Ignace zoning for small homes
Township of Ignace, a single-tier municipality. Population 1,206 (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 · Ignace’s term: “additional residential unit”
One additional residential unit is permitted in a building ancillary to a single-detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling wherever that dwelling is permitted, with a building permit. [1]
- Number allowed
- Maximum of one additional residential unit in a building or structure ancillary to the dwelling (s. 3.31.2), plus one within the dwelling (s. 3.31.1) [1]
- Maximum height
- 10 m for an additional residential unit in an accessory building (s. 3.2.4) [1]
- Setbacks
- Accessory buildings in an interior side or rear yard: not closer than 1.5 m to an interior side or rear lot line (s. 3.2.6(i)) [1]
- Separation from house
- Not closer than 2 m to a main building (s. 3.2.6(ii)) [1]
- Maximum size
- In residential zones, total lot coverage of all accessory buildings may not exceed the building area of the main building (s. 3.2.2) [1]
- Parking
- 1 space per dwelling unit; may be stacked behind the principal unit's spaces (s. 3.31.3) [1]
- Approvals
- A building permit is required and the Ontario Building Code applies (s. 3.31.3(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 · Ignace’s term: “tiny home / single-detached dwelling”
The by-law sets no minimum dwelling floor area, and a 'tiny home' (a dwelling unit over 12 m² and under 29 m² designed as an all-season residence) is a listed permitted use in the Low Density Residential, Mobile Home Park, Waterfront Residential and Recreational Cottage zones. [1]
- Minimum dwelling size
- No minimum dwelling floor area stated in the zone requirements [1]
- Where allowed
- Tiny home is a permitted use in the LDR, MH, WR and REC zones (ss. 5.1, 7.1, 8.1, 19.1); not listed in the Rural Residential (RR) zone [1]
- Minimum lot size
- LDR single-detached dwelling: 375 m²; other permitted uses: 540 m² (s. 5.2(b)) [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 · Ignace’s term: “tiny home”
A 'tiny home' is defined as a dwelling unit that may be on a wheeled chassis, over 12 m² and under 29 m², and is permitted in the LDR, MH, WR and REC zones; mobile homes are permitted only in the Mobile Home Park zone, and a recreational vehicle may be lived in for up to 180 days a year where a dwelling exists on the lot. [1][11]
- Maximum size
- Tiny home: greater than 12 m² and less than 29 m², designed as an all-season residence (Definitions) [1]
- Where allowed
- Tiny home: LDR, MH, WR and REC zones; mobile homes only on lands zoned Mobile Home Park (s. 3.18) [1]
- Temporary garden suite
- Garden suites by temporary zoning by-law amendment, renewable up to 20 years, max 56 m², one storey and 4.6 m; may not be constructed as a travel trailer (s. 3.10) [1]
- Approvals
- One recreational vehicle may be used for habitation on a lot with an existing dwelling for up to 180 days per calendar year (s. 3.22; By-law 36-2021 s. 2.1) [11]
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 · Ignace’s term: “guest house/cabin”
One accessory guest house/cabin (a detached single-storey building for accommodation without sanitary facilities) is a permitted use in the Recreational Cottage (REC) zone; guest houses/cabins are also listed in the Tourist Commercial and Rural Commercial zones but not in the Waterfront Residential or Rural Residential zones. [1]
- Where allowed
- REC zone: accessory guest house/cabin, one only (s. 19.1); also TC and RC zones [1]
- Number allowed
- One (REC zone) [1]
- Maximum height
- Single storey (definition); accessory buildings may not exceed one storey, the height of the main building, or 6.45 m, whichever is less (s. 3.2.4) [1]
- Kitchen
- Definition states sanitary facilities are not provided; cooking facilities not addressed [1]
- Parking
- 1 space per guest house/cabin [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][12]
Official links
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- Zoning By-law No. 68/2020 (passed April 19, 2021)
- 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)
- ignace.civicweb.net web page
- Building Code updates (Government of Ontario)
Not legal advice
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