East Garafraxa zoning for small homes

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 · East Garafraxa’s term: “accessory detached dwelling”

Since By-law 26-2023, one accessory detached dwelling is permitted on a lot with a single detached, semi-detached or street townhouse dwelling in the Agricultural, Rural, Rural Residential, Estate Residential and Hamlet Residential zones, subject to servicing being available to the Township's satisfaction and other conditions. [1]

Number allowed: 1 accessory detached dwelling; no more than 3 dwelling units in total on the lot (s.3.14.1, as replaced by By-law 26-2023) [2]
Maximum size: Greater of 180 m² or 50% of the main dwelling's gross floor area, not exceeding the size of the main dwelling (s.3.14.3 iv) [2]
Maximum height: Not to exceed the height of the main dwelling (s.3.14.1 iv); accessory building height maximum raised to 6.0 m (s.3.2.3) [2]
Separation from house: No more than 50 m from the main dwelling (s.3.14.3 ii) [2]
Servicing: Only where appropriate water and sanitary services and capacity are available to the Township's satisfaction (s.3.14.1 ii) [2]
Parking: 1 space per accessory dwelling unit, no new driveway entrance (s.3.14.1 v-vi) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suites up to 55 m² for an immediate family member, in A, RU and RR zones, by temporary use by-law and removal agreement (s.3.2.8) [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. [4][5][6]

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 · East Garafraxa’s term: “single detached dwelling”

Each residential and rural zone sets a minimum dwelling floor area of at least 140 m².

Minimum dwelling size: A zone 140 m² (s.4.1.2); RU zone 140 m² (s.4.2.2); RR zone 160 m² (s.4.3.2); ER zone 180 m² (s.4.4.2); HR zone 140 m² (s.4.5.2) [3]
Minimum lot size: RR zone 1.0 ha; A zone 19 ha; RU zone 10 ha [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. [4][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.

Needs approval · East Garafraxa’s term: “mobile home / travel trailer”

Using trailers, travel trailers or recreational vehicles for habitation is prohibited in all zones unless expressly permitted. Mobile homes may be used only as an accessory dwelling in the Agricultural zone under a temporary use by-law passed by Council.

Where allowed: Mobile home as an accessory dwelling in an Agricultural zone only, by temporary use by-law; CSA mobile home or park model standard; at least 65 m² ground floor area; fully enclosed and serviced (s.3.9) [3]
Approvals: Use of trailers, travel trailers, recreational vehicles, truck campers and camper trailers for habitation prohibited in all zones except where expressly permitted (s.3.28.2) [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. [12][7][4][9][8]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.

Not allowed · East Garafraxa’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory uses may not include a building used for human habitation except as specifically permitted, and the by-law has no sleeping-cabin provision; a self-contained accessory detached dwelling (with kitchen) is the permitted alternative.

Maximum height: Accessory buildings 6.0 m (s.3.2.3 as amended by By-law 26-2023) [2]
Approvals: Accessory uses shall not include any building used for human habitation except as specifically permitted in the by-law (s.3.2.1) [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. [9][7][4][13]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Researched the January 2011 Township Consolidation with the Township's two posted township-wide amendments applied: 26-2023 (accessory dwelling units, passed June 27, 2023) and 9-2025 (housekeeping: zone renaming, parking table, numbering corrections; no effect on the provisions above). The Township's page (https://www.eastgarafraxa.ca/business-and-development/zoning-by-law-and-amendments/) lists all amendments since 2012; the others are site-specific rezonings/exceptions and holding removals (28-2012 amends RR exception 4.3.4.19; its scanned text could not be OCR'd in time). 26-2023 still cross-references Garden Suites (s.3.2.8) and Mobile Homes (s.3.9).

Sources

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East Garafraxa zoning for small homes

Backyard suite

Ontario-wide rule

Tiny home on a foundation

Ontario-wide rule

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Ontario-wide rule

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

Ontario-wide rule

Official links

Sources

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