Enniskillen zoning for small homes

Township of Enniskillen, in the County of Lambton. Population 2,825 (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 with limits · Enniskillen’s term: “accessory second dwelling”

One accessory second dwelling, either in the main dwelling or in a detached accessory building, is permitted in Residential and Agricultural zones (not in a detached building in the R3 zone), subject to minimum lot size, size and location rules. 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][2]

Where allowed: Any Residential (R) or Agricultural (A) zone; prohibited in a detached accessory building in the R3 zone, in a Mobile Home Park or plan of condominium, and on any lot with more than one dwelling unit [3]
Number allowed: One accessory second dwelling per lot [3]
Maximum size: Not more than 46 m² gross floor area if in a detached accessory building, and not more than 30% of the gross floor area of the main dwelling [3]
Minimum lot size: Minimum lot area for the zone; in an A1 or A2 zone or on any lot with a private septic system, 0.8 ha [3]
Separation from house: Not further than 20 m from the main dwelling; 1.2 m open space between a detached accessory building and the main building [3]
Setbacks: Detached building not closer than 2.4 m to an interior side lot line (or the main dwelling's side yard where a 1.8 m hedge or solid fence exists), and not closer to the rear lot line than the main dwelling's minimum rear yard [3]
Maximum height: Detached accessory buildings: 5.5 m in Residential zones (6.1 m on R2 lots of 0.4 ha or more); 7.5 m for residential accessory buildings on Agricultural lots under 1.6 ha; measured from finished floor [3]
Parking: Must share a single driveway with the main dwelling [3]
Approvals: Building permit and inspections under the Ontario Building Code required; not permitted in a basement, or on a second floor of a detached building except in A1/A2 zones [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. [2][4][5]

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 · Enniskillen’s term: “single detached dwelling”

No dwelling may be erected with less than the minimum gross floor area listed below Table A, which is 80 m² for a one-storey dwelling (including mobile homes) and 70 m² on the ground floor for other than one-storey dwellings. [3]

Minimum dwelling size: 80 sq m minimum for a one-storey dwelling (includes Mobile Homes); 70 sq m minimum on the ground floor for other than a one-storey dwelling (Minimum Gross Floor Area Regulations under Table A; s.4.7 e) applies them township-wide) [6]

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][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.

Not allowed · Enniskillen’s term: “travel trailer / motor home / mobile home”

Travel trailers, truck campers and motor homes may not be used for living or sleeping except on lands zoned for the purpose, or accessory to a dwelling on the same lot for no more than 60 days in any 10 consecutive months; no zone permits a mobile home park and year-round travel trailer camps are prohibited.

Where allowed: Only on lands zoned specifically for the purpose; Campgrounds are permitted in the OS2 zone, but year-round privately-owned travel trailer camps and campgrounds are listed as prohibited uses (s.3.2 b) [3]
Number allowed: Accessory to a dwelling: one travel trailer, truck camper or motor home, for not more than 60 days total in any 10 consecutive months (s.3.11 b) [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][2][9][8]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not allowed · Enniskillen’s term: “accessory building used for human habitation”

Permitted accessory buildings do not include any building used for human habitation except as specifically permitted, and the by-law has no bunkie or sleeping-cabin provision; the only detached habitable accessory building provided for is an accessory second dwelling.

Number allowed: On a lot with a single detached or farm dwelling, not more than one dwelling except an accessory second dwelling under s.3.8 (s.3.9.4) [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][2][13]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Consolidation dated September 2026 (amendments to By-law 41 of 2026). Table A, which holds zone regulations and the minimum dwelling floor area rules, is not in the consolidation; it is posted separately as a 2019 PDF whose section references use older numbering (e.g. R1 as 7.1 vs Section 8 in the consolidation), so it may not reflect later changes. The consolidation provides for one accessory second dwelling (s.3.8) and has no separate additional residential unit section. There is no waterfront residential zone; the bunkie answer is based on the Agricultural and Residential zones. No guide page was found on the building/planning page.

Sources

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