McDougall zoning for small homes

Municipality of McDougall, a single-tier municipality. Population 2,744 (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 · McDougall’s term: “additional dwelling in an accessory structure / secondary dwelling; garden suite (temporary)”

One additional dwelling is allowed per lot, and it may be in an accessory structure on non-waterfront lots; it is not permitted this way in the Waterfront Residential (WF) zones. A separate temporary, portable garden suite of up to 80 m² is permitted in the Rural (RU) and Residential (RR) zones under an agreement with the Municipality. 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: Additional dwelling in an accessory or ancillary structure where there is no second dwelling in the main dwelling, excluding any Waterfront Residential (WF) Zone; a secondary dwelling is permitted on any non-waterfront lot (s.3.47 iv-v) [3]
Number allowed: Only one dwelling unit per lot, with listed exceptions; only one additional dwelling on any lot where a second unit is permitted (s.3.47) [3]
Maximum size: Secondary dwelling floor area may not exceed the floor area of the main dwelling (s.3.47 v) [3]
Maximum height: Accessory building: 6 metres in the RU and RR zones (ss.4.02 k, 5.02 k) [3]
Temporary garden suite: Up to 80 m² floor area in the Rural (RU) or Residential (RR) Zone, subject to an agreement covering temporary nature, installation and removal, a period not exceeding 20 years, and a security deposit (s.3.26) [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 · McDougall’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The Rural (RU), Residential (RR) and Multiple Residential (RM) zones set the minimum ground floor building area by reference to the Ontario Building Code rather than a fixed figure. The Waterfront Residential (WF1-WF6) zones require a minimum ground floor area of 60 m².

Minimum dwelling size: Rural (RU) and Residential (RR) zones: Minimum Building Area – Ground Floor 'See Ontario Building Code' (ss.4.02 h, 5.02 h) [3]
Minimum dwelling size: Waterfront Residential (WF1-WF6) zones: Minimum Building Area – Ground Floor 60 square metres (s.7.02 h) [3]
Minimum lot size: RU: 1.0 hectares (s.4.02 b) [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.

Allowed with limits · McDougall’s term: “mobile home / trailer / recreational vehicle”

Mobile homes may only be erected, located or used within a licensed mobile home park, which the Commercial (C1) zone permits along with trailer parks. Trailers, motorhomes and recreational vehicles may not be used as a principal use or for human habitation outside zoned camping, trailer park or mobile home park sites, except temporarily during construction.

Where allowed: 'No person shall erect, locate or use any mobile home or homes except those located within a licensed mobile home park' (s.3.44); the Commercial (C1) zone permits 'a mobile home park licensed by the Municipality' and 'trailer park' (s.8.01) [3]
Temporary garden suite: A trailer may be used as a temporary structure during construction of a permitted use, not exceeding 30 m² and not more than 18 months (s.3.72) [3]
Approvals: Prohibited: 'the use of any trailer for human habitation, except where such trailer is located in a permitted camping establishment, trailer park, mobile home park and habitation is temporary or seasonal in nature' (s.3.52 n); campsite, tent, trailers or camping on vacant rural or residential lots are prohibited (s.3.52 e) [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.

Allowed · McDougall’s term: “sleeping cabin (guest cabin)”

A sleeping cabin (an accessory building for overnight accommodation with no cooking facilities) is a permitted accessory use on any lot zoned for residential use, up to 50 m² or the ground floor area of the main dwelling, whichever is less.

Maximum size: Maximum gross floor area of 50 square metres, or not exceeding the ground floor area of the main dwelling on the lot, whichever is lesser (s.3.65) [3]
Kitchen: Sleeping cabin 'contains no cooking facilities' (s.2.160) [3]
Maximum height: Accessory building: 6 metres in the RU, RR and WF zones (ss.4.02 k, 5.02 k, 7.02 k) [3]
Where allowed: Any lot zoned for residential use; a sleeping cabin may include a loft (s.3.65) [3]
Number allowed: Not stated as a number; human habitation on the upper floor of a detached garage is permitted only if there is no sleeping cabin on the property (s.3.65) [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

Read the Feb 1, 2017 text of By-law 2017-05 linked from https://www.mcdougall.ca/p/official-plan-and-by-laws; it is not a consolidation and no amendments are posted, so later site-specific or general amendments (e.g. to align with Planning Act additional residential unit rules) could not be checked. The by-law permits a garden suite by agreement (s.3.26) rather than through a Planning Act s.39.1 temporary use by-law. Section 3.47 wording on 'secondary dwelling' vs 'additional dwelling in an accessory structure' is somewhat ambiguous on whether both can co-exist; the summary reflects the 'only one additional dwelling' clause.

Sources

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