North Dumfries zoning for small homes
Township of North Dumfries, in the Region of Waterloo. Population 10,619 (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 · North Dumfries’s term: “coach house”
A coach house (a detached second unit, free-standing or attached to or above a detached garage) is permitted in Zones 1 to 5a in association with a single detached dwelling, on lots of at least 640 m² with minimum width and depth. Only one second unit of any kind (coach house, secondary dwelling unit or garden suite) is allowed per lot in the consolidated text. 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][3]
- Where allowed
- Zones 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 5 and 5a, with a single detached dwelling; rear yard only for free-standing units (s.6.40) [2]
- Minimum lot size
- Lot width 16 m (54 ft), lot depth 40 m (131 ft), lot area 640 m² (7,074 ft²) (s.6.40.5) [4]
- Maximum size
- Lesser of 40% of the footprint of the principal dwelling or 110 m² (1,184 ft²); coach house plus its driveway and parking may not exceed 40% coverage of the rear yard (s.6.40.6-6.40.7) [4]
- Maximum height
- Free-standing: not above the principal dwelling and max 3.6 m (11.8 ft), or 3.2 m (10.5 ft) with a flat roof; above/attached to a detached garage: max 5.2 m (17 ft); on lots over 0.4 ha (1 acre): max 6.1 m (20 ft) (s.6.40.8-6.40.9) [4]
- Setbacks
- Not within 4 m (13 ft) of any building on an adjoining lot or within 1.5 m (4.9 ft) of an interior or rear lot line; no basement (s.6.40.10-6.40.11) [4]
- Number allowed
- One coach house per lot; where a coach house exists, no garden suite, secondary dwelling unit, bed and breakfast or group home is permitted on the lot (s.6.40.1, 6.40.18) [4]
- Parking
- 1 space for the additional dwelling unit (s.6.11 parking table) [4]
- Servicing
- Connected to the principal residence's services where municipal services are available; private services subject to approval otherwise (s.6.40.4) [4]
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][5][6]
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 · North Dumfries’s term: “residential building - one unit”
The by-law sets minimum floor areas for residential buildings in the agricultural and residential zones, from 90 m² to 165 m² for a one-storey dwelling depending on the zone. [4]
- Minimum dwelling size
- Zone 1 (agricultural): 100 m² (1,075 ft²) one storey, 140 m² 1½ storey, 160 m² two or more storeys (s.7.2.5). Residential Zones 2: 165 m²; 2a, 3, 4, 4a, 4c, 4d, 5: 100 m²; 4b and 5a: 90 m² for one storey (s.8.3.6) [4]
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][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Tiny home on wheels or park model
Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.
Allowed with limits · North Dumfries’s term: “mobile home”
Mobile homes are permitted in Zone 15, a mobile home development zone; on a farm in Zone 1 a mobile home as a second dwelling unit needs Council permission through a development agreement. Recreational vehicles and travel trailers are excluded from the mobile home definition, portable buildings are generally prohibited, and garden suites require a site-specific temporary zoning by-law. [4][1]
- Where allowed
- Zone 15 (Z.15) permits only a Mobile Home Development, with sites of at least 600 m² and 15 m frontage (s.19B.2-19B.3) [4]
- Temporary garden suite
- A garden suite is only permitted where a site-specific temporary zoning by-law allows one: max one per lot, single detached lot, rear yard, lesser of 40% of the principal dwelling footprint or 110 m², max height 3.6 m (s.6.25) [13]
- Approvals
- Zone 1: a mobile home as a second dwelling unit on a farm only with Council permission via a development agreement, approved site plans and Regional Health Unit clearance, reviewed annually (s.6.24) [4]
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. [12][7][3][9][8]
Bunkie or sleeping cabin
A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.
Not allowed · North Dumfries’s term: “accessory building”
The by-law states that no dwelling unit or habitable room may be established within, on, above or attached to an accessory building, and a habitable room includes any room used for human habitation. [4]
- Where allowed
- Not permitted: 'No dwelling unit or habitable room may be established within, on, above or attached to an accessory building' (s.6.4.4); habitable room means any room used or intended for human habitation (s.2.101) [4]
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. [9][7][3][14]
Official links
- Township of North Dumfries website
- Zoning By-law 689-83, as amended
- North Dumfries’s guide to additional units
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- North Dumfries’s guide to additional units
- media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com PDF
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- Zoning By-law 689-83, as amended
- 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)
- media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com PDF
- Building Code updates (Government of Ontario)
Not legal advice
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