Gravenhurst zoning for small homes
Town of Gravenhurst, in the District Municipality of Muskoka. Population 13,157 (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 · Gravenhurst’s term: “additional residential unit in an accessory structure”
One additional residential unit is permitted in a stand-alone or accessory structure in the R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, RM-2, RC-4 and RR-5 zones, only if the lot meets the zone's minimum lot area and frontage. Fully serviced lots may have up to three units; RC-4, RR-5 and unserviced or partially serviced lots are limited to two. [1]
- Where allowed
- R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, RM-2 (up to 3 units with full municipal water and sewage services); RC-4, RR-5 and un-serviced or partially serviced residential zones (up to 2 units) [2]
- Minimum lot size
- Lot must meet the minimum lot area and frontage requirements for the zone [2]
- Maximum height
- 4.5 m and one storey for accessory buildings; one accessory structure may be 6.0 m where the second storey contains an additional residential unit [2]
- Setbacks
- Where human habitation is in an accessory building, the setbacks for the principal building in the zone apply [2]
- Parking
- 1 space per unit [2]
- Approvals
- A building permit is required [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 · Gravenhurst’s term: “single detached dwelling”
The zone provisions reviewed set no minimum dwelling floor area. Some waterfront zones set a maximum dwelling size of 375.0 m² instead. [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 · Gravenhurst’s term: “mobile home / travel trailer”
Mobile homes are permitted only in the Mobile Home Zone (MH), and travel trailers may not be used as a dwelling unit except in a zone that lists them. Using any motor vehicle for human habitation is prohibited.
- Where allowed
- "No mobile home shall be permitted in any zone other than the Mobile Home Zone (MH)"; the MH zone permits a mobile home park [2]
- Temporary garden suite
- Garden suites have been permitted by site-specific temporary use provisions, e.g. RR-5 Exception 5 (By-law 2004-200): one garden suite for up to ten years from December 22, 2004 [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.
Allowed with limits · Gravenhurst’s term: “sleeping cabin”
Sleeping cabins (no kitchen) are permitted only in the Residential Community (RC-4), Residential Waterfront (RW-6 series), Residential Backlot (RB-7) and Residential Island (RI-8 series) zones. Other accessory buildings may not be used for sleeping or eating.
- Maximum size
- 46.5 m² maximum habitable floor area, including covered decks (Section 5.2.5); the RW-6 zone table says all of it shall be at ground floor level [2]
- Number allowed
- One per property containing a principal dwelling; a second where the lot is larger than 2.0 hectares [2]
- Maximum height
- 4.5 m and one storey for accessory buildings; one two-storey garage up to 6.0 m in RC-4, RW-6, RB-7, RI-8, RU and RR-5 zones may contain a sleeping cabin on the second storey [2]
- Kitchen
- Not permitted (sleeping cabin is defined as having no kitchen facilities) [2]
- Parking
- 1 space per cabin [2]
- Setbacks
- Accessory buildings with human habitation use the principal building setbacks; 6.0 m minimum side and rear yards for accessory buildings in RW-6 and RI-8 zones [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
- Town of Gravenhurst website
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2010-04
- Gravenhurst’s guide to additional units
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- Gravenhurst’s guide to additional units
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2010-04
- 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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