Clarence-Rockland zoning for small homes

City of Clarence-Rockland, in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell. Population 26,505 (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 · Clarence-Rockland’s term: “additional residential unit (ARU) in an ancillary structure”

One additional residential unit is permitted in a building ancillary to a detached, linked-detached, semi-detached house or townhouse on fully serviced parcels. On partially serviced or privately serviced lots it requires minimum lot areas and hydrogeological studies, and it is not permitted in an ancillary structure in the agricultural zone. [1]

Where allowed: Fully serviced parcels: one unit in an ancillary building where the house contains no more than two units (s.4.41 a). Partial services: detached house lot minimum 2,500 m2, max. 4 bedrooms combined (s.4.41 b). Private services: rural or agricultural zone lot minimum 8,000 m2 plus hydrogeological study (s.4.41 c). Not permitted in an ancillary structure in the agricultural zone (s.4.41 f). [2]
Maximum height: One storey or 4.0 m (s.4.41 g) [2]
Setbacks: Same zone provisions as the primary dwelling, except rear yard setback of 2.0 m (s.4.41 g) [2]
Parking: 1.0 additional parking space; may be in tandem in the driveway (s.4.41 i and parking table) [2]
Minimum lot size: 2,500 m2 (partial municipal services); 8,000 m2 (private services, rural or agricultural zone) [2]
Approvals: Not permitted on lands with natural or human-made hazards; within 120 m of a natural heritage feature requires an environmental impact study; on legal non-complying/non-conforming property requires Committee of Adjustment permission (s.4.41 o, p, q) [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 · Clarence-Rockland’s term: “detached dwelling”

The residential and agricultural zones set a minimum dwelling unit area for detached dwellings, ranging from 85 m2 in the urban R1 zone to 125 m2 in the Rural Residential and Country Lot Residential zones.

Minimum dwelling size: 85.0 m2 – Urban Residential First Density (R1) zone (Table 6.1.2) [2]
Minimum dwelling size: 125 m2 – Rural Residential (RR) zone (Table 6.7.2) and Country Lot Residential (RCL) zone (Table 6.8.2) [2]
Minimum dwelling size: 100.0 m2 – detached dwelling in the General Agricultural (AG) zone (Table 12.1.2b) [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 · Clarence-Rockland’s term: “mobile home / garden suite”

Mobile homes are permitted in mobile home parks in the Mobile Home Residential (RMH) zone, and motor vehicles, recreational vehicles and trailers occupied as a permanent residence are prohibited uses. A portable garden suite (the definition includes a 'tiny house') is only permitted through a site-specific temporary zoning by-law.

Where allowed: Mobile home park and mobile homes in the Mobile Home Residential (RMH) zone (s.6.9); one mobile home in the AG zone only for full-time farm labour (s.12.1.1 note 7) [2]
Minimum dwelling size: 66.0 m2 per mobile home in the RMH zone (Table 6.9.2) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Only where a site-specific temporary zoning by-law allows one; one per lot, rear yard only, max. height 4.6 m and 1 storey, max. floor area 65% of the principal building, rear setback 2.3 m; not permitted on a lot with an ARU in an ancillary building (s.4.15, Table 4.15) [2]
Approvals: Prohibited: 'Motor vehicles, or recreational vehicles and trailers occupied as a permanent residence' (s.4.37 a vii) [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 · Clarence-Rockland’s term: “accessory building”

The by-law states that no person shall use an accessory building in a different building from the principal use for human habitation, and the definition of accessory building excludes human habitation unless otherwise permitted. No bunkie or sleeping cabin provision was found.

Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 3.8 m in urban residential zones, 5.0 m in community residential zones, 6.0 m in rural and agricultural zones (s.4.1 e ii) [2]
Number allowed: Maximum 2 accessory buildings per lot in a Residential Zone (s.4.1 g) [2]
Approvals: 'No person shall, where an accessory use is in a different building that the principal use to which it is accessory, use that accessory building for human habitation' (s.4.1 b) [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 December 2024 office consolidation PDF in full. Section 4.29 b) also states human habitation is not permitted in an accessory building, trailer or shipping container unless it meets the Fire Code and Ontario Building Code. That wording sits beside the outright ban in s.4.1 b). No standalone ARU guide was found. For backyard suites, a fully serviced urban lot is as of right; 'limited' reflects the servicing, lot size and study conditions elsewhere. No minimum dwelling unit area is shown in the Rural (RU) zone table.

Sources

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