Elliot Lake zoning for small homes

City of Elliot Lake, a single-tier municipality. Population 11,372 (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 · Elliot Lake’s term: “additional residential unit (in an accessory building)”

In any zone that permits a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling, one additional residential unit is permitted in an accessory building in addition to one inside the main dwelling, except in the Shoreline Residential (RS) and Limited Service Residential (RL) zones. The accessory building rules of the zone apply, with larger side and rear setbacks. [1]

Where allowed: Any zone permitting a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling; not permitted in the Shoreline Residential (RS) or Limited Service Residential (RL) zones (s.5.1, Additional Residential Units (i)-(ii)) [1]
Number allowed: One additional residential unit in an accessory building, plus one within the main dwelling (s.5.1) [1]
Setbacks: Minimum 3.0 m interior side and rear yard; front and exterior side yard setbacks of the main building apply (s.5.1 (iv)) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings in the R1 zone: 4.57 m (s.7.2); R1M zone: 4.5 m (s.8.2) [1]
Servicing: On private well or septic, confirmation by a qualified individual that the well/septic system has capacity is required (s.5.1 (v)-(vi)) [1]
Parking: Parking per Section 6 (1 space per additional residential unit); tandem parking in the existing driveway is permitted (s.5.1 (viii), s.6.1) [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 with limits · Elliot Lake’s term: “tiny home / single dwelling”

The by-law defines a tiny home that meets the Ontario Building Code minimum unit size as a single detached dwelling. The urban R1 and R1M zones set no minimum floor area for single dwellings, but the Shoreline Residential (RS) and Rural Estate (RE) zones set a minimum ground floor area of 65 m² on lots of 0.81 ha or less and 111.48 m² on larger lots. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: R1 and R1M zones: no minimum floor area for single dwellings (s.7.2, 8.2). RS zone (and RE zone, which permits RS uses): minimum ground floor area 65 m² on lots of 0.81 ha or less, 111.48 m² on lots over 0.81 ha (s.23.2, s.25.1) [1]
Where allowed: 'Tiny home' is defined as a self-contained dwelling unit meeting the Ontario Building Code minimum size and is considered a single detached dwelling unless on wheels (s.3 definitions) [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 · Elliot Lake’s term: “mobile home”

A tiny home on wheels is treated as a mobile home under the by-law, and mobile homes are a permitted use only in the Residential Mobile Home Park (RMP) zone, where each mobile home site requires at least 55 m² of gross floor area per dwelling unit. Recreational vehicles may be stored in residential rear or interior side yards. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile homes are permitted in the Residential Mobile Home Park (RMP) zone (s.11.1); a tiny home on wheels is considered a mobile home (s.3 definition of Tiny Home) [1]
Minimum dwelling size: RMP zone: minimum gross floor area per dwelling unit 55 m²; minimum mobile home site area 550 m²; one dwelling unit per site (s.11.2) [1]
Temporary garden suite: 'Garden suite / granny flat' is defined as a temporary, portable detached unit (excluding a trailer), but the by-law sets no general permission for it; s.4.6 notes that temporary uses under s.39 of the Planning Act are added as site-specific exceptions [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.

Allowed · Elliot Lake’s term: “sleep cabin”

In the Shoreline Residential (RS) zone one sleep cabin (sleeping accommodation without cooking or sanitary facilities or pressurized water) is permitted per lot, behind the main building. Elsewhere accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation, except sleeping cabins accessory to summer cottages and summer resorts. [1]

Where allowed: Shoreline Residential (RS) zone (s.23.2.1.2); the accessory building definition allows sleeping cabins accessory to summer cottages and summer resorts (s.3) [1]
Number allowed: Not more than one sleep cabin per lot (s.23.2.1.2) [1]
Maximum size: 25 m² floor area (s.23.2.1.2) [1]
Maximum height: 5 m (s.23.2.1.2) [1]
Setbacks: Located behind the main building; minimum 6.0 m from other lot lines (s.23.2.1.2) [1]
Kitchen: No cooking or sanitary facilities or pressurized water (definition of Sleep Cabin, s.3 and the RS zone definitions) [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

Read the consolidation 'as amended and consolidated to January 5, 2024'; the City's zoning page (https://www.elliotlake.ca/our-community/building-by-law-planning/zoning/) links no newer consolidation. Amendments after January 2024 were not checked. The Rural Estate (RE) zone permits any use permitted in the RS zone; the ARU exclusion names only RS and RL, so whether ARUs are allowed in RE is not explicit. Rural A (RA) and Rural B (RB) zones do not list year-round single dwellings (RB permits summer cottages, which may not be a normal place of residence).

Sources

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