Burpee and Mills zoning for small homes
Township of Burpee and Mills, a single-tier municipality. Population 382 (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 with limits · Burpee and Mills’s term: “additional residential unit / garden suite”
One accessory dwelling unit is permitted in a building accessory to a single detached, semi-detached or rowhouse dwelling, but Additional Residential Unit is listed as a permitted use only in the Settlement (S) zone. Units in an accessory structure follow the general accessory building provisions.
- Where allowed
- Settlement (S) zone (Additional Residential Unit listed as a permitted use) [1]
- Number allowed
- One additional unit in the main dwelling and one accessory dwelling unit in an accessory building (s.4.1, item 2) [1]
- Maximum size
- No accessory building over 60 m² in the Settlement (S) zone; accessory structures may not occupy more than 10% of lot area; a garden suite may not exceed 40% of the gross floor area of the main dwelling [1]
- Separation from house
- At least 2 m from the main building [1]
- Setbacks
- Same setbacks as the principal building unless otherwise noted [1]
- Parking
- 1 space per dwelling unit (additional residential unit); 1 space per garden suite [1]
- Servicing
- Permitted on private services if the private sewage system can accommodate the change in use [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 · Burpee and Mills’s term: “tiny home / single detached dwelling”
The by-law defines a tiny home as a dwelling unit under 36 m² and treats one on a foundation as a single detached dwelling, but the residential zones set minimum ground floor areas above that size.
- Minimum dwelling size
- Ground floor area minimum: Settlement (S) 44 m²; Shoreline Residential (SR) 44 m² seasonal or 56 m² permanent; Agricultural (A) 55 m² for a single dwelling [1]
- Minimum lot size
- S zone residential: 1,858 m²; SR: 4,046 m²; Rural (R) zone residential: 1,858 m² [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 · Burpee and Mills’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”
A tiny home on wheels is treated as a mobile home, which the by-law defines as a factory-built, CSA-compliant dwelling installed on a prepared foundation and considered a single detached dwelling. Tourist or travel trailers may not be used for living accommodation in the Settlement zone, and recreational vehicles are governed by the trailer licensing by-law.
- Where allowed
- Mobile homes are 'considered a single family detached dwelling' when installed on a prepared foundation and CSA-compliant [1]
- Temporary garden suite
- Garden suite defined as temporary and portable, excluding a trailer; maximum 40% of main dwelling gross floor area [1]
- Approvals
- s.4.23 prohibits use of a tourist trailer or mobile home for human habitation 'except as specifically provided by this By-law'; recreational vehicles must be stored and used in accordance with By-law 02-22 (trailer licensing) [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 · Burpee and Mills’s term: “guest cabin”
Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except a guest cabin, which is defined as guest accommodation accessory to a seasonal dwelling with no provisions for cooking. Seasonal dwellings are permitted in the Settlement, Shoreline Residential and Rural zones.
- Kitchen
- No provisions for cooking [1]
- Separation from house
- Accessory buildings at least 2 m from the main building [1]
- Maximum size
- Accessory buildings max 60 m² in the Settlement (S) zone; accessory structures max 10% of lot area [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
Sources
- Zoning By-law 2025-03
- 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
We don’t have a directory page for Burpee and Mills’s area yet. These cover all of Ontario.