North Grenville zoning for small homes
Municipality of North Grenville, in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Population 17,964 (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 · North Grenville’s term: “additional residential unit in an accessory building”
An additional residential unit may be located in a separate building ancillary to a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling, with up to two additional units per primary dwelling. On private services the lot must be at least 0.4 ha.
- Number allowed
- Maximum two ARUs per primary dwelling unit; if both are inside the dwelling, no unit is permitted in an accessory building (s.6.12 a–c) [1]
- Maximum size
- 50% of the gross floor area of the primary dwelling unit (s.6.12 d) [1]
- Maximum height
- Not to exceed the height of the primary dwelling (s.6.12 l) [1]
- Setbacks
- Accessory yard provisions of s.6.1.4 (1.2 m from side/rear lot lines in a rear yard; 2.4 m from a dwelling on an adjoining lot); not closer to a street than the principal dwelling (s.6.12 k) [1]
- Separation from house
- 1.2 m minimum between a detached accessory building and the main building (s.6.1.5) [1]
- Minimum lot size
- 0.4 ha (4,000 m2) on private services (s.6.12 m) [1]
- Where allowed
- Not permitted in a regulated floodplain or on a lot with a garden suite or rooming units (s.6.12 f, g) [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 Grenville’s term: “single detached dwelling”
The base zone regulations for the R1, Rural Residential, Rural and Agriculture (A1) zones set no minimum floor area for a detached dwelling. Some site-specific exception zones do set minimum floor areas.
- Minimum dwelling size
- None in the base zone regulations of the A1 (s.7.2), RU (s.9.2), RR (s.10.2) and R1 (s.13.2) zones; certain special exception zones set minimums (e.g. 95–119 m2) [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 Grenville’s term: “mobile home / garden suite”
Mobile homes, defined to include CSA Z241 park model trailers, are permitted only in the Residential Mobile Home Park (RMHP) zone, with exceptions for farm-related accessory dwellings in the A1 and RU zones. Trailers may not be used for human habitation except as temporary or seasonal accommodation. Garden suites are permitted through temporary use by-laws of up to 20 years.
- Where allowed
- Mobile home permitted only in the Residential Mobile Home Park (RMHP) zone; in A1 or RU zones one mobile home is permitted as a second accessory dwelling related to the farm operation (s.6.28) [1]
- Minimum dwelling size
- 65 m2 (700 ft2) minimum floor area per mobile home site in the RMHP zone (s.12.2.2) [1]
- Temporary garden suite
- Temporary use by-law for a garden suite may be in effect up to 20 years (s.3.10 b); max. 2 occupants, not rented, one extra parking space, agreement with bonding required (s.6.15); a mobile home may be used as a garden suite in the A1 or RU zones (s.5.125) [1]
- Approvals
- Human habitation not permitted in 'any trailer other than as temporary or seasonal accommodation, except in accordance with specific provisions of this By-Law' (s.6.32 e) [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.
Not allowed · North Grenville’s term: “accessory building”
Human habitation is not permitted in any private garage or other building accessory to a residential use, and the accessory use permission excludes buildings used for human habitation unless specifically permitted. No bunkie or sleeping cabin provision was found.
- Maximum height
- Accessory buildings max. 4.5 m (14.76 ft) in residential zones, 6 m (19.7 ft) in all other zones (s.6.1.7) [1]
- Approvals
- 'Human habitation shall not be permitted in ... Any private garage or other building which is accessory to a residential use' (s.6.32 a) [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
- North Grenville Comprehensive Zoning By-law 50-12
- 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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