Greenstone zoning for small homes

Municipality of Greenstone, a single-tier municipality. Population 4,309 (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 · Greenstone’s term: “additional residential unit”

A free-standing additional residential unit is permitted as an accessory use to a single detached, semi-detached or row dwelling in the R1, R2 and Rural zones. It is not permitted in the Mobile Home (R3) or Waterfront Residential (RW) zones, or where on-site servicing is inadequate. [1]

Where allowed: Accessory to a single detached, semi-detached or row/townhouse dwelling except in the R3 and RW zones and where the unit cannot be adequately serviced with an individual on-site system (s. 4.1.2.4); listed in R1 and RU, and added to R2 by By-law 26-24 [2]
Minimum lot size: Not on a residential lot with lot area less than 300 m² (3,229.2 ft²) (s. 4.1.2.4) [2]
Setbacks: Not closer than 3 m (9.8 ft.) to any rear lot line or interior side lot line (s. 4.1.2.4) [2]
Maximum height: R1 zone accessory buildings: 6 m (19.6 ft.) (Table 6.2) [2]
Separation from house: R1 zone: 2 m (6.56 ft.) between the main building and any accessory building (Table 6.2) [2]
Kitchen: A storage container may be used as a free-standing additional residential unit where built in compliance with the Building Code Act (s. 4.1.2.5) [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 · Greenstone’s term: “tiny house or small house”

A tiny house on a foundation is a permitted principal use in the R1, R2 and Rural zones, and the R1 zone sets no minimum dwelling unit area except 17.5 m² for a tiny house. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: R1 zone minimum dwelling unit area: no minimum; tiny house 17.5 m² (188 ft²) (Table 6.2) [2]
Where allowed: 'Tiny House' is a principal use in R1 (Table 6.1) and RU (Table 20.1), and was added to R2 by By-law 26-24 (May 11, 2026), except R2-X3 lands [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 · Greenstone’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle / park model trailer”

Building Code mobile homes are permitted as a main dwelling in the Residential Mobile Home (R3) and Rural (RU) zones. Recreational vehicles and park model trailers are not dwellings and may be occupied only temporarily, for example during construction under a building permit.

Where allowed: Mobile home is a principal use in the R3 zone (Table 8.1) and the RU zone (Table 20.1). A tiny house excludes recreational vehicles and park model trailers, and a dwelling excludes a recreational vehicle [2]
Minimum lot size: R3: mobile home park 3 ha; mobile home site 350 m² with municipal services, 0.4 ha with on-site services (Table 8.2) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Offered: a garden suite is permitted as an accessory use to a single detached dwelling subject to a site-specific temporary use by-law under s. 39 of the Planning Act; max 50% of the main dwelling's gross floor area, one storey, rear or interior side yard, 3 m (9.84 ft.) from rear/interior side lot lines (s. 4.1.8) [2]
Approvals: No lot in any zone shall be used for the storage or use of a recreational vehicle except as a temporary use under s. 4.29 (s. 4.22.4.4); s. 4.29 allows an RV or portable building as temporary accommodation during construction under a valid building permit, with municipal approval [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 · Greenstone’s term: “guest cabin (sleep cabin)”

One guest cabin, a sleeping building without cooking facilities, is permitted per lot as an accessory use to a dwelling in the Waterfront Residential (RW) zone where sewage capacity is adequate. The by-law does not list guest cabins in the Rural zone.

Number allowed: One guest cabin or one loft-above-a-garage per lot in the RW zone, with adequate sewage capacity (s. 4.1.2.1); not on a lot with a garden suite (s. 4.1.2.3) [2]
Kitchen: Guest cabin: used for sleeping accommodation, no cooking facilities, may contain sanitary facilities (s. 3.2 definition) [2]
Setbacks: Not less than 3 m (9.84 ft.) to any interior lot line, rear lot line or main building (s. 4.1.2.2) [2]
Maximum size: RW zone accessory buildings: maximum gross floor area 112 m² (1,205.5 ft²) (Table 9.2) [2]
Maximum height: RW zone accessory buildings: 6 m (19.6 ft.) (Table 9.2) [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

The CivicWeb PDF is By-law 23-77 as passed November 27, 2023, not a consolidation (bylawConsolidation null). Amending By-law 26-24 (passed May 11, 2026) was read: it adds modular dwelling (deemed single detached) to R1/R2, adds single detached, two-unit dwelling/ARU and tiny house to R2, creates R2-X3 lands where those uses are not permitted, sets RU lot coverage to 15%, and rezones 15 sites. Other amendments since November 2023 were not checked. Section 4.1.2.2 says 'No guest cabin above a detached private garage shall be located less than 3 m...', which appears to be a drafting slip; read as applying to guest cabins and lofts. The RW zone table also lists an interior side yard of 6 m for a 'Guest House or Garden Suite'. No official ARU guide was found.

Sources

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