Greater Madawaska zoning for small homes

Township of Greater Madawaska, in the County of Renfrew. Population 2,864 (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 · Greater Madawaska’s term: “coach house (secondary dwelling unit)”

One secondary dwelling unit, including a detached coach house on a permanent foundation, is permitted in zones that allow single detached dwellings; lots on private services must be at least 0.8 ha and waterfront lots are excluded. [1]

Minimum lot size: 8,000 m² (0.8 ha) on lots with private services; lots of 2 ha or less must share water and/or septic with the primary dwelling; 0.4–0.8 ha by minor variance (s.3.11.1 a)) [1]
Maximum height: 7.5 m where above a detached private garage (s.3.11.1 j)); accessory buildings in residential/rural zones 5.0 m (s.3.3.3) [1]
Setbacks: Single detached dwelling front, rear and side yards of the zone apply (s.3.11.1 e)) [1]
Parking: One additional parking space (s.3.11.1 c)) [1]
Number allowed: Maximum one secondary dwelling unit per lot; not on a lot with a garden suite, boarding house or accessory dwelling unit (s.3.11.1 g), h)) [1]
Where allowed: Not in a flood plain, on waterfront lots, or within 300 m of an 'at capacity' lake; waterfront only by minor variance; must be on a permanent footing/foundation (s.3.11.1 d), n), p)) [1]
Approvals: Minor variances or zoning amendments for lot coverage, height or setbacks shall not be permitted for secondary dwelling units (s.3.11.1 i)) [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 · Greater Madawaska’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The R1, RR, LSR and RU zone provisions set no minimum dwelling unit area; minimums of 50–55 m² apply only in some site-specific exception zones. The by-law defines 'Tiny Home' (19 to under 37.2 m², no wheels, affixed to the ground) but does not list it as a permitted use in any zone. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: No minimum dwelling unit area in R1 (s.5.2), RR (s.6.2), LSR (s.7.2) or RU (s.19.2) zone provisions [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.

Allowed with limits · Greater Madawaska’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”

Mobile homes are prohibited in all zones other than the Mobile Home Park (MHP) zone, and recreational vehicles may not be used as dwelling units. RVs and trailers may be stored on a lot with a permitted use but not on a vacant lot. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile homes prohibited in all zones other than the Mobile Home Park (MHP) zone (s.3.22) [1]
Minimum dwelling size: MHP zone: mobile home minimum dwelling unit area 55 m² (s.8.2 d)) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite as a temporary use under Planning Act s.39.1 appears only in a site-specific zone (LSR-E61-T, s.7.4.2) [1]
Approvals: Recreational vehicles and other temporary structures shall not be used as a dwelling unit except a mobile home or trailer where specifically permitted (s.3.28.1) [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.

Allowed with limits · Greater Madawaska’s term: “sleeping cabin / bunkie”

One sleeping cabin of up to 18 m² is permitted on waterfront lots of at least 4,047 m² (1 acre) in the RU, RR and LSR zones, accessory to a single detached dwelling. It may not have cooking facilities or be rented. [1]

Maximum size: 18 square metres (194 square feet) gross floor area (s.3.3.8 a)) [1]
Minimum lot size: Waterfront lots on lakes and rivers of 4047 m² (1 acre) or more (s.3.3.8) [1]
Where allowed: Rural (RU), Rural Residential (RR) and Limited Service Residential (LSR) zones; not within the Shoreline Activity Area; not on 'at capacity' waterbodies (s.3.3.8 b), c)) [1]
Number allowed: One (1) sleeping cabin (s.3.3.8) [1]
Kitchen: Shall not contain cooking or kitchen facilities; may contain sanitary facilities with approval; not used for monetary gain or rented (definition 'Cabin, Sleeping'; s.3.3.8 d)) [1]
Maximum height: 5.0 m for accessory buildings in residential or rural zones (s.3.3.3) [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][11]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The PDF on the township zoning page is titled 'Office Consolidation May 21, 2025' of By-law 28-2024 (passed June 20, 2024, rescinding By-law 22-2003). Schedules (maps) are separate PDFs and were not checked, so whether any land is actually zoned MHP was not confirmed. Sleeping cabins on non-waterfront lots are not provided for (s.3.3.2 limits habitation in accessory buildings to additional residential units and permitted accessory dwellings). No ARU guide page found.

Sources

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