Seguin zoning for small homes

Township of Seguin, a single-tier municipality. Population 5,280 (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 · Seguin’s term: “secondary dwelling unit”

Secondary dwelling units are permitted only in the R1, R2, RU and RR zones (not the shoreline residential zones), one per lot. A freestanding detached secondary dwelling unit requires a lot of at least twice the zone's minimum lot area and frontage, and both buildings must meet principal-building yards. [1]

Where allowed: R1, R2 (Table 6.1), RU and RR (Table 10.1); not permitted in SR1-SR6 or LSR zones [2]
Number allowed: One secondary dwelling unit per lot (s.4.2.2 a i) [2]
Minimum lot size: Freestanding detached unit in R1, R2, RR or RU: lot at least twice the zone's minimum lot area and frontage (s.4.2.2 b v); zone minimums are R1/R2 1.0 ha and 60 m, RR 1.2 ha and 90 m, RU 4.0 ha and 150 m (Tables 6.2, 10.2) [2]
Setbacks: Must be in the rear yard and meet the minimum yards for the principal building of the zone (s.4.2.2 b) [2]
Servicing: Private sewage system must be approved for total flow (and well, in R1/R2) (s.4.2.2) [2]
Parking: One additional dedicated parking space (s.4.2.2 a iii) [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 · Seguin’s term: “detached dwelling”

Residential and rural zone requirements (Tables 6.2 and 10.2) set lot area, frontage, coverage, yards and height but no minimum dwelling floor area; shoreline zones set a maximum dwelling size instead.

Minimum dwelling size: None stated in Tables 6.2 (residential) or 10.2 (rural) [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.

Not allowed · Seguin’s term: “recreational vehicle / park model trailer / mobile home”

Trailer parks and mobile home parks are prohibited unless specifically permitted, human habitation in a stored RV or trailer is prohibited, and park model trailers (seasonal) are permitted only in the Resort Commercial (C4) and Camping Establishment (C5) zones. A travel trailer may be occupied temporarily for up to 18 months while a dwelling is built under a building permit.

Where allowed: Park model trailers only in C4 and C5 zones (definition, s.13); trailer parks and mobile home parks prohibited unless specifically permitted (s.4.33) [2]
Temporary garden suite: No general provision; one site-specific temporary use zone (T-SR3-1) permitted a garden suite from August 23, 2004 to August 23, 2014 (Table 12.2) [2]
Approvals: 'Human habitation within a stored recreational vehicle, motor home, truck camper, tent trailer or travel trailer is prohibited' (s.4.34) [2]
Approvals: Temporary occupancy of a travel trailer during construction of a dwelling with a building permit, max. 18 months (s.4.31) [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 · Seguin’s term: “guest cabin”

One guest cabin (no kitchen) is permitted as an accessory use on lots in all Shoreline Residential (SR) zones and the Limited Service Residential (LSR) zone; human habitation in accessory buildings is otherwise prohibited, including in rural zones.

Where allowed: All SR zones and the LSR zone (s.4.1.10) [2]
Number allowed: One guest cabin per lot; only one of a guest cabin, 1.5-storey boathouse or 1.5-storey detached garage per lot (ss.4.1.10, 4.1.12) [2]
Maximum size: 60 square metres including all decks and balconies (s.4.1.10 c) [2]
Maximum height: 6 metres; 1 storey unless specifically permitted (s.4.1.10 d, f) [2]
Kitchen: No kitchen or cooking facilities (s.4.1.10 e) [2]
Setbacks: Must meet all required yards for the residential dwelling (s.4.1.10 b) [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

Consolidation version November 6, 2025, linked from https://seguin.ca/resource/zoning-law-2006-125. Checkmarks in the permitted-use tables do not survive text extraction; Tables 6.1 and 10.1 were read from rendered page images. Section 4.2.2(b)(iv) separately requires 1.2 ha for secondary units in accessory buildings in 'any other zone' where permitted. Many site-specific exceptions (SR/LSR) alter guest cabin and sleeping cabin rules. An Official Plan review is under way.

Sources

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