Gordon/Barrie Island zoning for small homes

Municipality of Gordon/Barrie Island, a single-tier municipality. Population 613 (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 · Gordon/Barrie Island’s term: “additional residential unit”

One additional residential unit is permitted in a building accessory to a single detached, semi-detached or rowhouse dwelling where additional residential units are a permitted use, which is the Village Area (VA) and Rural (RU) zones; it is not listed in the Shoreline Residential (SR) or Agricultural (A) zones. A unit in an accessory structure follows the general accessory building rules and may be on private services if the septic system can accommodate it.

Where allowed: Village Area (VA) and Rural (RU) zones list 'Additional Residential Unit' as a permitted use (s.6.1, s.12.1) [1]
Number allowed: One additional unit in the main dwelling and one accessory dwelling unit in an accessory building (s.4.1.1(a)) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 5 m in a residential zone (s.4.1(c)); 5 m in VA (s.6.3); 10 m in RU (s.12.3) [1]
Maximum size: Accessory structures may not occupy more than 10% of the lot area (s.4.1(b)) [1]
Separation from house: Minimum 2 m from the main building (s.4.1(d)) [1]
Servicing: Permitted on private services if it is demonstrated the private sewage system can accommodate the change in use (s.4.1.1(d)) [1]
Parking: 1 space per dwelling unit (s.5.2) [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 · Gordon/Barrie Island’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The Rural (RU) and Agricultural (A) zones require a minimum floor area of 55 m² for a one-storey residential dwelling unit, and the Shoreline Residential (SR) zone requires 44 m². The Village Area (VA) zone table sets no minimum dwelling floor area.

Minimum dwelling size: Rural Residential (RU) and Residential use in Agricultural (A): 55 m² (1 storey), 80 m² (1½ storeys), 110 m² (2 storeys) (s.11.2, s.12.2) [1]
Minimum dwelling size: Shoreline Residential (SR): 44 m² (1 storey), 60 m² (1½ storeys), 100 m² (2 storeys) (s.7.2) [1]
Minimum lot size: VA 1,858 m²; SR and RU residential 4,046 m² (s.6.2, s.7.2, s.12.2) [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.

Not allowed · Gordon/Barrie Island’s term: “trailer / mobile home”

The by-law prohibits the use of a tourist trailer or mobile home for human habitation except as specifically provided, and no zone permits mobile homes or trailers as dwellings apart from a few site-specific exceptions. The Trailer Licensing By-law allows a licensed temporary trailer only while a valid building permit for the main dwelling exists. [11]

Where allowed: Use of a tourist trailer or mobile home for human habitation prohibited except as specifically provided (s.4.22.1(c)); Commercial Trailer Park permitted only in Tourist Commercial (TC) zone, for temporary or seasonal parking of trailers (s.9.1, definition of Tourist Trailer Park) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite is defined (temporary, portable, excludes a trailer) with limits of 40% of the principal dwelling's gross floor area and a 1.2 m setback from the dwelling (s.4.1.3), but is not listed as a permitted use in any zone; temporary uses are shown as special exceptions under Planning Act s.39 (s.2.9(c)) [1]
Approvals: Trailer located more than 30 days a year requires a licence; Temporary Trailer licence $600/year and only while a valid building permit for the main dwelling has been issued (By-law 2010-22, amended June 6, 2023, Schedule B) [11]

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 · Gordon/Barrie Island’s term: “guest cabin”

A guest cabin (an accessory building without cooking facilities used only for sleeping) is permitted, generally one per lot; in the Shoreline Residential (SR) zone lots over 0.2 ha may have two. Accessory building height and setback limits apply.

Number allowed: Maximum one guest cabin per lot (s.4.1.4); in SR zone, 1 on lots up to 0.2 ha and 2 on lots over 0.2 ha (s.7.4) [1]
Kitchen: No cooking facilities; used only for sleeping accommodation (definition of Guest Cabin) [1]
Maximum height: 5 m in a residential zone (s.4.1(c)); 5 m in SR (s.7.3); 10 m in RU (s.12.3) [1]
Setbacks: SR: 3 m from all lot lines (s.7.3); RU: 3 m (s.12.3); minimum 2 m from the main building (s.4.1(d)) [1]
Maximum size: No specific guest cabin size; accessory structures may not occupy more than 10% of the lot area (s.4.1(b)) [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][12]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The document read is the 'As Adopted' November 1, 2022 text, not an office consolidation; amendments after adoption were not checked. Section 4.1.4.2 states 'a guest cabin for human habitation is not permitted except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use', which is ambiguous; s.7.4 expressly allows guest cabins in SR. Site-specific exceptions RU-2 (trailer for human habitation on piers/foundation with peaked roof) and SR-3 (mobile home as seasonal dwelling) exist. The 'Uses Prohibited' clause is at s.4.22.

Sources

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