Carleton Place zoning for small homes
Town of Carleton Place, in the County of Lanark. Population 12,517 (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 · Carleton Place’s term: “additional residential unit (in a building ancillary to the house)”
Carleton Place regulates all land through a Development Permit By-law instead of a zoning by-law. One additional residential unit may be placed in a building ancillary to an existing house in the Residential District, but it requires a Development Permit and an engineering review in addition to a building permit. Ontario's Planning Act (s. 35.1) overrides zoning provisions that would prohibit one unit in a building ancillary to a house on serviced urban land. [1][2]
- Number allowed
- Up to 4 additional residential units per property: up to 3 within the house and 1 in a building ancillary to the house (s.3.4(1)) [3]
- Where allowed
- Residential District, on a property with a legally existing single detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse; not in the 1:100-year floodplain (s.3.4) [3]
- Maximum height
- 7 m for an accessory structure used for residential purposes (s.3.2(9)(b)) [3]
- Setbacks
- No accessory building in a front or exterior side yard; minimum 1.2 m from any interior side lot line, rear lot line or structure (s.3.2(5)-(6)) [3]
- Parking
- 1 space for the primary unit and 1 space for each additional residential unit (s.3.27(8)) [3]
- Minimum lot size
- Additional residential units are not required to meet the minimum lot area in the by-law (s.4.2.3) [3]
- Approvals
- Development Permit under s.2.17 plus Engineering review and Ontario Building Code compliance (s.3.4(2)); a Class 1A Development Permit where two or more additional residential units are proposed (s.2.17.2(8)) [3]
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][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 · Carleton Place’s term: “single detached house”
The Residential Development Permit Area standards for a single detached house set lot area, frontage, coverage, setbacks and height but no minimum dwelling floor area. A house that meets all standards and is at least 30 m from a watercourse is exempt from needing a Development Permit.
- Minimum dwelling size
- No minimum dwelling floor area in the single detached house standards (s.4.2.3.1) [3]
- Minimum lot size
- 450 m² lot area and 11 m frontage for a single detached house (s.4.2.3.1) [3]
- Approvals
- Exempt from a Development Permit if fully compliant and at least 30 m from any watercourse; otherwise a Development Permit is required (s.2.16(1), s.2.15) [3]
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][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 addressed · Carleton Place’s term: “mobile home / recreational trailer”
The by-law defines mobile homes, mobile home parks, park model trailers and recreational trailers, but none is listed as a permitted use in any Development Permit Area and there is no garden suite provision. Any temporary use requires a Class 1A Development Permit.
- Approvals
- A Class 1A Development Permit is required for any temporary use (s.3.44) [3]
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][2][8][7]
Bunkie or sleeping cabin
A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.
Not allowed · Carleton Place’s term: “accessory building”
An accessory building may not be used for human habitation unless it is specifically listed as a permitted use, such as an additional residential unit. Boathouses may not contain sleeping quarters.
- Where allowed
- "The use of any accessory building for human habitation is not permitted except where specifically listed as a permitted use" (s.3.2(3)) [3]
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][2][12]
Official links
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- Town of Carleton Place web page (carletonplace.ca)
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- Development Permit By-law 53-2025
- 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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