Penetanguishene zoning for small homes

Town of Penetanguishene, in the County of Simcoe. Population 10,077 (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 · Penetanguishene’s term: “additional dwelling unit in a detached accessory building”

One additional dwelling unit in a detached accessory building is permitted in the R1, R2 and R3 zones on lots with a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling that front an open, municipally maintained road. It is limited to 60 m² and 45% of the main building, 4.5 m in height, in the rear yard and within 30 m of the access lot line; the Rural Residential, Rural and Shoreline residential zones do not list additional dwelling units. 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: R1, R2 and R3 zones (Table 6.2.1); lot must front an open and municipally maintained street or road (s. 4.2 d)) [2]
Maximum size: 45% of the gross floor area of the main building, and no larger than 60 m² (s. 4.2.2 b)) [2]
Maximum height: 4.5 m; 5.5 m on a through lot accessed from the rear lot line (s. 4.2.2 d), h)) [2]
Setbacks: Rear yard only; min 3.0 m from rear lot line, 1.2 m from interior side lot line, exterior side setback as for main building; no further than 30 m from the lot line used for street access, with a 1.2 m clear path (s. 4.2.2 a), e), f), g)) [2]
Number allowed: Max two additional units per lot: two in the main building, or one in the main building and one in a detached accessory structure; not on a lot with a garden suite, short term rental, B&B, group home or rooming house (s. 4.2 a), f)) [2]
Servicing: Must connect to municipal water and sewer where available; otherwise proof that on-site services can accommodate both units (s. 4.2 e)) [2]
Parking: Per Section 5; tandem spaces permitted, including on a driveway in the front yard (s. 4.2 i), j)) [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 · Penetanguishene’s term: “single detached dwelling unit”

The residential, rural and shoreline zone standards set lot size, setbacks, height and coverage but no minimum dwelling floor area. The by-law's definition of single detached dwelling unit excludes mobile homes.

Minimum dwelling size: None set in Residential (Table 6.3.1), Shoreline (Table 8.3.1) or Rural zone standards [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.

Not allowed · Penetanguishene’s term: “trailer / mobile home”

The use of any tent, trailer or motor vehicle for human habitation is prohibited in all zones unless expressly permitted, and no zone lists mobile homes or a mobile home park as a permitted use. A garden suite is permitted only by a site-specific temporary use by-law under Section 39 of the Planning Act.

Where allowed: Uses prohibited in all zones include 'the use of any tent, trailer or motor vehicle for human habitation' and use of a truck, tractor trailer, bus, coach body or rail car for habitation (s. 4.22 b), d)) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Only by a site specific by-law authorizing temporary use under s. 39 of the Planning Act; subject to detached accessory building rules; not on a lot with an additional dwelling unit, B&B, short term rental, group home or rooming house (s. 4.8) [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 · Penetanguishene’s term: “detached accessory building”

No detached accessory building or structure may be used for human habitation unless specifically permitted, and the by-law has no bunkie or sleeping cabin provision. Boathouses are expressly defined to exclude living or sleeping space.

Where allowed: 'No detached accessory building or structure may be used for human habitation or for a home occupation unless specifically permitted by this By-law' (s. 4.1.1 e)) [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

The inventory linked the June 2022 enactment text; the Planning Documents page (https://www.penetanguishene.ca/business-and-development/planning-and-development/planning-documents/) posts a 'Consolidated November 19, 2024' version, which was used here. It differs from the 2022 text: it adds R3 to the zones that allow ADUs, allows two units inside the main building (each max 93 m²), and changes the accessory building height and count thresholds from 4000 m² to 2000 m² lots. Amendments after November 2024 were not checked. Zoning By-law 2000-02: a Town notice dated 06 March 2023 (https://www.penetanguishene.ca/news/notice-of-comprehensive-zoning-by-law-2022-17-in-effect/) says 2022-17 is in effect, applies to all properties and repeals 2000-02 in its entirety (also s. 1.10). The by-law includes Residential Land Lease Community (RLLC) zones, where 'land lease community home' is defined as single detached and row house dwelling units, not mobile homes or trailers. The SA2 and RU zones permit campgrounds (temporary/seasonal accommodation). The only second-unit guide found on the site is a 2019 news post, so guideUrl is null. Planning Act s. 35.1 province-wide ARU permissions on serviced urban residential land may go beyond the by-law text; not assessed.

Sources

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