East Hawkesbury zoning for small homes
Township of East Hawkesbury, in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell. Population 3,418 (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 · East Hawkesbury’s term: “second dwelling”
Section 4.8 permits a second dwelling (a detached accessory building with its own living, kitchen and bathroom facilities) on a lot where a single, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling is permitted. Size, height and distance from the house are capped, and it must share the principal dwelling's water and septic systems. 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]
- Maximum size
- 50% of the principal dwelling's floor area, to a maximum of 95 m² in the Rural (RU) and Agricultural Type 1 (A1) zones and 80 m² in all other zones (s. 4.8.1.4) [2]
- Minimum dwelling size
- 45 m² minimum floor area for a second dwelling (s. 4.8.1.5) [2]
- Maximum height
- 5 m for a new second dwelling (s. 4.8.3.3) [2]
- Separation from house
- A new accessory building used as a second dwelling must be within 12 m of the principal dwelling (s. 4.8.3.4) [2]
- Servicing
- Connected to the same water supply and sewage disposal systems as the principal dwelling; septic approval and proof of sufficient well water required before a building permit (s. 4.8.1.2-3) [2]
- Parking
- One space in addition to the principal dwelling's requirement; shared driveway entrance (s. 4.8.1.6-7) [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. [1][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 · East Hawkesbury’s term: “single dwelling”
The residential zone provisions (e.g. R1) set lot area, frontage, yards, height and coverage but no minimum floor area for a single dwelling.
- Minimum dwelling size
- No minimum dwelling floor area in the R1 zone provisions (s. 6.1.2) or elsewhere in the by-law for single dwellings [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. [1][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 · East Hawkesbury’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”
A mobile home or recreational vehicle may not be used as a residence except temporarily during construction of a permanent dwelling under a municipal agreement. Mobile homes are permitted in the Mobile Home Park (R4) zone, and visiting RVs may be used for up to 30 days.
- Where allowed
- Mobile Home Park (R4) zone: mobile home and modular dwelling; park minimum 4 ha, site minimum 465 m² (s. 6.4) [2]
- Number allowed
- A recreational vehicle may be used for temporary living or sleeping by a visitor in transit for up to 30 consecutive days; not leased or rented (s. 3.13.2) [2]
- Temporary garden suite
- Temporary uses may be permitted only by a site-specific zoning amendment with an end date (s. 5.8); no garden suite provision [2]
- Approvals
- Temporary residence during construction only with a valid building permit and written agreement, up to one year, extendable one year (s. 4.5.2) [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. [10][5][1][7][6]
Bunkie or sleeping cabin
A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.
Not allowed
Section 3.14 prohibits human habitation in any private garage or other building accessory to a residential use, except as a permitted second dwelling or second dwelling unit. The by-law has no sleeping cabin provision.
- Approvals
- Human habitation not permitted in any building accessory to a residential use except as a second dwelling or second dwelling unit (s. 3.14.1) [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. [7][5][1][11]
Official links
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- Zoning By-law 2021-22
- 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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