North Stormont zoning for small homes

Township of North Stormont, in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Population 7,400 (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 Stormont’s term: “dwelling - secondary unit (detached) / garden suite”

One detached secondary dwelling unit is permitted per main dwelling in zones that list it (R1, R2, Agricultural and Rural), subject to accessory building rules; the Rural Residential (RR) zone does not list it. Garden suites must be established by temporary use by-law. 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]

Where allowed: Dwelling - Secondary Unit listed as a permitted use in R1 (s.6.1), R2 (R1 uses, s.6.2), Agricultural AG (s.11.1, 11.2(2)) and Rural RU (s.12.1, 12.3(2)); not listed in Rural Residential RR (s.6.5) [3]
Number allowed: One garden suite or secondary unit per main dwelling unit (s.3.15(3)) [3]
Maximum size: In a Residential zone limited by the 10% lot coverage cap for accessory buildings; never larger than the main dwelling in any zone (s.3.15(7), 3.1(8)) [3]
Maximum height: Accessory building height 5 m; up to 6.1 m in Agricultural and Rural zones if main-use yards are met (s.3.1(6)) [3]
Separation from house: At least 3 m from the main dwelling (s.3.15(11)) [3]
Setbacks: Accessory building siting; 4 m from a rear or interior side lot line where that wall has windows or an entrance; 1.2 m otherwise (s.3.15(10), 3.1(7)) [3]
Parking: 1 space per dwelling unit, sharing the main dwelling's entrance (s.3.15(8), s.4.1) [3]
Servicing: Only where adequate water supply and sewage disposal exists or can be made available to the Township's satisfaction (s.3.15(6)) [3]

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][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 with limits · North Stormont’s term: “dwelling - single detached”

The R1, R2, Rural Residential, Agricultural and Rural zones require a minimum dwelling unit floor area of 75 m².

Minimum dwelling size: 75.0 m² minimum dwelling unit floor area - R1 (s.6.1(2)), R2 (s.6.2(2)), RR (s.6.5(2)), AG single detached (s.11.1(2)(c)), RU single detached (s.12.1(2)(e)); 37.0 m² in the Mobile Home Subdivision (RMHS) and Mobile Home Park (RMHP) zones [3]

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][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.

Allowed with limits · North Stormont’s term: “mobile home / trailer”

Mobile homes are permitted only in the Mobile Home Park (RMHP) zone, with a Mobile Home Subdivision (RMHS) zone also listing mobile homes; vehicles and recreational equipment may not be used for human habitation, and trailers and mobile homes may not be accessory dwellings except a mobile home used as a garden suite. Garden suites must be established by temporary use by-law under s.39 of the Planning Act.

Where allowed: Mobile Home Park (RMHP) zone (s.3.23, 6.7) and Mobile Home Subdivision (RMHS) zone (s.6.6); minimum dwelling unit floor area 37.0 m² [3]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suites must be established as a temporary use under s.39 of the Planning Act (s.3.15(12)); a mobile home may be used as a garden suite (s.3.39) [3]
Approvals: s.3.19: no truck, bus, coach, streetcar body, railway car, major recreational equipment or other motor vehicle shall be used for human habitation, except a mobile home where specifically permitted [3]

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][2][8][7]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.

Not allowed · North Stormont’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except a garden suite, a detached secondary dwelling unit, or where a zone specifically lists the use; the only listed sleeping-quarters building is a bunk house for seasonal farm workers on an operating farm in the Agricultural and Rural zones.

Approvals: s.3.1(3): use of any accessory building for human habitation is not permitted except a garden suite, Dwelling - Secondary Unit (Detached), or where specifically listed as a permitted use [3]

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][2][12]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Read the October 2021 office consolidation, the only consolidation posted; the Township's zoning page says the posted version may not be the most up to date. It includes the 2021 housekeeping amendments that added secondary dwelling unit provisions. Later amendments found in search are site-specific; whether any township-wide amendment (e.g. for additional residential units after 2022 Planning Act changes) has passed since 2021 was not confirmed. Schedules 1-10 are posted separately on the zoning page.

Sources

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