Mono zoning for small homes
Town of Mono, in the County of Dufferin. Population 9,421 (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 · Mono’s term: “secondary dwelling unit”
A secondary dwelling unit in an accessory building or separate house is permitted only in the Rural (A) zone on lots of at least 10 hectares. The Suburban Residential, Hamlet Residential and Rural Estate zones permit only an accessory apartment within the house. 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
- Rural (A) zone only (s. 5(1)(i), s. 20(1)) [3]
- Minimum lot size
- 10 hectares (s. 20(2)(a)(ii)) [3]
- Maximum size
- Must be subordinate in size to the principal dwelling, with a minimum gross floor area of 74 m² (s. 5(1)(i)(iv)) [3]
- Separation from house
- Maximum setback of 50 m from the principal use (s. 5(1)(i)(vi)) [3]
- Servicing
- Separate septic system required; no new driveway access (s. 5(1)(i)(v), (vii)) [3]
- Parking
- 1 space per dwelling unit [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 with limits · Mono’s term: “detached single-family dwelling house”
The Suburban Residential (RU) and Rural (A) zones set a minimum ground floor area for a dwelling house of 130.07 m², reduced where habitable space is on another storey.
- Minimum dwelling size
- RU zone and A zone: minimum ground floor area 130.07 m²; 111.49 m² where at least 18.59 m² of habitable room area is on an upper storey or qualifying finished basement; 83.62 m² where at least 46.46 m² is on an upper storey (s. 7(2)(g), s. 20(2)(g)) [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.
Not allowed · Mono’s term: “mobile home; tourist trailer”
The definitions of dwelling house and dwelling unit exclude mobile homes and vehicles, the definition of vehicle includes mobile homes and trailers, and no vehicle may be used as a building to house a permitted use. No zone permits mobile homes or a mobile home park; the only mobile unit permitted is a temporary second dwelling for farm help in the Oak Ridges Moraine Countryside zone.
- Where allowed
- ORMC zone only: 'temporary, mobile or portable second dwelling unit for seasonal or permanent farm help' accessory to an agricultural use (s. 23(1)(a)) [3]
- Temporary garden suite
- No garden suite provision found [3]
- Approvals
- 'No vehicle or part thereof shall be used as a building or structure to contain or house any of the uses permitted by this Bylaw except as specifically permitted' (s. 5(22)) [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.
Not allowed · Mono’s term: “accessory building”
No accessory building may be used for human habitation unless specifically permitted elsewhere in the by-law, and the by-law makes no such permission for a sleeping cabin.
- Where allowed
- 'No accessory building shall be used for human habitation unless specifically permitted elsewhere in this By-law' (definition 4(a), amended by By-law 2020-47; s. 5(1)(a)(ii)) [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
Sources
- Mono’s guide to additional units
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 78-1
- 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
Suggest a correction or source
Know of a by-law change, an exception or an official page we missed? Tell us. An editor checks every suggestion before the page changes.
Find help nearby
We don’t have a directory page for Mono’s area yet. These cover all of Ontario.