Merrickville-Wolford zoning for small homes

Village of Merrickville-Wolford, in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Population 3,135 (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 · Merrickville-Wolford’s term: “Additional Residential Unit (ARU)”

ARUs, including one in an accessory structure, are permitted in the R2, R3, Hamlet (H) and Rural (RU) zones, and the Agricultural (A) zone also lists additional residential unit as a permitted use. They are not listed in the Limited Services Residential (LSR) zone. The lot must meet the zone's minimum area and frontage and front on a year-round maintained public road.

Where allowed: R2, R3, H and RU zones (s. 3.2), also listed as a permitted use in the A zone (s. 11.1); not on EP-zoned or hazard lands [1]
Number allowed: Maximum two ARUs per property in addition to the primary dwelling; maximum one in an accessory structure (s. 3.2.7) [1]
Maximum height: s. 3.2.11 limits an ARU in an accessory structure to the height in s. 3.1.3 'i.e. 6.1 m'; s. 3.1.3.2 gives 6.1 m (20 ft) and 1.5 storeys for a detached private garage containing an ARU; other accessory buildings 5 m (16.4 ft) [1]
Separation from house: Within the serviced Village of Merrickville, a building containing an ARU must be at least 4 m from another building containing a residential unit; otherwise accessory buildings at least 2 m (6.6 ft) from the main building (s. 3.1.5) [1]
Setbacks: Accessory buildings in residential zones: 1.5 m from interior side/rear lot lines where the facing wall is 10 m² (107.6 ft²) or less, otherwise 3 m (9.8 ft); 3 m in other zones (s. 3.1.2) [1]
Parking: Minimum one parking space per ARU, accessed by the principal dwelling's driveway (s. 3.2.9-10) [1]
Minimum lot size: Property must meet the zone's minimum lot area and frontage (s. 3.2.1); an ARU in an accessory structure needing a separate septic system on a lot under 0.4 ha requires a hydrogeological assessment (s. 3.2.13) [1]
Servicing: ARUs on properties in the Village served by municipal water and/or sewage must connect to municipal services (s. 3.2.14) [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 · Merrickville-Wolford’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The R2, R3, LSR, A and RU zone regulations set no minimum floor area for a single detached dwelling.

Minimum dwelling size: None stated in the residential, Agricultural or Rural zone provisions (s. 5, 11, 12) [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 · Merrickville-Wolford’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”

Mobile homes are a permitted residential use in the Mobile Home Park (MHP) zone, and one may be used as a second farm dwelling on an A or RU lot of at least 40 ha. Otherwise a mobile home or recreational vehicle may be lived in only temporarily during construction of a permanent dwelling, under an agreement with the municipality.

Where allowed: Mobile Home Park (MHP) zone (s. 5.4.1); as a second farm dwelling on A or RU lots of at least 40 ha (s. 11.3, 12.3) [1]
Temporary garden suite: A garden suite is defined as a portable detached dwelling accessory to an existing residence for which a temporary use by-law has been adopted under the Planning Act; temporary uses require a by-law amendment adding a 't' suffix (s. 2, 3.33) [1]
Approvals: A mobile home or RV may be a temporary residence only while a building permit for a permanent dwelling is valid, under a written agreement with the municipality for up to one year, extendable one year (s. 3.24.2) [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 · Merrickville-Wolford’s term: “accessory building”

Human habitation is not permitted in any private garage or other building accessory to a residential use, and accessory uses exclude buildings used for human habitation unless the by-law specifically permits them. A habitable detached unit would need to qualify as an Additional Residential Unit.

Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 5 m (16.4 ft) (s. 3.1.3) [1]
Approvals: Human habitation shall not be permitted in any private garage or other building accessory to a residential use (s. 3.26.1); accessory uses do not include any building used for human habitation except as specifically permitted (s. 3.1.1) [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

Read the May 2026 office consolidation of Zoning By-law 33-25, which council enacted June 23, 2025 (notice: https://www.merrickville-wolford.ca/residents/news-public-notices/media-releases/notice-of-decision-new-zoning-by-law-33-2025). The zoning page links to it as the current by-law; appeal status was not separately confirmed. The download URL slug still says '23-08', but the file is By-law 33-25. Height conflict: s. 3.2.11 says 'i.e. 6.1 m', but s. 3.1.3.1 sets 5 m for accessory buildings and the 6.1 m figure in s. 3.1.3.2 is worded for a detached garage containing an ARU. s. 3.26.5 cross-refers to a non-existent 's. 3.23.2.2' (likely meant 3.24.2). No municipal ARU guide found.

Sources

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