Rainy River 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 · Rainy River’s term: “additional residential unit (ARU) in an ancillary building”

One additional residential unit is permitted in a building ancillary to a detached, semi-detached or rowhouse dwelling, where the main house has no more than two units. The by-law sets no specific size limit for it. Separately, portable garden suites need a site-specific amendment. [1]

Number allowed: One residential unit in a building ancillary to a detached house, semi-detached house or rowhouse, if the main house contains no more than two residential units and no other ancillary building contains a unit (s.5.2(b)(iii)) [2]
Where allowed: R1 and R2 zones list residential intensification including garden suites and additional residential units; Rural Ru zone lists additional residential units and garden suites (ss.6.1(c), 6.1a(c), 10.1(c)) [2]
Servicing: Ancillary-building ARU allowed where the lot is of sufficient area to accommodate an expanded or additional leaching field if required by the Chief Building Official (s.2.62.1) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suites (temporary, portable) permitted only by site-specific amendment, minimum floor area 33 m² (350 sq ft), and not where an additional residential unit already exists on the lot (s.5.2(c)) [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 · Rainy River’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The by-law sets a minimum floor area of 70 m² for a dwelling in the R1 zone. In the Rural zone the minimum is 56 m² on farm lots and 70 m² on other residential lots. A draft amendment to cut this to 18.6 m² has gone to public meetings but had not been confirmed as passed. [6][7]

Minimum dwelling size: R1 zone: 70 m² (750 sq ft) (s.6.2(h)) [2]
Minimum dwelling size: Rural Ru zone: 56 m² (600 sq ft) for a dwelling or mobile home with an agricultural operation (s.10.2(h)); 70 m² (750 sq ft) for other dwellings (s.10.3(h)) [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][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 · Rainy River’s term: “trailer / mobile home”

A trailer (which includes recreational trailers) may not be occupied continuously or as a principal residence. A mobile home is listed as a permitted dwelling only with an agricultural operation in the Rural zone, and no mobile home park zone was found.

Where allowed: Rural Ru zone: one single detached dwelling or mobile home in conjunction with and on the same lot as an agricultural operation (s.10.1(b)); minimum lot area 4 ha (10 acres) (s.10.2(b)); minimum floor area 56 m² (600 sq ft) (s.10.2(h)) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Portable garden suites only by site-specific amendment, minimum 33 m² (s.5.2(c)) [2]
Approvals: 'Trailer' definition: shall not be occupied continuously or as a principal residence (s.2.191); a trailer or camper may be used for temporary habitation only during construction of a dwelling, with a trailer licence and building permit (s.5.29) [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. [13][8][3][10][9]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not addressed

The by-law does not mention bunkies or sleeping cabins. It defines an accessory building as one not used for human habitation, and says accessory buildings shall not be used as a dwelling (s.2.3, s.5.1(a)). General accessory building limits apply: maximum height 7.5 m and 20% lot coverage.

Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 7.5 m (25 ft) (s.5.1(d)) [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. [10][8][3][14]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The consolidation cover says 'Consolidated May 16, 2025' (file name says May 27, 2025). A draft amendment (version 2, unnumbered and unsigned) would cut the minimum floor area of single detached dwellings in the R1 and Ru zones to 18.6 m² (200 sq ft) and the garden suite minimum to 18.6 m², and add land lease community homes. Public meetings were noticed for March 2 and April 13, 2026. No passed by-law was found on the Town site, so the current 70/56 m² minimums are reported. The draft's explanatory note says the current minimum is 56 m², but the consolidated R1 text says 70 m². If the amendment has passed, tiny_home_foundation would change to 'allowed'. The by-law defines 'Mobile Home Park' but no mobile home park zone was found.

Sources

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Rainy River 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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