Huntsville zoning for small homes

Town of Huntsville, in the District Municipality of Muskoka. Population 21,147 (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 · Huntsville’s term: “secondary residential dwelling unit (SRDU)”

SRDUs, including in a separate detached accessory building, are permitted in the Urban Residential, Community Residential and Rural precincts, subject to size, height and setback limits. The lot must meet the precinct's lot area unless it exceeds 2 ha or has full municipal services. The Town says shoreline residential lots are not permitted to have SRDUs. [1]

Maximum size: 75 m² gross floor area within a detached accessory building (s.2.27.1 i) [2]
Maximum height: 8 m in any Rural Precinct; 6 m in every other Precinct (s.2.27.1 i ii) [2]
Setbacks: Urban residential and community precincts: 1.5 m side, 5.0 m rear; rural precincts: 7 m side, 10.0 m rear (10 m side / 12 m rear for two units in one detached building in Rural precincts) (s.2.27.1 i iii, j) [2]
Separation from house: Minimum 5.5 m between the accessory building and the main dwelling (s.2.27.1 i iv) [2]
Number allowed: Maximum two SRDUs; maximum one in detached accessory buildings in Urban Residential precincts; maximum two in a detached accessory building in Rural precincts (s.2.27.1 a, g, k) [2]
Minimum lot size: Lot must meet the Precinct's lot area requirement, except where the lot exceeds 2 ha or has municipal water and sanitary sewer (s.2.27.1 b); proof the lot can support new/expanded septic or well needed where lot is under 2 ha (s.2.27.1 h) [2]
Where allowed: Urban Residential (URS, UR1, UR2, UR3) and Community Residential (Table 4.2.3); Rural and Rural Residential (Table 4.8.3); Waterfront Backlot only on lots not related to the shoreline of a waterbody over 8 ha (Table 4.3.3). Town guide: "Shoreline residential lots are not permitted to have SRDUs." [1]
Approvals: Building permit required (s.2.27.1 e). A new single detached dwelling and associated accessory structure meeting all requirements is exempt from a Community Planning Permit except within 30 m of a shoreline/watercourse, in the Waterfront Precinct and other listed areas (s.1.3.1 f). The Town says that in exceptional circumstances a planning approval may be 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 · Huntsville’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The lot requirement tables for the Residential, Waterfront and Rural precincts set lot area, frontage, yards, coverage and height but no minimum dwelling floor area. Minimum lot sizes are large in rural and waterfront precincts.

Minimum dwelling size: None in the lot requirement tables for Residential (s.4.2.4), Waterfront (s.4.3.4) or Rural (s.4.8.4) precincts [2]
Minimum lot size: Rural 4 ha; Rural Residential 2 ha; Waterfront Residential 1 ha; Urban Residential – Low 465 m² on full services (Tables 4.8.4, 4.3.4, 4.2.4) [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.

Not allowed · Huntsville’s term: “tents, trailers, recreational vehicles / mobile home”

Using tents, trailers and recreational vehicles for permanent or temporary human habitation is prohibited in all precincts. The exceptions are temporary use during dwelling construction and occasional guest accommodation in an RV where a detached dwelling exists. No precinct lists a mobile home park as a permitted use apart from site-specific exceptions. A portable garden suite is available only as a temporary use through a Community Planning Permit.

Where allowed: s.2.32.1: prohibited in all Precincts except (a) an RV with toilet and approved holding tank during construction of a dwelling in Rural or Waterfront Residential precincts, removed within 60 days of discontinuance; (b) occasional accommodation of guests in Rural, Residential or Waterfront Residential precincts where a detached dwelling exists [2]
Temporary garden suite: Only as a temporary use through a Community Planning Permit; floor area not more than the principal dwelling and at most 85 m²; up to two 10-year terms (20 years); not permitted in Waterfront Precincts or with a detached SRDU unless Class 3 variation (s.2.31.2) [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 · Huntsville’s term: “private cabin”

A private cabin (sleeping or occasional guest accommodation, sanitary facilities allowed, no cooking facilities) is a permitted accessory use in the Waterfront Residential and Rural precincts on lots of at least 0.4 ha. One is allowed per lot, up to 60 m² ground floor area, and not closer to the shoreline than the main dwelling.

Where allowed: Waterfront Residential – 60 m and – 120 m (Table 4.3.3 note e); Rural and Rural Residential (Table 4.8.3 note g); s.2.3.15 [2]
Maximum size: Not to exceed 60 m² in ground floor area; may be in the second storey of a detached garage [2]
Minimum lot size: Not on a lot less than 4,000 m² (0.4 ha) [2]
Number allowed: Maximum of one (1) private cabin per lot [2]
Setbacks: Must meet the minimum yards for the principal use; not closer to the shoreline than the principal dwelling [2]
Kitchen: No cooking facilities; sanitary facilities may be provided; no monetary gain (definition "Cabin, Private") [2]
Approvals: Community Planning Permit required for development in the Waterfront Precinct or within 30 m of a shoreline (s.1.3.1 f); otherwise exempt if compliant [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

Huntsville has a Community Planning Permit system (By-law 2022-97) instead of a conventional zoning by-law; zones are called precincts. Site-specific exceptions from former Zoning By-law 2008-66P and earlier by-laws are carried in an appendix. Compliant proposals are processed as Class 1 permits by staff; variations are Class 2 (staff) or Class 3 (Council). Possible conflict: Table 4.2.3 lists SRDUs as permitted in the Urban Residential – Shoreline precinct, but the Town's SRDU page says shoreline residential lots may not have SRDUs. Lot requirement tables are images in the PDF; I read them visually. Draft amendments (e.g. Grandview Village) are pending.

Sources

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