Minto zoning for small homes
Town of Minto, in the County of Wellington. Population 9,094 (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 · Minto’s term: “Additional Dwelling Unit (Detached)”
In any zone where a single detached, semi-detached, cluster townhouse or street townhouse dwelling is permitted, one Additional Dwelling Unit (Detached) is permitted in a detached accessory building, subject to the accessory structure provisions and available servicing capacity. [1]
- Number allowed
- One Additional Dwelling Unit (Detached) per lot (s. 6.29.2 a) [2]
- Maximum size
- Minimum floor area 50.0 m² (538.2 ft²) (s. 6.29.2 d); accessory buildings max 10% lot coverage combined (s. 6.1.4 a) [2]
- Maximum height
- Accessory buildings in residential zones max 4.5 m (14.8 ft) (s. 6.1.3 a) [2]
- Setbacks
- Not in a required front or exterior side yard (s. 6.29.2 c); in urban R zones rear or interior side yard, at least 1.0 m from interior/rear lot line; in ER and rural areas at least 3.0 m (s. 6.1.2) [2]
- Separation from house
- On agricultural lots: within the farm building cluster and a 61.0 m (200 ft) radius of the main farm residence (s. 6.29.2 h) [2]
- Parking
- 1 parking space for the sole use of the occupant; no new driveway entrance (s. 6.29.2 e, f) [2]
- Servicing
- Water and sewer service must have capacity, to the Town's satisfaction (s. 6.29.2 g) [2]
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. [3][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 with limits · Minto’s term: “single detached residential dwelling”
The Agricultural and residential zones set minimum floor areas for single detached dwellings, from 83.6 m² for a dwelling under two storeys in the R1C and R2 zones up to 111.5 m² in the Estate Residential zone.
- Minimum dwelling size
- A zone 102.2 m² (1,100 ft²) (s. 8.2.7.1); R1A 102.2 m² (s. 9.2.9); R1B 100.0 m² under two storeys / 139.0 m² two or more (s. 10.2.9); R1C and R2 single detached 83.6 m² (900 ft²) under two storeys / 102.2 m² two or more (s. 11.2.9, 12.2.1.9); ER 111.5 m² (1,200 ft²) (s. 14.2.9) [2]
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. [3][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 · Minto’s term: “mobile home / recreational trailer”
A mobile home used as a dwelling unit, or a trailer or motor home used for habitation other than temporary accommodation in a permitted trailer park or campground, is restricted in all zones; mobile homes are permitted in the MH Mobile Home Park zone. A temporary garden suite, which may be a mobile home in the Agricultural zone, requires a temporary use by-law.
- Where allowed
- Restricted in all zones: 'A mobile home used as a dwelling unit' and 'A trailer or motor home used for human habitation other than for temporary accommodation in a permitted trailer park or campground' (s. 6.35); mobile homes permitted in the MH zone on a mobile home site, minimum floor area 55.0 m² (s. 15) [2]
- Temporary garden suite
- Agricultural, R1A, R1B, R1C, R2 and ER zones by temporary use by-law under Planning Act s. 39; max 92.9 m² (1,000 ft²), one storey or 4.5 m; not a mobile home except in the Agricultural zone (s. 6.12) [2]
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][3][8][7]
Bunkie or sleeping cabin
A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.
Not allowed · Minto’s term: “accessory building”
Accessory buildings are defined as not used for human habitation unless permitted by specific zone provisions, and the by-law has no provision for a sleeping cabin or bunkie.
- Where allowed
- 'ACCESSORY ... which is not used or intended for use as human habitation unless permitted by the provisions of certain Zones of this By-law' (s. 2 Definitions); accessory uses shall not include an accessory dwelling unit except as specifically permitted (s. 6.1.1 b) [2]
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][3][12]
Official links
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- Minto’s guide to additional units
- Zoning By-law 01-86
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 299/19: Additional residential units (Ontario e-Laws)
- Development Charges Act, 1997 (Ontario e-Laws)
- Government of Ontario PDF
- Build or buy a tiny home: Building Code requirements (Government of Ontario)
- Building Code Act, 1992 (Ontario e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 163/24: Ontario Building Code (Ontario e-Laws)
- 2024 Ontario Building Code (Government of Ontario)
- Build or buy a tiny home: permits and inspections (Government of Ontario)
- Building Code updates (Government of Ontario)
Not legal advice
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