East Zorra-Tavistock 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 with limits · East Zorra-Tavistock’s term: “detached additional residential unit”

One detached additional residential unit is permitted per lot in the R1, R2, R3, CC, V, RE, ER and RR zones, in the rear or interior side yard, subject to lot area, servicing and size limits. In the A1 and A2 zones a detached unit is subject to approval of a planning application, except on existing agricultural lots inside settlements. [1][2][3]

Number allowed: Detached additional residential units: maximum 1 per lot (excluding the Tavistock area served by the William Street Sewage Pumping Station); total additional residential units: 2 in the Village of Tavistock and 1 in the Village of Innerkip (fully serviced), 1 where unsewered or in RE/ER/RR zones in a settlement, 2 in A1, A2, RR and RE zones outside a settlement [4]
Maximum size: Cumulative dwelling unit area of all additional residential units: in fully serviced R1, R2, R3, CC and V zones 50% of the principal dwelling or 50 m² (538 ft²), whichever is less; unsewered and settlement RE/ER/RR lots 50% or 100 m² (1,076 ft²); outside settlements 50% or 140 m² (1,506 ft²); whichever is less [4]
Maximum height: Accessory building table: 4.0 m (13.1 ft) in R1, R2, R3, CC and V zones; 5.5 m (18 ft) in ER, RE, RR and A1/A2 zones; and not above the principal dwelling (except in rural RR/RE and A zones) [4]
Minimum lot size: Fully serviced R1, R2, R3, CC, V lots: per the zone provisions for the principal dwelling; all other columns: 0.6 ha (1.48 ac) [4]
Setbacks: Rear yard or interior side yard only; 1.2 m (3.9 ft) side and rear yard setbacks; maximum 40 m (147.6 ft) from a public street in settlements [4]
Separation from house: Minimum 1.2 m (3.9 ft) from main buildings in residential zones; in A1/A2 zones minimum 1.2 m and maximum 30 m (98.4 ft) [4]
Parking: 1 space per additional residential unit [4]
Servicing: Inside a settlement, municipal water/sewage capacity must be confirmed by the County in writing; not permitted on lots served by private communal systems; outside settlements MDS I must be met [4]

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. [5][6][7]

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 Zorra-Tavistock’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The RR, RE and V zones set a minimum gross floor area of 93 m² and the ER zone 165 m² for a dwelling; the R1 zone table has no minimum floor area. The separate A1 and A2 minimum for single detached dwellings was deleted by By-law 2023-24. [8][9][10][1]

Minimum dwelling size: Gross Floor Area, Minimum: 93 m² (1,001 ft²) in the RR zone [11]
Minimum dwelling size: 93 m² (1,001 ft²) in the RE zone; 165 m² (1,776.1 ft²) in the ER (Estate Residential) zone; 93 m² in the V zone; no minimum in the R1 zone table [12]

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. [5][13][14][15][16][17][18]

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 Zorra-Tavistock’s term: “trailer / mobile home / recreational vehicle”

A dwelling is defined to exclude a trailer, mobile home, motor home or recreational vehicle, except that a mobile home may be used as an accessory dwelling to a farm in the A1 or A2 zones. Recreational vehicles may not be used for permanent home occupancy, and trailer parks are seasonal only (April 15 to October 31); a temporary garden suite requires a Section 39 temporary use by-law. [19][1]

Where allowed: "Dwelling" excludes a trailer, mobile home, motor home or recreational vehicle; "A dwelling may include a mobile home for the purposes of an accessory dwelling to a farm in the A1 or A2 Zones" [1]
Where allowed: Seasonal trailer park or campground: April 15 to October 31 only, not including mobile homes, park model trailers or year-round dwellings [20]
Temporary garden suite: Requires a zoning amendment under Section 39 of the Planning Act for up to 20 years; occupied by retired parents/grandparents of the owner or the retiring owner; one storey, maximum 70 m² (753.5 ft²) dwelling unit area, portable; not permitted on a lot with a detached additional residential unit [4]

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. [18][13][5][15][14]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not allowed · East Zorra-Tavistock’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except as permitted in the by-law, and the by-law contains no provision for a sleeping cabin or bunkie. Habitable space in a detached building is regulated as a detached additional residential unit. [4]

Where allowed: Accessory use, building or structure "is not to be used for human habitation, except as permitted in this Zoning By-Law" (s.5.1.1.2) [19]

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. [15][13][5][21]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The County-hosted section PDFs reflect the consolidation as of September 30, 2022 and do not include ARU By-law 2023-24 (in force July 5, 2023) or By-law 2026-04 (passed February 18, 2026); answers combine the 2022 text with both amending by-laws, which were read directly (2026-04 pages were read as images because the text layer is garbled). The 'awaiting consolidation' list link resolves to a key map PDF, so other post-2022 amendments could not be checked. cdn.umb-sites.dev links failed TLS (expired certificate); files were read at www.oxfordcounty.ca/media/ paths.

Sources

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East Zorra-Tavistock 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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