Grey Highlands zoning for small homes
Municipality of Grey Highlands, in the County of Grey. Population 10,424 (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 · Grey Highlands’s term: “accessory apartment (detached unit)”
One accessory apartment may be located in an accessory structure in the Residential, Residential Multiple, Rural, Rural Residential, Residential Shoreline, Agriculture and Restricted Agriculture zones. The consolidated by-law allows only one accessory apartment per lot.
- Where allowed
- R, RM, RU, RUR, RS, A1 and A2 zones (s. 5.29.2) [1]
- Number allowed
- Maximum one accessory apartment per lot; not permitted where a temporary garden suite exists (s. 5.29.2 a)) [1]
- Separation from house
- Within 75 m of the principal detached dwelling and using the same driveway entrance (s. 5.29.2 b), c)) [1]
- Maximum height
- R, RM and RS zones: accessory-building rules apply, max 7.0 m in a Residential zone (s. 5.29.2 e), 5.6 a) vii)); A1, A2, RU and RUR zones: main-building rules apply [1]
- Setbacks
- R, RM and RS zones: accessory-building setbacks (1.5 m from interior side and rear lot lines, s. 5.6 b)); A1, A2, RU, RUR: main-use setbacks (s. 5.29.2 e)) [1]
- Parking
- No additional parking required, but at least two spaces must exist on the lot (s. 5.29.2 d)) [1]
- Minimum lot size
- Not permitted on a lot non-conforming for frontage or area unless it has at least 50 m frontage and 0.4 ha area (s. 5.29.2 i)) [1]
- Servicing
- Must connect to public services where available, otherwise adequate private services (s. 5.29.2 j), k)) [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 · Grey Highlands’s term: “single detached dwelling”
No minimum dwelling floor area was found for the main residential, rural or agricultural zones. A 90 m² minimum gross floor area applies to a dwelling in the Rural Commercial (C4) zone.
- Minimum dwelling size
- None found for residential, rural or agricultural zones; 90 m² minimum gross floor area (dwelling) in the Rural Commercial C4 zone (s. 8.4.2 l)) [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 · Grey Highlands’s term: “mobile home / park model trailer / travel trailer”
No travel trailer, motor home, mobile home, park model trailer or similar structure may be used as a residence in any zone, whether on wheels or a foundation. Site-specific temporary use by-laws for garden suites and for farm help accommodation in mobile homes or trailers appear in the by-law.
- Temporary garden suite
- Garden suites have been permitted on a site-specific basis by temporary use by-law (e.g. By-law 2006-25, 10 years, exception 16.104) [1]
- Approvals
- No travel trailer, motor home, mobile home, park model trailer, truck camper or similar structure may be used as a residence in any zone, whether or not on wheels or a foundation (s. 5.18 d)) [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 · Grey Highlands’s term: “cabin”
One cabin (casual sleeping quarters without cooking facilities, not a residence) is permitted per lot with a main dwelling in the Rural, Rural Residential, Agriculture and Restricted Agriculture zones, and in the Residential Shoreline zone subject to further conditions.
- Number allowed
- One cabin per lot (s. 5.29.3 b), c)) [1]
- Where allowed
- RU, Rural Residential, A1 and A2 zones where a main dwelling exists; RS zone where a main dwelling exists, no accessory apartment exists and the lot meets the RS minimum lot size; not in a Hazard zone (s. 5.29.3) [1]
- Maximum size
- 20 m² floor area (s. 5.29.3 e)) [1]
- Maximum height
- 4.5 m (s. 5.29.3 f)) [1]
- Kitchen
- Cabin shall not contain cooking facilities (definition of Cabin) [1]
- Setbacks
- Treated as an accessory use for setbacks and lot coverage (s. 5.29.3 d)) [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
Sources
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2004-50
- 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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