Gore Bay zoning for small homes

Town of Gore Bay, a single-tier municipality. Population 808 (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 · Gore Bay’s term: “additional residential unit / garden suite”

One additional residential unit in an accessory building is permitted in the Residential (R1), Residential Multiple (R2) and Rural zones, subject to the general accessory building rules. Garden suites (temporary, portable units up to 20 years) are also listed as permitted uses in the R1 and Rural zones. [1]

Where allowed: Additional Residential Unit is a permitted use in R1, R2 and RU zones; Garden Suite in R1 and RU zones; neither is listed in the Shoreline Residential (SR) zone [1]
Number allowed: One additional unit in the dwelling and one accessory dwelling unit in an accessory building (s. 4.1.1 a) [1]
Maximum size: Garden suite: no more than 40% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling (s. 4.1.3 a) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 5 m in R1, R2 and RU zones (ss. 7.3, 8.3, 13.3) [1]
Separation from house: Accessory buildings 2 m from the main building (s. 4.1 f); garden suites 1.2 m from the primary dwelling (s. 4.1.3 b) [1]
Servicing: Permitted on private services if the sewage system can accommodate the change in use (s. 4.1.1 e) [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 · Gore Bay’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The residential and rural zones set a minimum floor area per dwelling unit that is larger than 37 m². [1]

Minimum dwelling size: R1 zone: 55 m² (1 storey), 75 m² (2 storeys); RU zone residential: 55 m² (1 storey), 80 m² (2 storeys); SR zone: 80 m² (1 storey), 100 m² (2 storeys) (ss. 6.2, 7.2, 13.2) [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 · Gore Bay’s term: “recreational vehicle / travel trailer / mobile home”

No one may use a recreational vehicle, tourist or travel trailer for temporary or permanent living accommodation in a Residential zone, except sleeping in a trailer for up to 14 days. No zone lists mobile homes, mobile home parks or campgrounds as a permitted use. [1]

Where allowed: No zone lists mobile homes, mobile home parks or campgrounds as permitted uses [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite defined as temporary (up to 20 years) and portable, and excludes a trailer (definition of Garden Suite) [1]
Approvals: s. 4.1.7 a): no recreational vehicle, tourist or travel trailer used for living or eating accommodation in any Residential Zone; sleeping accommodation in a trailer allowed for up to 14 days [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.

We haven’t researched Gore Bay’s by-law for this yet.

What applies everywhere in Ontario

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][11][2]

Permit threshold (Building Code Act): A 'building' includes any structure occupying more than 10 m², and any structure of 10 m² or less that contains plumbing. No one may build a building without a permit. (Building Code Act s. 1(1), definition of 'building'; s. 8(1)) [7]
15 m² shed exemption: A shed is exempt from a permit and from the Code if it is 15 m² or less in gross area, one storey, detached from any other structure, used only for storage ancillary to a principal building on the lot, and has no plumbing. Because of the storage-only condition, the exemption does not cover a bunkie used for sleeping. In effect April 29, 2022 (O. Reg. 451/22) and carried into the 2024 Code. (2024 Building Code, Div. C, Sentence 1.3.1.1.(6)) [5]
Plumbing: A structure of any size that contains plumbing is a 'building' and needs a permit. (Building Code Act s. 1(1), definition of 'building', clause (b)) [7]
Provincial accessory sleeping-structure rule: No provincial statute or regulation specifically regulates bunkies or accessory sleeping cabins. Whether they are allowed is up to the municipal zoning by-law. (Planning Act s. 34(1)) [2]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The PDF is By-law 2022-24 'Revision: As adopted' dated September 29, 2022 (J.L. Richards); it is not a consolidation. The inventory notes the zoning map (Schedule B) was updated Feb 11, 2025, so later amendments may not be reflected in the text. Bunkie omitted: the by-law defines a 'guest cabin' (no cooking facilities, sleeping only, max one per lot) but s. 4.1.4 b) says a guest cabin for human habitation is not permitted 'except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use', and guest cabins are not listed in any zone; which residential lots may have one is unclear. Manitoulin Planning Board administers planning.

Sources

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