Kingsville zoning for small homes
Town of Kingsville, in the County of Essex. Population 22,119 (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 · Kingsville’s term: “additional dwelling unit (ADU) in an accessory building”
One additional dwelling unit may be built in an accessory building in the rear or interior side yard of a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling, in zones permitting residential use where municipal water service is available. The by-law allows up to two additional units per lot, only one of which may be in an accessory building. [1][2]
- Where allowed
- Any zone where a residential use is permitted and municipal water service is available; lot with a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling (s. 4.35.1, 4.35.1 a)) [3]
- Number allowed
- Maximum two additional dwelling units per lot; only one may be in an accessory building (s. 4.35.1 b)) [3]
- Maximum size
- 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) floor area (s. 4.35.1 e)) [3]
- Maximum height
- 6.5 m (21.3 ft) for an accessory building containing a dwelling unit (s. 4.2 (i) as amended by By-law 01-2025) [2]
- Setbacks
- Rear or interior side yard only; new construction 1.2 m (4 ft) minimum from rear and side lot lines (s. 4.35.1 f), 4.2 j) iii)) [3]
- Separation from house
- No accessory building within 1.8 m (6 ft) of any other building on the lot (s. 4.2 e)); in an agricultural zone the accessory unit must be within 30.5 m (100 ft) of the main dwelling (s. 4.35.1 i)) [3]
- Parking
- One additional parking space per additional dwelling unit; no additional driveways (s. 4.35.1 c), d)) [3]
- Servicing
- Municipal water service must be available (s. 4.35.1) [3]
- Approvals
- Building permit required for all dwellings [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. [4][5][6]
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 · Kingsville’s term: “single detached dwelling”
The residential zone regulations (e.g. R1.1) set lot area, frontage, yards, coverage and height, but no minimum dwelling floor area was found in the consolidated by-law.
- Minimum dwelling size
- None stated; the R1.1 zone regulations list lot area 500 m², frontage 15 m, coverage 40% and height 11 m with no minimum floor area (s. 6.1.1 c)) [3]
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. [4][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Tiny home on wheels or park model
Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.
Allowed with limits · Kingsville’s term: “trailer / mobile home / recreational vehicle”
Using any tent, trailer, mobile home or motor vehicle for human habitation is prohibited except in a campground, trailer park or mobile home park. The Campground/Trailer Park (TG) zone recognizes only lawfully existing campgrounds and mobile home parks for seasonal accommodation, and a mobile home park is permitted by site-specific exception (LR-19).
- Where allowed
- Only in a campground, trailer park or mobile home park (s. 4.33 a)); TG zone limited to lawfully existing campgrounds, mobile home parks and tourist cabins, for seasonal accommodation (s. 10.5) [3]
- Approvals
- Habitation of trailers, travel trailers, recreational vehicles and campers prohibited in all zones unless expressly permitted (s. 5.21); a parked recreational vehicle may not be used for habitation (s. 5.15) [3]
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. [12][7][4][9][8]
Bunkie or sleeping cabin
A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.
Not allowed · Kingsville’s term: “accessory building”
The by-law prohibits use of any accessory building or structure for human habitation unless it complies with the additional dwelling unit provisions. No separate bunkie or sleeping cabin category was found.
- Approvals
- Use of any accessory building or structure for human habitation prohibited unless in compliance with Subsection 4.35.1 (s. 4.33 c)) [3]
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. [9][7][4][13]
Official links
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- Kingsville’s guide to additional units
- Town of Kingsville web page (kingsville.ca)
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 1-2014
- 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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