Matachewan zoning for small homes

Township of Matachewan, a single-tier municipality. Population 268 (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 · Matachewan’s term: “secondary dwelling unit / garden suite / accessory dwelling”

The by-law has rules for secondary dwelling units and garden suites 'where these uses are permitted', but neither is listed as a permitted use in the residential zones. The Rural (RU) zone lists an accessory dwelling, with up to two accessory dwelling houses on a lot used as a farm. 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: Rural (RU) zone lists 'an accessory dwelling' (s.17.1); dwelling houses per lot: 2 as accessory dwelling houses on a lot used as a farm, 1 only for other uses (s.17.2 c) [1]
Maximum size: Where permitted, a secondary unit or garden suite may not exceed 40% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling (s.3.1) [1]
Minimum lot size: RU zone: 30.0 ha, 200 m frontage (s.17.2) [1]
Approvals: Accessory buildings used for human habitation are not permitted in any zone unless listed as a permitted use (s.3.1) [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 with limits · Matachewan’s term: “single detached dwelling”

Minimum dwelling unit areas are 70 m² in the General Residential (R1) and Rural (RU) zones, 100 m² on newly created rural residential lots, and 50 m² for seasonal dwellings in the R2 zone. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: R1: 70.0 m² (s.5.2 k); RU: 70.0 m² (s.17.2 k); lots created by consent in RU: 100.0 m² (s.17.3); R2 seasonal dwelling: 50.0 m² (s.6.2 k) [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.

Not allowed · Matachewan’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”

No recreational vehicle may be used as habitable space, and placing a mobile home or mobile home park is prohibited except in a zone created for that purpose. A Mobile Home (RMH) zone is listed in the zone classification, but the by-law contains no RMH zone section setting permitted uses. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile home or mobile home park prohibited in the Township except as provided in a specific zone for this purpose (s.3.14); RMH zone is listed (s.4.1) but has no zone section [1]
Approvals: 'No recreational vehicle shall be used for habitable space' (s.3.26) [1]

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.

Not allowed · Matachewan’s term: “private cabin”

A 'private cabin' (rooms with no cooking facilities, accessory to a dwelling house) is defined but not listed as a permitted use in any zone. Accessory buildings used for human habitation are not permitted unless listed as a permitted use in the zone. [1]

Where allowed: Not listed as a permitted use in the R1, R2 (Seasonal Residential) or RU zones; s.3.1 bars accessory buildings used for human habitation unless listed [1]
Kitchen: Private cabin: sanitary conveniences may be provided but no cooking facilities (definition, s.2) [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][11]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The document is the 'as adopted' text of Sept 25, 2018, not an office consolidation. No later amendments were checked (none are noted on the zoning page per inventory). The by-law number 2018-16 appears in the page footers. The RMH (Mobile Home) zone appears only in the s.4.1 zone list. Whether any land is mapped RMH on Schedules A/B was not checked. The Planning Act's own additional residential unit permissions (s.35.1) may apply on serviced urban residential land regardless of the by-law text. This was not assessed.

Sources

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