Plympton-Wyoming zoning for small homes

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 · Plympton-Wyoming’s term: “additional residential unit (formerly accessory second dwelling)”

By-law 98 of 2025 (passed October 27, 2025) adds Additional Residential Units as permitted uses in specific zones and new general provisions; its detailed rules are not posted online and are not in the March 2025 consolidation, which still shows the older 'accessory second dwelling' rules. [1][2]

Where allowed: Additional Residential Units added as permitted uses 'in specific Zones' (zones not listed in the notice) [3]
Approvals: By-law 98 of 2025 passed October 27, 2025; amends definitions, general provisions and permitted uses for Additional Residential Units in specific zones (Town-wide housekeeping amendment) [3]

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. [4][5][6]

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 · Plympton-Wyoming’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The by-law sets a minimum gross floor area for every new dwelling (outside the EP-L zone), including 83 m² for a one-storey dwelling.

Minimum dwelling size: 83 m² minimum for a one-storey dwelling; 75 m² minimum on the ground floor for a multiple-storey dwelling (Table A, applies to dwellings in all zones except EP-L, s.4 e) [7]
Where allowed: Minimum applies municipality-wide except in Environmental Protection - Lakeshore (EP-L) zones or where specified elsewhere [7]

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. [4][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.

Allowed with limits · Plympton-Wyoming’s term: “travel trailer / park model home / mobile home”

Outside lands zoned for the purpose, travel trailers, truck campers and motor homes may not be used for living or sleeping except accessory to an existing dwelling for up to 60 days in 10 months; park model homes and mobile homes are provided for in the Mobile Home Park/Campground (MHP/CG) zone.

Where allowed: Mobile Home Park/Campground (MHP/CG) zone (s.23); park model homes 65 m² minimum gross floor area there [7]
Number allowed: Outside zoned parks: one travel trailer, truck camper or motor home, accessory to an existing dwelling, max 60 days total in any 10 consecutive months (s.3.12) [7]
Approvals: No truck, bus, coach or streetcar body may be used for human occupancy (s.3.12) [7]

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. [13][8][4][10][9]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not allowed · Plympton-Wyoming’s term: “accessory building”

Permitted accessory buildings do not include any building used for human habitation unless specifically permitted by the by-law, and the by-law has no bunkie or sleeping-cabin provision; some site-specific lakeshore exceptions allow multiple cottages.

Where allowed: Accessory uses exclude 'Any Building used for human habitation' except as specifically permitted (s.3.3.1 b) [7]

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. [10][8][4][14]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The March 2025 consolidation still contains s.3.8 'Accessory Second Dwelling' (one per lot; detached unit max 46 m² GFA, within 20 m of the house, 0.8 ha minimum lot on septic/agricultural lots). By-law 98 of 2025 (passed Oct 27, 2025; appeal deadline Nov 18, 2025) replaces/adds ARU provisions, but its text is not online (available at the municipal office), so the old figures are not reported as facts. A comprehensive zoning by-law review is under way (open house Sept 16, 2026; public meeting Sept 28, 2026); no new by-law has been posted as passed. Mobile homes (single/double wide) are defined as dwellings on permanent foundations; whether they qualify as single detached dwellings outside the MHP/CG zone was not confirmed.

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Plympton-Wyoming zoning for small homes

Backyard suite

Ontario-wide rule

Tiny home on a foundation

Ontario-wide rule

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Ontario-wide rule

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

Ontario-wide rule

Official links

Sources

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