Callander zoning for small homes

Municipality of Callander, a single-tier municipality. Population 3,964 (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 · Callander’s term: “detached accessory dwelling unit”

Section 2.2 permits one detached accessory dwelling unit, as an accessory use to a single-detached or semi-detached dwelling, only in the R1, R3, RE, RUR and RU zones (and their special zones); it is not listed for the R2 Urban Shoreline or RR Recreation Residential zones. It is not permitted on a lot on a private septic system within 300 m of Callander Bay, or in flooding/erosion hazard areas.

Where allowed: R1, R3, RE, RUR and RU zones and any special zone in the R1, RE, RUR and RU zones (s. 2.2) [1]
Number allowed: Maximum two accessory dwelling units per lot, of which a maximum of one may be detached (s. 2.2 a, i) [1]
Maximum size: Not greater than 50% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling, up to a maximum gross floor area of 100 m² (s. 2.2 b) [1]
Maximum height: 6 m for a detached accessory dwelling unit; may be one or two storeys (s. 2.2 e, j) [1]
Setbacks: Minimum 1.2 m from rear and side lot lines and 3 m from an exterior side lot line; not in the front yard (s. 2.2 k-m) [1]
Separation from house: Not more than 30 m from the principal dwelling (s. 2.2 k) [1]
Parking: One additional parking space, not stacked (s. 2.2 f) [1]
Servicing: Not permitted on a lot serviced by a private septic system where the lot is within 300 m of Callander Bay (s. 2.2 n) [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 · Callander’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The Estate Residential (RE) zone sets a minimum ground floor area of 110 m²; the base R1, R2, RR, RUR and RU zones list no minimum dwelling floor area. Some site-specific exception zones set their own minimums.

Minimum dwelling size: Estate Residential (RE) zone: minimum ground floor area 110 m² (s. 3.4.2 x); no minimum stated in the base R1, R2, RR, RUR or RU zone regulations [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 · Callander’s term: “mobile home / travel trailer”

No truck, bus, tent trailer, travel trailer, railway car, shipping container or streetcar body may be used for human habitation anywhere in the municipality, and the definition of dwelling unit excludes mobile homes. Single width mobile homes are permitted only in the site-specific RU-4 mobile home park zone.

Where allowed: Single width mobile homes and a mobile home park are permitted uses in the Rural Exception Four (RU-4) zone (s. 3.8.4.4) [1]
Minimum dwelling size: Minimum floor area of mobile home in RU-4: 37 m²; maximum height 4.5 m (s. 3.8.4.4) [1]
Approvals: s. 2.13: no truck, bus, coach, tent trailer, tent, travel trailer, railway car, shipping container or streetcar body shall be used for human habitation, whether or not mounted on wheels; s. 2.2 i: a travel trailer or other recreational vehicle may not be used as a detached accessory dwelling unit [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.

Not addressed · Callander’s term: “guest cabin”

The by-law defines a 'guest cabin' (a single-storey detached accessory structure for accommodation without cooking facilities) but does not list it as a permitted use or regulate it in any zone. General accessory building rules apply, including a 6 m height limit and, in the RU, RUR and RR zones, a 112 m² maximum ground floor area per accessory building.

Maximum height: Accessory buildings or structures in any zone: 6 m (s. 2.1) [1]
Maximum size: RU, RUR and RR zones: maximum ground floor area of any one detached accessory building 112 m² (s. 2.1 d) [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

Document is the municipality's '2024 UPDATE' office consolidation; no consolidation date is printed, but its amendment list runs to By-law 2024-1949 (May 14, 2024), and the PDF was modified July 2024. It is the version linked from the municipality's Planning & Zoning page (checked Oct 2026). s. 2.2 e says a detached accessory dwelling unit may not exceed 6 m, while s. 2.2 j ties its height to the accessory building limit for the zone (6 m in s. 2.1), so the two are consistent. 'Dwelling, garden suite' is defined, but no zone permits it and the by-law has no temporary use (s. 39.1) provisions, so no temporary garden suite fact is given. 'Guest cabin' is defined only. The dwelling unit definition includes any building used as a sleeping place, and s. 2.5 allows only one dwelling unit per lot unless otherwise specified; it is unclear whether a guest cabin counts as a dwelling unit. A draft new Official Plan is underway. No municipal ARU guide was found.

Sources

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