Point Edward zoning for small homes

Village of Point Edward, in the County of Lambton. Population 1,930 (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

The by-law permits a second dwelling unit only within a single detached dwelling (s.4.10) and does not address units in detached accessory buildings; Planning Act s.35.1(1)(c) provides that a zoning by-law cannot prohibit one residential unit in a building ancillary to a detached, semi-detached or row house on urban residential land. 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][2]

Maximum height: Detached accessory buildings in residential zones: 5.0 m, measured from finished floor (s.4.3.4, B/L 30/2017) [1]
Maximum size: Detached accessory buildings in residential zones: total lot coverage not exceeding 10% of lot area to a maximum of 84 m² (s.4.3.4) [1]
Setbacks: Interior side or rear yard only; 1 m from interior side and rear lot lines (s.4.3.3) [1]
Separation from house: Detached accessory buildings no closer than 1.2 m to the main building (s.4.3.3(ii)) [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 · Point Edward’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The Residential-1 (R1) zone sets a minimum ground floor area of 90 m² for a one-storey dwelling unit and 75 m² for a dwelling unit with more than one storey. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: R1 zone minimum ground floor area: 90 m² (one storey); 75 m² (more than one storey) (s.5.3(a)) [1]
Minimum lot size: R1 single detached: 500 m² (s.5.2(a)) [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 · Point Edward’s term: “travel trailer; mobile home”

Dwelling and single-detached dwelling definitions exclude travel trailers and mobile homes, no travel trailer, truck camper, motor home or tent may be used for living or sleeping in any Residential Zone, and no zone permits a mobile home park. The by-law does not provide for temporary garden suites. [1]

Where allowed: No zone lists mobile homes or mobile home parks as a permitted use [1]
Approvals: 'No travel trailer, truck camper, motor home or tent shall be used for the living, sleeping or eating accommodation of persons within any Residential Zone' (s.4.15) [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 addressed

The by-law has no provisions for sleep cabins or bunkies, and the village has no rural or single-detached waterfront zones; general detached accessory building limits (5.0 m height, 10% of lot to 84 m²) apply. [1]

Maximum height: Detached accessory buildings in residential zones: 5.0 m (s.4.3.4) [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

The posted PDF is the 2012 by-law with amendments listed on its cover through B/L 9 of 2022 (PDF created Aug 2022); no consolidation date is stated, so bylawConsolidation is null. A draft new zoning by-law (NPG Planning) was posted Aug 2026 with an open house Sept 8 and public meeting Sept 22, 2026; as of the planning page reviewed, it has not been shown as passed (https://www.villageofpointedward.com/municipal-office/planning). The existing by-law predates Planning Act s.35.1 as amended in 2022 (Bill 23), which overrides by-law provisions that would prohibit up to three units including one in an ancillary building on urban residential land.

Sources

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