Rideau Lakes zoning for small homes

Township of Rideau Lakes, in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Population 10,883 (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 · Rideau Lakes’s term: “additional residential unit”

One additional residential unit is permitted in an accessory building on a lot with a single, duplex or semi-detached dwelling in the General Residential, General Commercial, Local Commercial, Rural and Agriculture zones; the Waterfront Residential zone does not list it. Adequate private water and sewage capacity and frontage on an improved street are required. [1]

Where allowed: General Residential (RG), General Commercial, Local Commercial, Rural (RU) and Agriculture (A) zones (s.3.2.1); not listed in Waterfront Residential (RW) [2]
Number allowed: Maximum 2 ARUs per lot: 1 within the dwelling and 1 in an accessory building (s.3.2.1.1-2) [2]
Maximum size: Each ARU not to exceed 60% of the floor area of the principal dwelling; minimum 30 m² (s.3.2.1.4, 3.2.1.6) [2]
Setbacks: Subject to all provisions for the principal dwelling in the zone (s.3.2.1.4) [2]
Servicing: Adequate potable water and sufficient land area for waste water servicing; must share at least one of driveway, water supply or wastewater system with the principal dwelling (s.3.2.1.3, 3.2.1.7) [2]
Minimum lot size: Lot must abut and have direct access via an improved street (s.3.2.1.8); RG zone minimum lot area 4050 m² (s.5.1.2) [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 · Rideau Lakes’s term: “tiny dwelling”

A Tiny Dwelling with a minimum size of 30 m² is permitted as a single dwelling in all zones where a residential use is a permitted principal use, notwithstanding other provisions. Other dwellings must meet the zone minimum dwelling unit area of 75 m².

Minimum dwelling size: Tiny Dwelling: 30 m² minimum (s.3.2.3); otherwise Dwelling Unit Area minimum 75 m² in RG (s.5.1.2), RW (s.5.2.2), RU (s.11.1) and A (s.12.1) zones [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][6][7][8][9][10][11]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

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

Allowed with limits · Rideau Lakes’s term: “mobile home / park model trailer / recreational vehicle”

Park model trailers, recreational vehicles and travel trailers may not be used for habitation except in a tourist campground or as a listed temporary use; a Tiny Dwelling excludes these. Mobile homes are permitted in the Mobile Home Park Residential (RMH) zone, and garden suites (which may include a mobile home) require a temporary use by-law.

Where allowed: Mobile homes in the Mobile Home Park Residential (RMH) zone (s.5.3); park model trailers/RVs/travel trailers only in a tourist campground or as a temporary use (s.3.16) [2]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite defined as a portable single dwelling, including a mobile home, accessory to an existing single dwelling, for which a temporary use by-law has been adopted under the Planning Act (s.2.53) [2]
Approvals: Temporary use: trailer occupied during construction of a dwelling with a valid building permit, max two years (s.3.28); seasonal farm labour in RU and A zones April 1-November 30 (s.3.28) [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. [11][6][3][8][7]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Allowed with limits · Rideau Lakes’s term: “sleeping cabin”

One sleeping cabin is a permitted accessory use on a lot that abuts a water body and is in a Residential or Rural zone. Other accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation.

Where allowed: Lots that both abut a water body and are in a Residential or Rural zone (s.3.1.7) [2]
Number allowed: One sleeping cabin (s.3.1.7) [2]
Maximum size: 25 m² including attached decks (s.3.1.7.1) [2]
Maximum height: Single storey (definition s.2.117); accessory buildings on lots under 1 ha max 6.0 m (s.3.1.8.2) [2]
Kitchen: No kitchen or food preparation facilities; washroom facilities permitted (s.2.117) [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. [8][6][3][12]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The inventory URL (archived committee document, 'Redlined FINAL August 21, 2026') returned HTTP 404, and the inventory's zoning page URL also 404s. The current Township page (https://www.rideaulakes.ca/living-here/building-planning-services/zoning-by-law?layout=table) serves 'Zoning-By-Law-2023-50-Office-Consolidation-2026-04-07.pdf' (PDF modified July 2026), which was used. Whether an August 2026 redlined version adds later amendments could not be confirmed.

Sources

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