobile homes, park model trailers and travel trailers, and accessory buildings may not be used for habitation. Mobile homes and park model trailers are permitted uses only in the Mobile Home Park Residential (MHP) zone; existing mobile homes outside parks are recognized.
- Where allowed
- 'Mobile Home' and 'Park Model Trailer' are permitted uses in the MHP zone (s. 10.2); MHP minimum lot area 4 ha (Table 18) [2]
- Approvals
- Definition of 'Dwelling' excludes any mobile home, park model trailer, construction trailer or travel trailer (s. 2); existing mobile homes on an existing lot of record must conform to the zone's residential provisions (s. 3.28) [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 · Brockton’s term: “accessory building”
Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use, and the by-law has no provision for a sleeping cabin or bunkie.
- Where allowed
- An accessory building or structure shall not 'be used for human habitation/dwelling except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use' (s. 3.6.2) [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
- Municipality of Brockton website
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2026-056
- Brockton’s guide to additional units
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- Brockton’s guide to additional units
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2026-056
- 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
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