Parry Sound zoning for small homes
Town of Parry Sound, a single-tier municipality. Population 6,879 (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 · Parry Sound’s term: “ancillary dwelling unit / garden suite”
As consolidated, the by-law permits a detached unit as of right only as an 'ancillary dwelling unit' on the second storey of a detached garage, in the R1, R2, R3 zones and in RR and RU zones not abutting Georgian Bay, Mill Lake or Darlington Lake. A stand-alone garden suite requires a site-specific 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]
- Where allowed
- Ancillary dwelling unit accessory to a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling in R1, R2 and R3 zones, and RR and RU zones not abutting Georgian Bay, Mill Lake or Darlington Lake (s. 4.6.1.2) [2]
- Maximum height
- Accessory structure containing an ancillary dwelling: 8 metres (s. 4.6.1.2 h) [2]
- Setbacks
- Same interior and exterior side yards as the principal dwelling; rear yard 3 metres (s. 4.6.1.2 b) [2]
- Parking
- Minimum 1 space, without a separate driveway; tandem permitted (s. 4.6.1.2 g, i) [2]
- Temporary garden suite
- Garden suite only by a site-specific temporary use by-law under s. 39 of the Planning Act: minimum lot area 450 m² [4,844 ft²], maximum gross floor area 60 m² [645.8 ft²], maximum height 6 m [19.7 ft] or the average height of main buildings on the subject and abutting lots, rear or interior side yard, 3 m [9.8 ft] from rear and side lot lines, agreement with the Municipality (s. 4.14) [2]
- Approvals
- Ancillary dwelling unit must be located in the second storey of a detached garage (s. 4.6.1.2 a) [2]
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. [1][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 · Parry Sound’s term: “single detached dwelling”
The R1 zone requirements and the by-law as consolidated set no minimum dwelling floor area for single detached dwellings; room sizes must conform to the Building Code (s. 6.3 b).
- Minimum dwelling size
- None stated in the R1 zone requirements table (s. 6.2); 'All room sizes shall conform to the Building Code' (s. 6.3 b) [2]
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. [1][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 · Parry Sound’s term: “mobile home / park model trailer / recreational vehicle”
Mobile homes and park model trailers are permitted in the Residential Mobile Home Park (MHP) zone. Elsewhere, use of a trailer or recreational vehicle other than for occasional accommodation of guests is not permitted, and a vehicle of any kind may not be used for human habitation.
- Where allowed
- Residential Mobile Home Park (MHP) zone: mobile home park (mobile home or park model trailer) (s. 11.0) [2]
- Temporary garden suite
- Garden suite only by site-specific temporary use by-law (s. 4.14); the definition of garden suite excludes a mobile home, park model trailer or any recreational vehicle [2]
- Approvals
- No vehicle of any kind, whether or not mounted on wheels, may be used for human habitation; tent, trailer or recreational vehicle use only for occasional accommodation of guests or during construction (s. 4.42) [2]
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][1][7][6]
Bunkie or sleeping cabin
A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.
Not allowed · Parry Sound’s term: “guest cabin / sleep cabin”
The by-law defines a 'guest cabin' (sleeping accommodation with sanitary but no cooking facilities), but no zone lists it as a permitted use, and s. 4.1(d) states that use of any accessory building for human habitation is not permitted except where an accessory dwelling is a permitted use.
- Kitchen
- Guest cabin definition: sanitary facilities permitted but not cooking facilities (s. 3, definitions) [2]
- Approvals
- 'The use of any accessory building for human habitation is not permitted except where an accessory dwelling is a permitted use' (s. 4.1 d); see also s. 4.42 [2]
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][1][11]
Official links
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- Zoning By-law 2004-4653
- 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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