Montague zoning for small homes
Township of Montague, in the County of Lanark. Population 3,914 (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 · Montague’s term: “additional residential unit (ARU)”
Section 4.2 permits one additional residential unit in an accessory structure (up to two ARUs in total) on lots in the RG, RR and RU zones where a single detached, semi-detached, duplex or multiple dwelling is permitted. Conditions include frontage on a year-round maintained public road, shared driveway, and no ARUs on hazard lands or EP zones.
- Where allowed
- RG, RR and RU zones; not on lands subject to flooding or natural hazards or zoned EP-A/EP-B (s. 4.2) [1]
- Number allowed
- Maximum two ARUs in addition to the primary dwelling; maximum one ARU in an accessory structure (s. 4.2.6) [1]
- Maximum height
- 5 m for an ARU in a non-residential accessory structure within a Residential zone (s. 4.2.10) [1]
- Minimum lot size
- Lot must meet the zone's minimum lot area and frontage (s. 4.2.1) [1]
- Parking
- Minimum 1 parking space per ARU; access via the principal dwelling's driveway (s. 4.2.8-9) [1]
- Servicing
- May share the existing well and septic or use independent systems; a separate septic system on a lot under 0.8 ha requires a hydrogeological assessment (s. 4.2.12-14) [1]
- Separation from house
- Minimum 1 m between a detached accessory building and any other building (s. 4.1.6) [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 · Montague’s term: “single detached dwelling”
The RG, RR and RLS residential zone provisions set lot area, frontage, yard, height and coverage limits but no minimum floor area for a single detached dwelling.
- Minimum dwelling size
- No minimum dwelling floor area in the RG, RR or RLS zone provisions (s. 6.1-6.3) [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 · Montague’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”
Recreational vehicles, travel trailers and tent trailers may not be used as a dwelling except in a tourist campground or temporarily during construction of a dwelling. Mobile homes are permitted in the Mobile Home Park Residential (RMH) zone, and the ARU definition includes a mobile home placed on a foundation.
- Where allowed
- Mobile Home Park Residential (RMH) zone: mobile home and mobile home park; minimum park area 4 ha, minimum site area 700 m² (s. 6.4) [1]
- Temporary garden suite
- 'Garden suite' is defined as a portable unit for which a temporary use by-law has been adopted under the Planning Act (s. 3) [1]
- Approvals
- RV/travel trailer/tent trailer habitation prohibited except in a tourist campground or as a temporary use during construction of a dwelling (max one year from building permit) (s. 4.19.3, 4.31.3) [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 · Montague’s term: “sleeping cabin”
One sleeping cabin is permitted as an accessory use on a lot in a Residential zone that abuts a water body or watercourse. A sleeping cabin is a single storey building with no kitchen, and accessory buildings may not otherwise be used for habitation.
- Where allowed
- Lots in a Residential zone that abut a water body or watercourse (s. 4.1.8) [1]
- Number allowed
- One sleeping cabin (s. 4.1.8) [1]
- Maximum size
- 25 m² (s. 4.1.8(a)) [1]
- Setbacks
- Minimum water setback 30 m or the water setback of the existing dwelling, whichever is greater (s. 4.1.8(b)) [1]
- Kitchen
- Single storey; may contain washroom facilities but no kitchen or food preparation facilities (definition, s. 3) [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
Sources
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 4070-2024
- 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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