Hastings Highlands zoning for small homes

Municipality of Hastings Highlands, in the County of Hastings. Population 4,385 (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 · Hastings Highlands’s term: “additional dwelling unit (in an accessory structure)”

An additional dwelling unit in an accessory structure is permitted only in the MA, RR, R1, R2 and MR zones, on lots with public road frontage that are not undersized. It is not permitted in the Waterfront Residential zone or on lots abutting at-capacity lake trout lakes. [1]

Where allowed: MA, RR, R1, R2 and MR zones (s.5.50.1); not in WR, on undersized or deficient-frontage lots, in a regulated floodplain, or on lots abutting at-capacity lake trout lakes (s.5.50.2, 5.50.3) [1]
Number allowed: Not permitted where 3 or more dwelling units exist on a lot; 3 units may not be in one structure (s.5.50.3 vi, vii) [1]
Setbacks: The accessory structure must meet the requirements for a principal structure in the zone; accessory buildings max. 10% lot coverage (s.5.50.3 iv, v) [1]
Parking: Min. 1 space for the exclusive use of each additional dwelling unit (s.5.50.3 viii) [1]
Minimum lot size: Must have frontage on a public road (s.5.50.3 ii) [1]
Maximum size: Minimum size per the Ontario Building Code (s.5.49 v); no maximum stated in s.5.50 [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 · Hastings Highlands’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The by-law sets minimum gross floor areas for dwellings. They are 60.38 m² (650 sq ft) in the R1 and R2 zones and 74.3 m² (800 sq ft) in the Waterfront Residential zone, but 35.67 m² (384 sq ft) in the MA and RR zones. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: R1 and R2: 60.38 m² (650 sq ft) (s.5.49 i; s.12.3) [1]
Minimum dwelling size: MA, RR, LSRI and LSR (not adjacent to water): 35.67 m² (384 sq ft) (s.5.49 ii; s.7.3) [1]
Minimum dwelling size: WR zone and LSR lands adjacent to water: 74.3 m² (800 sq ft); seasonal dwelling: 58.99 m² (635 sq ft) (s.10.3 a viii; s.8.3 a viii; s.5.49 iii) [1]
Approvals: Modular homes permitted in any residential zone on a permanent foundation with a building permit (s.5.45) [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 · Hastings Highlands’s term: “mobile home / travel trailer”

Mobile homes are permitted in the Mobile Home Residential (MHR) zone, which requires communal water and sanitary sewer. Travel trailers, RVs, truck campers and camper trailers may not be used for habitation except in the Recreational/Resort Commercial zone, apart from a temporary exception during dwelling construction. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile homes and mobile home parks in the MHR zone (s.11.2); RVs and trailers only in the Recreational/Resort Commercial (RRC) zone (s.5.44.1, 5.44.3) [1]
Temporary garden suite: By temporary use by-law under s.39 of the Planning Act, max. 10 years (extendable). 49–65 m² (527.4–699.7 sq ft), height max. 4.5 m, max. 7.62 m from the dwelling, site plan control and agreement. Mobile homes and trailers are excluded from the garden suite definition (s.5.33; def. 3.112) [1]
Approvals: Exception during construction: with a septic permit and complete building application, up to 1 year from septic approval (s.5.44.5) [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 · Hastings Highlands’s term: “cabin, sleeping/bunkie”

A sleeping cabin/bunkie is listed as permitted in the Waterfront Residential (WR), Limited Service Residential (LSR) and Limited Service Residential Island (LSRI) zones. Elsewhere accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation. [1]

Where allowed: WR, LSR and LSRI zones (s.10.2, 8.2, 9.2); accessory to the principal seasonal residential dwelling (def. 3.31) [1]
Maximum size: 29.7 m² (320 sq ft); up to 55.7 m² (600 sq ft) on lots at least twice the minimum lot frontage and lot area (def. 3.31) [1]
Kitchen: Shall not be a self-sufficient accommodation; may not be rented to the public (def. 3.31) [1]
Maximum height: WR detached accessory buildings: 4.5 m (14.8 ft) (s.10.3 b iv) [1]
Setbacks: WR accessory buildings: 3 m rear and interior side, 10 m front and exterior side; 3.0 m from the principal building (s.10.3 b; s.5.25.5) [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

Office consolidation dated February 2024, with amendments to the end of December 2023. One site search found no 2024–2026 comprehensive by-law or ADU amendment, but amendments after Dec 2023 are not reflected. The by-law describes itself as not a legal document. Height limits for LSR/LSRI accessory buildings were not checked.

Sources

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