Pembroke zoning for small homes

City of Pembroke, a single-tier municipality. Population 14,364 (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 · Pembroke’s term: “secondary dwelling unit (in an accessory building); garden suite”

One secondary dwelling unit is permitted in a building accessory to a permitted single detached, semi-detached or row dwelling, subject to accessory building rules and a building permit. Separately, a portable garden suite requires a site-specific temporary use by-law. [1]

Number allowed: A maximum of one (1) secondary dwelling unit in a single detached, semi-detached or row dwelling, or in a building or structure accessory to one (s.3.2(2)(a)) [2]
Maximum size: Secondary dwelling unit shall not exceed the dwelling unit area of the main dwelling unit (s.3.2(2)(b)); total lot coverage of accessory buildings 12% of lot area in Residential Zones (s.3.1(4)) [2]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings in a Residential Zone: 4.5 m [14.76 ft] (s.3.1(5)) [2]
Setbacks: 1.2 m [4 ft] from an interior side lot line and 3.05 m [10 ft] from a rear lot line; 3.66 m [12 ft] where the rear lot line abuts a street and is not screened by an opaque fence (s.3.2(2)(d)) [2]
Separation from house: Accessory buildings not closer than 1.2 m (4 ft) to any main building (s.3.1(8)) [2]
Parking: Must share the parking area of the main dwelling; no new driveway except on a corner lot; tandem parking permitted (s.3.2(2)(i)-(k)) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Only where a site-specific temporary use by-law under s.39 of the Planning Act allows one, up to 20 years; R1 and R2 zones; max 50 m2 [538.2 ft2] or 15% lot coverage; max 4.5 m and one storey; rear yard only (s.3.2(1)) [2]
Approvals: A building permit is obtained prior to the establishment of a secondary dwelling unit (s.3.2(2)(a)(ii)) [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. [3][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 · Pembroke’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The R1 zone, whose provisions also apply to single detached dwellings in the R2 zone, requires a minimum dwelling unit area of 93 square metres.

Minimum dwelling size: Minimum Dwelling Unit Area 93 m2 [1,000 ft2] - R1 zone (s.5.2) [2]
Where allowed: R2 zone permits single detached dwellings in accordance with the provisions of the R1 zone (s.6.1) [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. [3][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.

Not allowed · Pembroke’s term: “mobile home / trailer / recreation vehicle”

No human habitation is permitted in any mobile home, trailer or recreation vehicle unless specifically permitted elsewhere in the by-law, and the by-law has no mobile home or trailer park zone. A portable garden suite is possible only through a site-specific temporary use by-law.

Temporary garden suite: Garden suite (portable, with bathroom and kitchen) only where a site-specific temporary use by-law under s.39 of the Planning Act allows it, for up to 20 years, in R1 and R2 zones (s.3.2(1)) [2]
Approvals: No human habitation ... shall be permitted in ... any mobile home, trailer or recreation vehicle (s.3.23 Occupancy Restrictions) [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. [11][6][3][8][7]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not allowed · Pembroke’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory buildings and structures may not be used for human habitation except as a garden suite or secondary dwelling unit, and the city has no rural or waterfront residential zones with a sleeping cabin provision.

Approvals: Accessory buildings and structures shall not be used for human habitation except where specifically permitted in this By-law (s.3.1(9)) [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. [8][6][3][12]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The posted PDF is the January 2020 final text of By-law 2020-05 (passed January 21, 2020); its office consolidation and amendment tables are blank, so later amendments are not shown and bylawConsolidation is null. Section headings are not extracted in the accessible PDF; section numbers were inferred from the table of contents. A search of pembroke.ca found no amendment to the secondary dwelling unit provisions, but this was not exhaustive. The city's 2026 Community Improvement Plan offers an Additional Residential Units grant (not a zoning provision).

Sources

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