Manitouwadge zoning for small homes
Township of Manitouwadge, a single-tier municipality. Population 1,974 (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 · Manitouwadge’s term: “additional unit (detached) / garden suite”
One additional unit (detached) is permitted in the Residential, Village Centre, Corridor Mixed Use, Rural Residential and Rural zones on a lot with a single detached, semi-detached or duplex dwelling, but only within an existing accessory building (such as a garage) and only where the lot has no additional unit (attached). A garden suite is defined as a temporary free-standing unit to be addressed through a temporary zoning amendment. Ontario's Planning Act (s. 35.1) overrides zoning provisions that would prohibit one unit in a building ancillary to a house on serviced urban land. [1][2]
- Where allowed
- Residential (R), Village Centre (VC), Corridor Mixed Use (CMU), Rural Residential (RR) and Rural (RU) zones (s.4.3); also listed as a permitted accessory use in the Remote Cottage (RC) zone (s.6.3.1) [3]
- Number allowed
- Up to one additional unit (detached) per lot, and only on lots with no additional unit (attached) (s.4.3.1, 4.3.2) [3]
- Maximum size
- Gross floor area not to exceed 40 percent of the main dwelling's GFA or 50.0 m², whichever is greater (s.4.3.5; R zone table 5.4.4) [3]
- Maximum height
- 5.0 m in the R and RC zones; 7.5 m in the RR and RU zones (tables 5.4.4, 6.4.2, 7.4.2, 8.4.2) [3]
- Setbacks
- R zone: front yard 1.5 m greater than main building's front yard; interior side yard 1.5 m; exterior side yard 3.0 m; rear yard 0.6 m; not in the front or exterior side yard (s.4.3.6, table 5.4.4) [3]
- Separation from house
- 2.0 m to a main building on the same lot (table 5.4.4) [3]
- Parking
- One parking space in addition to the parking required for the main dwelling (s.4.30) [3]
- Servicing
- Must demonstrate that the existing private sewage system and potable water supply can support the unit, and shall use them (s.4.3.7) [3]
- Temporary garden suite
- Garden suite: a free-standing dwelling unit placed temporarily on an existing residential property, GFA not exceeding the living area of the primary residence; 'to be addressed as a temporary zoning amendment' (s.2.82) [3]
- Approvals
- Shall be located within an existing accessory building that is not already used as a dwelling unit, such as a garage (s.4.3.4); shall not be severed from the lot (s.4.3.3) [3]
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][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 · Manitouwadge’s term: “tiny dwelling”
A tiny dwelling is a listed main use in the Residential, Rural Residential and Rural zones and the residential and rural zone regulations set no minimum dwelling floor area. Tiny dwellings must be on a foundation with solid skirting, conform to the Ontario Building Code, and be serviced by an approved private sewage system and potable water supply.
- Where allowed
- Tiny dwelling permitted as a main use in R (s.5.2.11), RR (s.7.2.8, 'with approved water and septic') and RU (s.8.2.12, 'with approved water and septic'); 'tiny recreational dwelling' in RC (s.6.2.3) [3]
- Minimum dwelling size
- None stated in the R, RR, RU or RC zone regulations [3]
- Servicing
- Shall be serviced by an approved private sewage system and potable water supply (s.4.49.3) [3]
- Minimum lot size
- R zone: 460.0 m² lot area and 10.5 m frontage (table 5.4.1); RR: 1.0 ha and 45.0 m (table 7.4.1); RU: 4.0 ha, or 1.0 ha on water (table 8.4.1) [3]
- Approvals
- Shall be placed on a foundation with solid skirting finished in like material as the house exterior, and shall conform to the Ontario Building Code (s.4.49.1, 4.49.2) [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. [2][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 · Manitouwadge’s term: “recreational vehicle / trailer”
The by-law prohibits using any recreational vehicle as a main place of residence in all zones, treats a tiny dwelling built on a chassis and not intended for year-round accommodation as a recreational vehicle, and has no mobile home park zone. Temporary RV residence is allowed for up to one year while a main dwelling is built or replaced, with longer periods requiring a temporary use by-law.
- Where allowed
- Use of any recreational vehicle as a main place of residence is prohibited in all zones (s.4.54.12); no RV shall be used for temporary or permanent living accommodation except where specifically permitted (s.4.35.1); trailers for human habitation prohibited except as expressly permitted, other than occasional guest accommodation not exceeding two weeks in a residential zone (s.4.51.2) [3]
- Number allowed
- Where a detached dwelling exists, one RV (R and RC zones) or two RVs (RR zone) may be used for accessory, non-commercial, temporary human habitation (s.5.6, 6.5, 7.5) [3]
- Temporary garden suite
- Garden suite is 'to be addressed as a temporary zoning amendment' (s.2.82) [3]
- Approvals
- RV as main residence on a vacant lot while the main dwelling is built, or while a dwelling is demolished and replaced: up to one year; beyond one year requires a temporary use by-law; may be subject to licensing (s.4.48.1, 4.48.2) [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. [11][6][2][8][7]
Bunkie or sleeping cabin
A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.
Not allowed · Manitouwadge’s term: “accessory building”
The by-law has no bunkie or sleeping cabin provision, and accessory buildings shall not be used for human habitation except where a residential use is a specifically permitted accessory use. The only detached habitable accessory use listed is an additional unit (detached), which is a full dwelling unit with kitchen and sanitary facilities.
- Where allowed
- Accessory buildings 'shall not be used for human habitation, except where a residential use is a specifically permitted accessory use' (s.4.1.1) [3]
- Maximum size
- Accessory buildings (all buildings and roofed structures): 100.0 m² in R and RC zones; 200.0 m² in RR and RU zones (tables 5.4.4, 6.4.2, 7.4.2, 8.4.2) [3]
- Maximum height
- Accessory buildings: 5.0 m in R and RC; 7.5 m in RR and RU [3]
- Setbacks
- RC zone (waterfront): 30.0 m from water for accessory buildings other than shoreline structures (table 6.4.2) [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. [8][6][2][12]
Official links
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- Township of Manitouwadge web page (manitouwadge.ca)
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2022-42
- 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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