Perth South zoning for small homes
Township of Perth South, in the County of Perth. Population 3,776 (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 · Perth South’s term: “additional residential unit (in an accessory building)”
Additional residential units are permitted within a building accessory to a detached, semi-detached or row dwelling on any lot where residential use is permitted, to a total of 2 additional units per lot with at least 1 in or attached to the main building. A detached unit must meet the accessory building size and location rules and be between 4 m and 45 m from the main dwelling. [1]
- Number allowed
- A total maximum of 2 additional residential units per lot, provided at least 1 is located within or attached to the same building as the primary residential unit (s.5.1.4 a) [1]
- Separation from house
- At least 4 m from and no further than 45 m (148 ft) from the building containing the primary residential unit (s.5.1.5 d; s.6.3.6.2 for farms) [1]
- Maximum height
- Accessory buildings: 5.0 m (16.40 ft); 6.0 m (19.68 ft) in the A, ACM, MAR, M1 and M2 zones (s.5.1.3 d) [1]
- Maximum size
- Accessory buildings shall not cover more than 10% of the lot area (s.5.1.3 e) [1]
- Setbacks
- Not in a front or exterior side yard; in a Residential Zone no closer than 1.2 m (3.94 ft) to an interior side or rear lot line; in an Agricultural Zone on a lot under 1 ha, no closer than 3 m (9.84 ft) (s.5.1.3); planting strips required where the unit does not meet the main-building yards (s.5.1.5 b) [1]
- Minimum lot size
- The applicable minimum lot area requirement of the zone must be met (s.5.1.4 e) [1]
- Parking
- Parking requirements of s.5.18 must be met (s.5.1.4 d, 5.1.5 c) [1]
- Where allowed
- Lots where residential use (other than ancillary residential use) is permitted; not on hazardous lands; must meet MDS I or be no closer to a livestock facility than the primary dwelling (s.5.1.4, 5.1.5); farms: up to 2 additional residential units (s.6.2 a iii) [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 · Perth South’s term: “single-detached dwelling”
The by-law sets minimum ground floor areas for dwellings well above 37 m² in the hamlet/village residential, rural residential and agricultural zones. [1]
- Minimum dwelling size
- HVR zone single-detached: 80 sq. m (861.14 sq. ft.) ground floor area for 1-storey; 70 sq. m (753.50 sq. ft.) for more than 1 storey (s.7.2.10, 7.2.11) [1]
- Minimum dwelling size
- RR zone: 83 sq. m (893.43 sq. ft.) for 1 or 1½ storey; 70 sq. m (753.50 sq. ft.) for 2 or more storeys (s.8.2.9) [1]
- Minimum dwelling size
- A zone: 1 storey dwelling 80 m² (861.14 ft²); more than 1 storey 69 m² (742.73 ft²); mobile home 45 m² (484.39 ft²) (s.6.3.6.1) [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.
Not allowed · Perth South’s term: “mobile home / motor home / travel trailer”
Locating or using a mobile home in any zone is prohibited unless specifically permitted, and travel trailers, motor homes and similar vehicles may not be used as living accommodation except for temporary sleeping of up to three months a year on a lot with a dwelling; no zone permits mobile home parks. Mobile-home garden suites have been allowed only through site-specific temporary rezonings. [1]
- Where allowed
- 'it shall be prohibited to locate or use a mobile home in any zone for any purpose ... whether temporarily or permanently, unless the use of a mobile home is specifically permitted by other provisions of this By-law' (s.5.10) [1]
- Temporary garden suite
- No general provision; site-specific temporary zones (e.g. A-13-T, s.6.9.13) have permitted 'a garden suite, in the form of a mobile home' for a 10-year period [1]
- Approvals
- No travel trailer, tent trailer, motor home or similar vehicle may be used for temporary or permanent living accommodation in any zone, except that not more than one may be used for temporary sleeping accommodation not exceeding three months in any calendar year as an accessory use on a lot containing a dwelling (s.5.34) [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.
Not allowed
Accessory uses do not include any building used for human habitation unless specifically permitted, and the by-law has no sleep cabin or bunkie permission. A detached building with a kitchen may instead qualify as an additional residential unit. [1]
- Where allowed
- Accessory uses 'shall not include ... Any building or structure used for human habitation except where permitted specifically by this By-law' (s.5.1.1 b) [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
Sources
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law No. 4-1999 (Office Consolidation)
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- 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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