Machar zoning for small homes

Township of Machar, a single-tier municipality. Population 969 (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 · Machar’s term: “second dwelling unit / accessory apartment”

By-law 45-12 allows one dwelling unit per lot unless stated otherwise. An accessory apartment is permitted only inside a building originally designed as a detached dwelling (R, ER and RU zones). A second dwelling unit is permitted only on lots abutting a navigable waterway with at least 180 m of frontage. [1]

Number allowed: No more than one dwelling unit per lot unless specified elsewhere in the by-law (s.3.5) [2]
Where allowed: Second dwelling unit on lands abutting a navigable waterway where the lot has at least 180 m of frontage, provided there is not more than one guest cabin on the lot (s.3.5) [2]
Approvals: Accessory apartment (a separate dwelling unit in a building originally designed as a detached dwelling and still occupied by the owner) is a permitted use in the R, ER and RU zones and must meet the Ontario Building Code (ss.4.1.4, 4.4.3, 5.2) [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 with limits · Machar’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The by-law sets a general minimum ground floor area of 65 m² for any dwelling unit, and higher zone minimums for single detached dwellings in the Residential and Rural zones.

Minimum dwelling size: No dwelling unit shall have a ground floor area of less than 65 m² (700 sq ft) unless specifically provided for (s.3.12) [2]
Minimum dwelling size: Minimum ground floor area 80 m² (861.2 sq ft) in the Residential (R) zone (s.4.1.2) and for single detached dwellings in the Rural (RU) zone (s.4.8.3); 60 m² (645.8 sq ft) in the Shoreline Residential (SR) and Limited Service Residential (LSR) zones; 93 m² (1,001 sq ft) in the Estate Residential (ER) zone [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.

Allowed with limits · Machar’s term: “mobile home / trailer”

Mobile homes under 80 m² are permitted only in the Residential Mobile Home (RMH) zone; elsewhere a mobile home must be CSA Z240/Z241, on a permanent foundation and at least 80 m². The use of trailers, motorized mobile homes and campers is prohibited except where expressly permitted, apart from up to 30 days a year in the SR, BR and RU zones.

Where allowed: Mobile homes with an area of less than 80 m² are permitted in the Residential Mobile Home (RMH) zone only (s.3.15) [2]
Minimum dwelling size: Outside the RMH zone a mobile home must meet CSA Z240 or Z241, sit on permanent foundations with running gear and towing equipment removed, have at least 80 m² (860 sq ft) ground floor area, be fully enclosed to grade and be fully serviced (s.3.15) [2]
Temporary garden suite: No garden suite provision in the by-law; s.4.20 lists only site-specific temporary use by-laws under s.39 of the Planning Act (none listed in Table 5) [2]
Approvals: Use of trailers, motorized mobile homes, truck campers, tent trailers and travel trailers is prohibited in all zones except where expressly permitted; a tent trailer, travel trailer or truck camper may be used on a lot in the SR, BR or RU zones for no more than 30 days in a calendar year (s.3.38) [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 · Machar’s term: “guest cabin”

One guest cabin without cooking facilities is permitted per lot in the Backlot Residential, Limited Service Residential and Shoreline Residential zones; the by-law does not list it for the Rural zone.

Where allowed: Backlot Residential (BR), Limited Service Residential (LSR) and Shoreline Residential (SR) zones (s.3.1 j) [2]
Maximum size: 24 m² or less [2]
Maximum height: One storey, unless located within the second storey of a garage [2]
Kitchen: No cooking facilities [2]
Number allowed: One per lot; all habitable accessory structures count as guest cabins; on lands abutting a navigable waterway with at least 45 m of frontage, an additional guest cabin is permitted with each additional 90 m of frontage [2]
Setbacks: Must meet all setbacks that apply to the principal building; attached deck no more than 25% of the cabin's gross floor area [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

Read the consolidated by-law (cover: consolidated January 2021 and August 2023). The township zoning page lists no later amendments and no additional residential unit by-law. The by-law has no detached additional residential unit provisions; Planning Act s.35.1 rights for additional units apply only to lots on full municipal water and sewage, which this summary does not assess.

Sources

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