Northern Bruce Peninsula zoning for small homes

Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, in the County of Bruce. Population 4,404 (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 · Northern Bruce Peninsula’s term: “additional residential unit in an accessory building”

An ARU in an accessory building is permitted in the R1, R3, R4, RU1 and RU2 zones. Rural lots need at least 4,000 m², and no detached ARU is permitted in the R2 (Resort Residential) zone. Portable garden suites and tiny homes are listed in R1, RU1 and RU2, subject to a temporary use by-law under s.39.1 of the Planning Act.

Where allowed: Accessory building ARU: R1, R3, R4, RU1, RU2; not in R2 (s.6.3.15.1 i–iii) [1]
Minimum lot size: RU1/RU2: 4,000 m² for one ARU, 6,000 m² for two (s.6.3.15.1 iii) [1]
Number allowed: Max 2 ARUs per lot (one in the dwelling and one in an accessory building); a temporary garden suite or tiny home counts as an ARU (s.6.3.15.1 iv) [1]
Maximum size: Less than the gross habitable area of the principal dwelling (s.6.3.15.1 v) [1]
Maximum height: Principal dwelling height and setbacks apply; may be 1.5 m from interior side and rear lot lines if no taller than 5.0 m (s.6.3.15.2 i, ii) [1]
Separation from house: At least 2.0 m from the principal dwelling; in RU1/RU2 no more than 50 m from the existing dwelling (s.6.3.15.2 iv, v) [1]
Parking: Minimum 1 off-street space in addition to the principal dwelling's (s.6.3.15.1 x) [1]
Servicing: Subject to adequate municipal or private on-site servicing (s.6.3.15.1 vi) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suites and tiny homes listed in R1, RU1 (and RU2) 'subject to requirements of 39.1 of the Planning Act' (s.9.1, 12.1) [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 with limits · Northern Bruce Peninsula’s term: “detached dwelling”

Detached dwellings must have a minimum habitable floor area of 70 m² (753 ft²) in the R1 zone, in the R2 zone (which uses the R1 provisions) and in the RU1 and RU2 rural zones.

Minimum dwelling size: 70 m² (753 ft²) minimum habitable floor area for detached dwellings, R1 zone (s.12.2); R2 applies s.12.2 (s.13.2) [1]
Minimum dwelling size: 70 m² (753 ft²) for detached dwellings, RU1 zone (s.9.2); RU2 applies s.9.2 (s.10) [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 · Northern Bruce Peninsula’s term: “tiny home / garden suite / trailer / mobile home”

Tents, trailers and RVs may not be used for human habitation except for occasional, temporary accommodation of non-paying guests where a dwelling exists. The 'tiny home' and 'garden suite' definitions cover portable year-round units allowed under a Planning Act s.39.1 temporary use by-law, but exclude RVs, travel trailers and motor homes. Mobile home parks appear only as a site-specific R1-d permission.

Temporary garden suite: 'Tiny homes' and 'garden suites' permitted in R1, RU1 and RU2 in accordance with s.6.3.15 and 'subject to requirements of 39.1 of the Planning Act' (s.9.1, 10, 12.1) [1]
Where allowed: Mobile home park permitted only by special provision R1-d (Part Lot 50, Con 1 WBR, St. Edmunds); a Commercial Zone 4 (Travel Trailer Park) exists for travel trailers [1]
Approvals: Use of tents, trailers and RVs for human habitation prohibited except occasional temporary accommodation of non-paying guests with a dwelling on the lot, per the Tent and Trailer By-law (s.6.3.13) [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 · Northern Bruce Peninsula’s term: “private guest cabin”

One private guest cabin, with no kitchen and for non-paying guests, is a permitted use in the RU1 and RU2 rural zones and the R2 Resort Residential zone. It is not listed for the R1 zone.

Where allowed: RU1 (s.9.1), RU2 (s.10) and R2 Resort Residential (s.13.1); lot must meet the zone's minimum lot area (s.6.3.8 ii) [1]
Number allowed: One per lot of record (s.6.3.8 i) [1]
Maximum size: Minimum 10.2 m² (110 ft²) and maximum 23.0 m² (247 ft²) gross floor area (s.6.3.8 vii) [1]
Maximum height: 5.0 m (16 ft); the definition also says one storey (s.6.3.8 iii) [1]
Kitchen: No kitchen/cooking facilities; a water closet may be permitted (s.6.3.8 iv, v) [1]
Setbacks: Subject to zone provisions for principal buildings (s.6.3.8 viii) [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

The consolidation's cover lists its latest office consolidation as June 2022, but the text includes the August 2022 housekeeping update (By-law 2022-47). The PDF was created in March 2023 and modified in June 2025, and no amendments after 2022 are referenced, so later site-specific amendments may be missing. The definition of 'Private Guest Cabin' gives a 23.2 m² maximum ground floor area, while s.6.3.8 gives 23.0 m² gross floor area. ARU access must be 'via an existing residential laneway' (s.6.3.15.1 ix); the meaning is unclear. Lands zoned Development Control (DC) fall under the Niagara Escarpment Commission and are outside this by-law (municipal planning page). No municipal ARU guide was found. Bruce County processes planning applications.

Sources

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