North Frontenac zoning for small homes

Township of North Frontenac, in the County of Frontenac. Population 2,285 (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 Frontenac’s term: “secondary dwelling unit (in an accessory building); garden suite (temporary use by-law)”

One secondary dwelling unit may be located within the dwelling or in an accessory building as of right in zones that list it (e.g. Rural, Hamlet, Residential Multiple, Limited Service Rural), on lots of at least 0.4 ha; it is not listed in the Residential Waterfront zone and is prohibited within 300 m of an at-capacity lake. A portable garden suite requires a site-specific temporary use by-law. [1]

Maximum size: Gross floor area not exceeding 45% of the principal dwelling or 100 m², whichever is lesser (s.3.1.3(e)) [1]
Minimum lot size: 0.4 hectares (s.3.1.3(b)), and the lot must meet the zone minimum [1]
Number allowed: Maximum one secondary dwelling unit per lot (s.3.1.3(a)) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings to a residential use: 8 m and two storeys (s.3.1.1(h)) [1]
Separation from house: Accessory buildings no closer than 3 m to the main building (s.3.1.1(k)) [1]
Parking: Minimum one parking space; tandem arrangement with the primary dwelling permitted (s.3.1.3(j)) [1]
Servicing: Must demonstrate adequate potable water and sewage system capacity (s.3.1.3(k)) [1]
Where allowed: Listed as an accessory use in RM, H, RU, LSR, CO and GC zones; not permitted within 300 m of the high-water mark of an at-capacity lake, in a boathouse, or in natural hazard areas (s.3.1.3, Part 4) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite permitted only by site-specific Temporary Use By-law under Planning Act s.39.1; max footprint 50 m², max height 6 m or average height of main buildings (lesser), 3 m from principal dwelling, not on a waterfront lot (s.3.17) [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 · North Frontenac’s term: “tiny home (Dwelling – Tiny Home)”

The by-law defines a tiny home (19 m² to under 37.2 m², permanent, wheels removed) as a form of single detached dwelling; the Rural and Residential Waterfront zone provisions set no general minimum dwelling floor area. Some site-specific exception zones do set minimums. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: No general minimum in RU or RW zone requirements; Dwelling – Tiny Home defined as minimum 19 m² gross floor area but less than 37.2 m² [1]
Where allowed: Single detached dwelling (which includes tiny home) is a principal use in RU, RW, RM, H and other residential zones [1]
Minimum lot size: New lots: 0.8 ha in RU and RW zones (s.4.7.3, s.4.4.3) [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 · North Frontenac’s term: “mobile home; park model trailer; recreational vehicle”

A CSA Z240 mobile home is a permitted principal dwelling in the Rural and Hamlet zones, while a tiny home must have its wheels removed and park model trailers are defined for seasonal occupancy; recreational vehicles are excluded from the definition of dwelling and are regulated by a separate Recreational Vehicle By-law. Garden suites are available only through a temporary use by-law. [1]

Where allowed: Dwelling – Mobile Home is a permitted principal use in RU, H and CO zones; Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle are permitted uses in the MHPR zone; park model trailers are permitted in the RC zone [1]
Temporary garden suite: Available by site-specific Temporary Use By-law under Planning Act s.39.1 (s.3.17) [1]
Approvals: Dwelling excludes tents, buses, motor vehicles and recreational vehicles; RVs on individual lots are governed by the Township's Recreational Vehicle By-law (s.3.37) [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 · North Frontenac’s term: “sleep cabin”

One sleep cabin (or loft-above-a-garage) is permitted as an accessory use to a dwelling on a waterfront lot in zones that list it, including RW, RU, H, LSR and LSW, but not on a lot with a garden suite or secondary dwelling unit, and not within 300 m of an at-capacity lake. [1]

Maximum size: Minimum footprint 10 m², maximum footprint 19 m² (s.3.1.4(b)) [1]
Maximum height: Single storey (definition of Sleep Cabin); accessory building limits of the zone apply [1]
Number allowed: One sleep cabin or one loft-above-a-garage per lot (s.3.1.4) [1]
Kitchen: No kitchen facilities; toilet and sink only, with approved sewage system and outside the 30 m water setback (s.3.1.4(c)) [1]
Setbacks: Not within 30 m of the high-water mark of a water body (s.3.1.4(f)) [1]
Where allowed: Accessory use in RW, H, RU, LSR and LSW zones; not permitted within 300 m of the high-water mark of an at-capacity lake (s.3.1.4(h)) [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

Consolidation includes By-law #2026-39 (housekeeping, passed July 9, 2026); EngageFrontenac notice of passing confirms 2026-39 and lists no later amendment (https://engagefrontenac.ca/proposed-amendments-to-zoning-by-law-55-19). The Rural zone lists 'Garden Suite' as an accessory use but s.3.17 requires a temporary use by-law. Sleep cabin wording ties it to a waterfront lot. The Recreational Vehicle By-law referenced in s.3.37 was not reviewed. No official ARU guide found.

Sources

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