Front of Yonge zoning for small homes
Township of Front of Yonge, in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Population 2,595 (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 · Front of Yonge’s term: “second dwelling (additional residential unit)”
A second dwelling in an accessory building is permitted on lots where a single, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling is permitted, except on island lots, subject to size, height, servicing and parking rules. [1]
- Where allowed
- Any zone where a single, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling is permitted; not permitted on an island lot (s. 3.20.1) [2]
- Maximum size
- 50% of the floor area of the principal dwelling, to a maximum of 80 m2 in the Residential Zone and 95 m2 in the Rural Zone (s. 3.20.1) [2]
- Maximum height
- 6 m for a new second dwelling (s. 3.20.3) [2]
- Separation from house
- A new accessory building constructed as a second dwelling 'shall be separated by less than 10 m from the principal dwelling' (s. 3.20.3) [2]
- Servicing
- Must connect to the same water supply and sewage system as the principal dwelling; septic approval and proof of sufficient well water required before a building permit (s. 3.20.1) [2]
- Parking
- At least 1 space in addition to the principal dwelling's; tandem parking permitted; must share the driveway entrance (s. 3.20.1) [2]
- Temporary garden suite
- A garden suite is defined as a portable detached dwelling for which a temporary use by-law has been adopted under the Planning Act (s. 2) [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. [3][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 · Front of Yonge’s term: “single dwelling”
The residential and rural zones set a minimum dwelling unit area of 75 m2.
- Minimum dwelling size
- Dwelling Unit Area (minimum) 75 m2 in the General Residential (RG), Limited Services Residential (RLS) and Rural (RU) zones (ss. 5.1, 5.2, 11.1) [2]
- Minimum lot size
- 0.4 ha in RG, RLS (1.0 ha for island lots) and RU (ss. 5.1, 5.2, 11.1) [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. [3][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Tiny home on wheels or park model
Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.
Allowed with limits · Front of Yonge’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”
Recreational vehicles, travel trailers and tent trailers may not be used as dwellings except in a tourist campground or temporarily during construction of a dwelling; mobile homes are permitted in the Mobile Home Park Residential (RMH) zone.
- Where allowed
- Mobile home and mobile home park are permitted uses in the Mobile Home Park Residential (RMH) zone (s. 5.3); 'dwelling' excludes any vehicle, and vehicle includes a mobile home, recreational vehicle or trailer (s. 2) [2]
- Temporary garden suite
- A travel trailer, tent trailer or RV may be occupied temporarily during construction of a dwelling with a valid building permit, approved septic connection, for no more than two years (s. 3.26) [2]
- Approvals
- No recreational vehicle, travel trailer or tent trailer may be used for human habitation except in a tourist campground or as a temporary use under s. 3.26 (s. 3.15) [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. [11][6][3][8][7]
Bunkie or sleeping cabin
A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.
Not allowed · Front of Yonge’s term: “accessory building”
Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except as specifically permitted (such as a second dwelling with its own kitchen); the by-law has no separate sleeping-cabin permission.
- Maximum height
- 6 m for accessory buildings in a Residential zone (s. 3.1.6) [2]
- Approvals
- 'Accessory buildings or structures shall not be used for human habitation, except as specifically permitted elsewhere in this By-law' (s. 3.1.1) [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. [8][6][3][12]
Official links
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- Township of Front of Yonge web page (mallorytown.ca)
- Zoning By-law 20-08 (January 2023 office consolidation)
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- 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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