Cobalt zoning for small homes

Town of Cobalt, a single-tier municipality. Population 989 (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 · Cobalt’s term: “accessory dwelling unit (in an accessory building)”

In any zone that permits a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling, one dwelling unit is permitted in an accessory building, in addition to up to two units in the main dwelling. The accessory unit may be no larger than 80% of the gross floor area of the main dwelling. [1]

Number allowed: One dwelling unit in an accessory building (s.3.2.5 ii); where two units are in the main building and one in an accessory building, no further unit is permitted (s.3.2.5 iv) [1]
Maximum size: Not larger than 80% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling (s.3.2.5 v) [1]
Maximum height: 5.0 m for accessory buildings (s.3.2.3 iii) [1]
Setbacks: Accessory buildings: 1.0 m from interior side lot line, 1.5 m from rear lot line (s.3.2.6) [1]
Where allowed: Accessory dwelling units are listed as permitted uses in the R1, R2, R3 and Rural (RU) zones [1]
Parking: 1 parking space per dwelling unit (s.3.13 table) [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 · Cobalt’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The R1, R2, R3 and Rural (RU) zone regulations set lot area, frontage, yard and coverage requirements but no minimum dwelling unit floor area. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: No minimum dwelling floor area is set in the R1, R2, R3 or RU zone regulations (ss.4.1.2, 4.2.2, 4.3.2, 4.4.2) [1]
Minimum lot size: R1: 360 m²; R2 single detached: 465 m²; RU: 1.0 ha [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 · Cobalt’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle or trailer”

Mobile homes may be used as dwellings only in a zone that permits them (the R1-M exception zone permits a mobile home and mobile home park), and must meet CSA Z240/Z241 and sit on a permanent foundation with running gear removed. A recreational vehicle or trailer may be used for human habitation for no more than 30 days in a calendar year. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile homes only in a zone which permits mobile homes; the R1-M exception (s.4.1.3.1) permits a mobile home and a mobile home park [1]
Servicing: Mobile homes must be built to CSA Z240, Z241 or equivalent and located on permanent foundations with running gear and towing equipment removed (s.3.25) [1]
Approvals: RV or trailer habitation limited to 30 days per calendar year on a vacant residential lot, or where there is an existing principal dwelling in other zones (s.3.25 ii-iii) [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 allowed · Cobalt’s term: “guest cabin”

Accessory uses may not include any building used for human habitation unless specifically permitted by the by-law. A 'guest cabin' (single-storey accessory sleeping building without cooking or sanitary facilities) is defined but is not listed as a permitted use in any zone. [1]

Where allowed: Not listed as a permitted use in any zone; accessory uses exclude 'any building used for human habitation, unless specifically permitted' (s.3.2.1 ii) [1]
Kitchen: Guest cabin definition: no sanitary or cooking facilities (s.5.67) [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

Office consolidation; no consolidation date stated. Its cover lists amending By-laws 2024-13 (Apr 2, 2024), 2024-39 (Oct 2024) and 2025-13 (Apr 29, 2025), so it is current to at least April 2025 (file uploaded June 2025). By-law adopted Sept 20, 2022. s.3.2.3 v: no trailer, storage container or shipping container may be used as an accessory building in any Residential zone or the C1 zone, which affects container-based backyard units. A 'garden suite' is defined (s.5.63) but no provision permits it, and no temporary-use garden suite provision exists. The R1-M exception text refers to the 'RM-1 zone' in one place, which looks like a typo.

Sources

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