Ramara zoning for small homes
Township of Ramara, in the County of Simcoe. Population 10,377 (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 · Ramara’s term: “additional residential unit (in an accessory building)”
Zoning By-law 2005.85 permits one additional residential unit in a building ancillary to a dwelling in the Hamlet, Village Residential, Rural and Countryside Residential, Agricultural, Rural and Shoreline Residential zones. They are not permitted on lots on unassumed private roads, within 30 m of a highwater mark, in a mapped floodplain, or in a boathouse.
- Where allowed
- H, VR, RCR, AG and RU zones (s. 2.(38)); Shoreline Residential (SR) zone with additional limits (s. 2.(39)) [1]
- Number allowed
- Up to two additional residential units per property, of which one may be in an ancillary building if the dwelling contains no more than one additional unit; in the SR zone, a maximum of one additional unit per property (s. 2.(38) i, s. 2.(39) i) [1]
- Maximum size
- Less than the gross floor area of the principal dwelling; in the SR zone, less than 50% of the principal dwelling's gross floor area (s. 2.(38) v, s. 2.(39) ii) [1]
- Maximum height
- Accessory building containing an additional residential unit: 10.0 m (s. 2.(1) 7(i)); otherwise accessory buildings 5.0 m [1]
- Separation from house
- Not more than 30 m from the principal building in the H, VR, RCR and SR zones (s. 2.(38) ix, s. 2.(39) ii); accessory buildings at least 1.8 m from the main building (s. 2.(1) 10) [1]
- Setbacks
- Not permitted within 30 m of a highwater mark; no part may be below grade; must meet accessory building standards (s. 2.(38) vii, x) [1]
- Parking
- One off-street parking space in addition to the principal dwelling's parking (s. 3.(1)) [1]
- Servicing
- Subject to adequate municipal or private on-site servicing; not permitted on a private road not assumed and maintained year-round by the municipality (s. 2.(38) ii, iii) [1]
- Approvals
- Not permitted in a mapped floodplain unless shown to be outside it; not permitted in a boathouse; may not be severed from the principal dwelling (s. 2.(38) i, iv, xi) [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 · Ramara’s term: “detached dwelling”
The zone provisions for detached dwellings in the RCR, VR, H, SR, AG and RU zones set lot, yard, height and coverage requirements but no minimum dwelling floor area. Minimum floor areas appear only in site-specific exceptions (for example H-1: 80 m² ground floor for one storey).
- Minimum dwelling size
- No minimum floor area in the general detached dwelling provisions of the RCR (s. 9.(2)), VR (s. 10.(2)), H (s. 14.(2)) or SR (s. 15.(2)) zones; site-specific exceptions only [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.
Allowed with limits · Ramara’s term: “trailer / mobile home / manufactured home”
The by-law defines a trailer as not occupied continuously or as a principal residence, and dwelling units exclude tents and trailers; trailers are accommodated in tent and trailer parks and seasonal camping establishments. Mobile or manufactured homes are permitted only by site-specific zoning, such as the VR-2(H) manufactured home park and the RU-16 zone.
- Where allowed
- Manufactured homes (CSA A277, year-round Building Code compliant) in the VR-2(H) manufactured home park, minimum unit gross floor area 55 m²; RU-16 permits a mobile home (site-specific provisions) [1]
- Temporary garden suite
- Garden suite is a listed use in the RU and VR zones (and in AG accessory to agriculture) but must be established as a temporary use under s. 39 of the Planning Act; max 92.9 m², one storey and 4.5 m; at least 3.0 m from the main residence; one per lot (s. 2.(12)) [1]
- Approvals
- 'Trailer' includes travel trailers, tent trailers and motor homes used for temporary living, 'but not occupied continuously or as a principal residence'; a dwelling unit 'does not include a tent or trailer' (s. 5 definitions) [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 · Ramara’s term: “accessory building”
Section 2.(1) 11 states that, unless otherwise permitted, no accessory building or structure shall be used for human habitation, which the by-law defines to include sleeping. The by-law has no sleeping cabin provision, and boathouses may not contain sleeping furniture.
- Kitchen
- A boathouse may not include floating accommodation or sleeping furniture such as beds, mattresses and futons (s. 5, boat house definition) [1]
- Approvals
- Unless otherwise permitted in the by-law, no accessory building or structure shall be used for human habitation (s. 2.(1) 11); 'human habitation' includes living, sleeping, eating or food preparation (s. 5) [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
- Zoning By-law 2005.85
- 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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