New Tecumseth zoning for small homes
Town of New Tecumseth, in the County of Simcoe. Population 43,948 (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 · New Tecumseth’s term: “additional residential unit (detached)”
One detached additional residential unit is permitted in an accessory building on a lot with a single detached, semi-detached or street townhouse dwelling, in the zones that list additional residential units (including the Low-Rise Residential, Estate Residential, Hamlet Residential and A1/A2 Agricultural zones). It must sit on a permanent footing/foundation and cannot be severed from the lot. [1]
- Maximum size
- 50% of the gross floor area of the principal building, to a maximum of 80 m² [2]
- Maximum height
- 6.5 m, and never taller than the principal dwelling [2]
- Setbacks
- Not in the required front yard or exterior side yard; minimum 1.2 m from rear and interior side lot lines (0.6 m from a rear laneway right-of-way) [2]
- Number allowed
- One detached unit; up to two additional units in total (one attached plus one detached, or two attached) [2]
- Servicing
- Where the principal dwelling is connected to full municipal sewer and water, the detached unit must also be connected [2]
- Parking
- 1 parking space for the first additional residential unit (tandem permitted) [2]
- Where allowed
- Pedestrian access required from a public street or lane, or by an unobstructed walkway in an interior side yard; ORM Countryside zones permit attached additional units only [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 · New Tecumseth’s term: “single detached dwelling”
The zone regulation tables for the Low-Rise Residential, Estate Residential, Hamlet Residential and Agricultural zones set lot, yard, coverage and height standards but no minimum dwelling floor area; minimum floor areas appear only in a few site-specific exceptions.
- Minimum dwelling size
- None in the general zone regulations (site-specific exception A1-13 sets 65.0 m² for its dwelling) [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.
Not allowed · New Tecumseth’s term: “mobile home / trailer / recreational vehicle”
Section 2.23 says no vehicle or structure may be used as a dwelling unit unless it complies with all regulations for a dwelling unit, including the Building Code and Fire Code, or is a mobile home or trailer where the by-law specifically permits one; no zone permits a mobile home park. Recreational camping establishments are defined for temporary RV use only.
- Where allowed
- No mobile home park zone; mobile homes are permitted only in specific farm help-house exceptions (e.g. A1-13, minimum 28.0 m²) [2]
- Approvals
- A detached additional residential unit must be placed on a permanent footing/foundation [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 addressed
The by-law does not mention bunkies or sleeping cabins. It says no accessory building may be used as a dwelling unit except an additional residential unit (detached) or help house, and accessory buildings in Residential and Hamlet zones are limited to 4.6 m in height.
- Maximum height
- 4.6 m for accessory structures in Residential or Hamlet zones; otherwise the zone height [2]
- Setbacks
- Not in a required front or exterior side yard; at least 0.6 m from interior side and rear lot lines [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
- Town of New Tecumseth website
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2021-128
- New Tecumseth’s guide to additional units
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- New Tecumseth’s guide to additional units
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2021-128
- 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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Directory pages that cover New Tecumseth.