McGarry zoning for small homes

Township of McGarry, a single-tier municipality. Population 579 (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 · McGarry’s term: “additional residential unit”

One additional residential unit is permitted in a building accessory to a single detached, semi-detached or rowhouse dwelling in the zones that list additional residential units (Settlement, General Residential R1 and Multiple Residential R2). The Lakefront Residential (RL) and Rural (RU) zones do not list them. [1]

Number allowed: One unit in the main dwelling and one in an accessory building (s.4.1.1 a i) [1]
Where allowed: Settlement (S), General Residential (R1) and Multiple Residential (R2, which permits R1 uses) zones (ss.7.2, 8.2, 9.2) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 6 m in S and R1; 8 m in R2 (ss.7.4, 8.4, 9.4) [1]
Setbacks: Accessory buildings at least 1 m from interior side and rear lot lines and 1 m from the main building (s.4.1 f) [1]
Servicing: Permitted on private services if the septic system and well can accommodate the change in use (s.4.1.1 a v) [1]
Parking: 1 space per additional residential unit (s.5.2) [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 · McGarry’s term: “tiny home / single detached dwelling”

The by-law defines a tiny home as a dwelling meeting the Ontario Building Code minimum size and treats it as a single detached dwelling unless it is on wheels. The zone regulations set no minimum dwelling floor area. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: No minimum floor area in zone provisions; 'Tiny Home' must meet the minimum dwelling unit size per the Ontario Building Code (s.3 definitions) [1]
Minimum lot size: S: 450 m²; R1: 370 m²; RL and new rural dwellings: 8,000 m² (ss.7.3, 8.3, 10.3, 17.5) [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 · McGarry’s term: “mobile home (tiny home on wheels)”

A tiny home on wheels is treated as a mobile home. A 'mobile home, on a foundation' is a permitted use in the Settlement and R1 zones (and R2), with skirting required within 30 days. Living in a recreational vehicle outside a campground is prohibited except as a camp in the Rural zone or under a separate Municipal Act by-law. [1]

Where allowed: 'Mobile Home, on a foundation' permitted in S, R1 and R2 zones (ss.7.2, 8.2, 9.2); the mobile home definition requires a permanent foundation and excludes recreational vehicles and trailers [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite rules (s.4.1.3) allow a mobile home to be used as a garden suite: one per lot, 74 m² max net floor area, 6 m max height; no zone lists garden suites, and temporary uses are by s.39 temporary use by-law ('-T' suffix, s.6.9) [1]
Parking: 1 space per mobile home or park model trailer (s.5.2) [1]
Approvals: Skirting from unit to ground required within 30 days of placement (ss.7.5 b, 8.5 a) [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 with limits · McGarry’s term: “sleep cabin”

One sleep cabin (no cooking facilities; sanitary facilities allowed) is permitted per lot as an accessory use to a dwelling in the Lakefront Residential zone. It may not be rented out and may not be on a lot with a garden suite. [1]

Where allowed: Lakefront Residential zone only (s.4.1.9 a; the text says 'R4', while the zone list uses 'RL') [1]
Number allowed: One per lot (s.4.1.9 a) [1]
Kitchen: No cooking facilities; may contain sanitary facilities (definition, s.3) [1]
Setbacks: At least 3 m from interior side and rear lot lines and 3 m from the main building (s.4.1.9 d) [1]
Maximum height: 6 m for accessory buildings in the RL zone; accessory lot coverage max 2% (s.10.4) [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

Cover: 'As Adopted April 9, 2024; In Full Effect September 29, 2025'. Section 4.1.9 refers to the 'Lakefront Residential (R4) Zone' but s.6.1 names the zone 'RL'; s.10.5 a refers to an 'SR Zone'. These are drafting inconsistencies. No maximum floor area is set for sleep cabins. Garden suite rules exist 'where these uses are permitted' but no zone lists garden suites.

Sources

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