Champlain zoning for small homes

Township of Champlain, in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell. Population 8,665 (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 · Champlain’s term: “accessory second dwelling unit (in a building ancillary to a dwelling); temporary garden suite”

An accessory second dwelling unit may be located in a building ancillary to a single detached, semi-detached, duplex or row dwelling in the residential, rural and agriculture zones, but not in the Residential Limited Service (RLS) or Flood Plain zones. On private or partial services only one is allowed and a hydro-geotechnical study is required; a portable garden suite needs a temporary zoning by-law amendment. [1]

Where allowed: Listed as a permitted accessory use in R1, R2, R3, RR, RE, A and RU zones; not permitted in a Flood Plain (FP) zone, in a Residential Limited Service (RLS) zone, or within 300 m of Ivaco Rolling Mills (s.3.1.1(a)(ii)) [2]
Number allowed: Full municipal services: maximum two second dwellings accessory to a single detached, semi-detached or row dwelling (one with a duplex). Private or partial services: maximum one (s.3.1.1(b),(c)) [2]
Servicing: On private or partial municipal services, the application must be supported by a hydro-geotechnical study showing flow rates can support the use (s.3.1.1(c)(ii)) [2]
Maximum size: When provided above grade, shall not exceed 50% of the floor area of the principal dwelling (s.3.1.1(a)(iv)) [2]
Parking: One parking stall, which may be in tandem (s.3.1.1(a)(v)) [2]
Temporary garden suite: One garden suite per lot by temporary zoning by-law amendment for a renewable period of up to 20 years; one storey, max. height 6 m; not to be constructed as a travel trailer; one extra parking space; agreement with the Township required (s.3.12) [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 with limits · Champlain’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The R1 zone sets no minimum floor area for a single detached dwelling, but the Residential Rural, Residential Estate, Residential Limited Services and Rural zones require at least 85 m² for a one-storey dwelling.

Minimum dwelling size: RR, RE, RLS and RU (single dwelling) zones: Floor Area (minimum) one storey 85 m², two storey 110 m² (ss.5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 11.1(b)(iii)) [2]
Minimum dwelling size: R1 zone (and single detached dwellings in R2): no minimum floor area listed; R2 duplex/semi-detached: 75 m² per dwelling unit (ss.5.1, 5.2) [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 · Champlain’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle / travel trailer”

Mobile homes are restricted to the Residential Mobile Home Park (RMHP) zone, and motor vehicles, recreational vehicles and trailers occupied as a permanent residence are not part of any permitted use without a planning approval. A single detached dwelling excludes mobile homes and house trailers, and a garden suite may not be constructed as a travel trailer.

Where allowed: Mobile home is a permitted use in the Residential Mobile Home Park (RMHP) zone; mobile home sites require a minimum floor area of 55 m² and one mobile home per site (s.5.7) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite by temporary zoning by-law amendment (up to 20 years, renewable); shall not be constructed or arranged as to constitute a travel trailer (s.3.12) [2]
Approvals: Restricted uses (s.3.36): mobile homes (except in the RMHP zone) and motor vehicles, recreational vehicles and trailers occupied as a permanent residence are not permitted unless specifically permitted through a planning application [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 · Champlain’s term: “accessory building”

In residential zones and on residential lots, no accessory building may be used for human habitation unless the by-law specifically permits it, and the by-law has no sleep cabin or bunkie provision. The defined 'cabin' is tourist accommodation, not a residential accessory building.

Maximum height: Accessory buildings: lesser of 5 m or the main building height in the Villages; 6.0 m in rural and agricultural areas (s.3.1(a)(iv)) [2]
Approvals: Unless otherwise provided for in this By-law, no accessory building or structure shall be used for human habitation (s.3.1(a)(i)); 'Accessory' is defined as not used for human habitation unless specifically permitted (s.2.2) [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

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Read the office consolidation dated March 12, 2024 (the link is labelled July 18, 2024). The Township ADU web page (updated Oct 19, 2026) covers only units inside the main building, says a separate building falls under its 'New Dwelling' page, and says 'Planning approval is required before a building permit can be issued'. A 'Public Meeting (Zoning)' was listed for 2026-09-24, with no agenda or subject found. Amendments after March 2024 were not checked. The detached second-dwelling provisions do not state a maximum height or setbacks; it is unconfirmed whether the general accessory-building limits (s.3.1(a)) apply. The 50% floor-area cap is worded 'when provided above grade'. A-1 and A-4/RU-34 site-specific exceptions allow a mobile home or secondary unit on particular lots.

Sources

Not legal advice

Confirm with your municipality before you buy, build or move in.

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