Mattawan zoning for small homes

Township of Mattawan, a single-tier municipality. Population 153 (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 · Mattawan’s term: “additional residential unit”

An additional residential unit, including one in a detached building ancillary to a house, is a permitted accessory use in the Rural (R) and Limited Service Rural (LSR) zones where it can be adequately serviced by an individual on-site sewage system. A separate 'garden suite' provision requires a site-specific temporary use by-law.

Where allowed: Rural (R) and Limited Service Rural (LSR) zones as a permitted accessory use (s.5.4.1, s.5.5.1; s.4.1.4(d)) [1]
Servicing: Permitted where it can be adequately serviced with an individual on-site sewage system (s.4.1.1(b), s.4.1.4(d)) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory building 6 m (19.6 ft) in the R zone (s.5.4.2(b)) [1]
Separation from house: Minimum 2 m (6.4 ft) between a main building and an accessory building (s.5.4.2(b)) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite permitted subject to a site-specific temporary use by-law under s.39 of the Planning Act: max 49% of main-floor net floor area of the house up to 75 m² (807.3 sq ft), max height 6 m, rear or interior side yard, 3 m from rear/side lot lines (s.4.13) [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 · Mattawan’s term: “tiny house / small house”

The by-law defines a 'Tiny House or Small House' as a dwelling of 27.8 m² to 41.8 m² (300–450 sq ft) on a foundation and lists it as a permitted use in the Rural (R) and Limited Service Rural (LSR) zones. The R and LSR zone requirements set no general minimum dwelling floor area; the minimum lot area is 0.8 ha per dwelling unit.

Minimum dwelling size: Tiny House: not less than 27.8 m² (300 sq ft) and not more than 41.8 m² (450 sq ft), on a foundation (definition, s.3); no general minimum floor area in R or LSR zone requirements [1]
Where allowed: 'Dwelling – Tiny House' permitted in Rural (R) and Limited Service Rural (LSR) zones (s.5.4.1, s.5.5.1) [1]
Minimum lot size: 0.8 ha (1.97 ac) per dwelling unit; 30 m frontage (s.5.4.2(b), s.5.5.2(a)) [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 with limits · Mattawan’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”

A recreational vehicle (including travel trailers) may not be used as a dwelling unit or for permanent occupancy, and is limited to short stays (30 days a year on a lot with a dwelling, 60 days on a vacant serviced lot). Mobile homes are a permitted dwelling type in the Rural (R) and Limited Service Rural (LSR) zones, and a park model trailer is a permitted seasonal dwelling in the R zone.

Where allowed: Mobile Home permitted in R and LSR zones; Dwelling – Park Model Trailer (seasonal) permitted in R zone (s.5.4.1, s.5.5.1) [1]
Number allowed: Recreational vehicle: one, used up to 30 days per calendar year on a lot with a dwelling; up to 60 days on a vacant lot with an approved sewage system (s.4.31) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite by site-specific temporary use by-law under Planning Act s.39; a mobile home or modular home may be used as a garden suite, but not a recreational vehicle (s.4.13, definition of Garden Suite) [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.

Allowed · Mattawan’s term: “guest cabin / sleep cabin”

One guest cabin (or one loft above a detached garage) is permitted per lot as an accessory use to a permitted dwelling in the R and LSR zones, up to 37 m² in gross floor area. It is not permitted on a lot that has a garden suite.

Maximum size: 37 m² (398.3 sq ft) gross floor area (s.4.1.4(a)) [1]
Number allowed: One guest cabin or one loft-above-a-garage per lot (s.4.1.4(a)) [1]
Setbacks: At least 3 m (9.84 ft) from any interior lot line, rear lot line or the main building (s.4.1.4(b)) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory building 6 m (19.6 ft) in the R zone (s.5.4.2(b)) [1]
Kitchen: Sleep cabin: no cooking facilities, may contain sanitary facilities (definition of Sleep 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][11]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Consolidation dated December 16, 2021; the Township's 2022 and 2023-2026 by-law pages list no zoning amendments. Site returns 406 to minimal user agents (fetched with a browser UA). Section 5.4.3(f) says garden suites are subject to 's.4.12' (apparently meant s.4.13), and garden suite is listed as a permitted accessory use in R and LSR although s.4.13 requires a temporary use by-law. It is not stated whether the 0.8 ha minimum lot area per dwelling unit applies to an additional residential unit. The 'Sleep Cabin' definition prints its limit as '37 m5 (400 ft.5)' (typo); s.4.1.4(a) states 37 m² (398.3 ft²) for guest cabins. Official Plan is the East Nipissing Planning Area OP (July 2026); a zoning update may follow.

Sources

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