South Stormont zoning for small homes

Township of South Stormont, in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Population 13,570 (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 · South Stormont’s term: “Dwelling, Secondary Unit (Detached)”

A detached secondary unit is permitted in the serviced, single-services, hamlet and rural residential zones and the Agricultural and Rural zones, subject to Section 3.8. A 'Garden Suite' is a separate, temporary unit for an elderly family member and requires a temporary use by-law.

Maximum size: No larger than 95 m² (1,022.57 ft²) gross floor area, and within the 10% accessory lot coverage limit in residential zones [1]
Minimum lot size: Not permitted on an undersized lot (s.3.8(f)) [1]
Number allowed: One garden suite or secondary unit per eligible principal dwelling (one per lot for a duplex) [1]
Maximum height: Residential zones: 1 storey and 4.5 m (14.76 ft); Agricultural (A) and Rural (RU) zones: 2 storeys and 6.1 m (20 ft) [1]
Setbacks: Accessory building standards (min. 1.2 m from interior side and rear lot lines); 4 m from the lot line where a wall within the main-building rear yard setback has windows or entrances [1]
Separation from house: At least 3 metres (9.84 ft) from the principal dwelling [1]
Servicing: Must connect to at least one of the principal dwelling's existing services; adequate servicing to the Township's satisfaction [1]
Parking: Must share the principal dwelling's entrance and parking area (s.3.8(i)) [1]
Minimum dwelling size: Minimum gross floor area 45 m² (484.38 ft²) [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 · South Stormont’s term: “dwelling, single detached”

Residential and rural zones set a minimum floor area of 70 m² for single detached dwellings.

Minimum dwelling size: Floor Area (minimum) 70 m² (753.47 sq ft) in the RS1, RS2, RSS1, RSS2, RH1, RR1 and RR2 zones; Dwelling Unit Area (minimum) 70 m² for single detached dwellings in the Rural (RU) zone [1]
Minimum lot size: Rural (RU) single detached dwellings: 4,000 m² lot area, 30 m frontage [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 · South Stormont’s term: “mobile home / park model trailer / recreational vehicle”

Mobile homes may be used as dwellings only in a mobile home park, which is permitted in the Residential Mobile Home Park (RMP) zone. Recreational vehicles may be occupied only in a tent and trailer park or camping area, and the dwelling unit definition excludes park model trailers and recreational vehicles.

Where allowed: Section 3.19(a): human habitation not permitted in any recreational vehicle or trailer outside a Tent and Trailer Park or Camping Area, or any mobile home outside a Mobile Home Park (except as permitted under s.3.18 or 3.19(b)) [1]
Where allowed: Residential Mobile Home Park (RMP) zone permits a mobile home park; minimum park area 4 ha; mobile home site minimum 460 m²; minimum floor area per mobile home 55 m² (592.01 sq ft) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suites (temporary, portable unit for an elderly family member sharing the dwelling's services) must be established as a temporary use under Section 39 of the Planning Act (s.3.8(o)) [1]
Approvals: Section 3.19(b): a mobile home may be a temporary residence for up to 12 months while rebuilding a dwelling lost to causes beyond human control [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 · South Stormont’s term: “sleeping cabin”

Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation unless specifically listed as a permitted use. Section 3.19 refers to 'a permitted sleeping cabin', but the consolidation does not define a sleeping cabin or list it as a permitted use in any zone.

Approvals: Section 3.1.1(b): the use of any accessory building for human habitation is not permitted except where specifically listed as a permitted use [1]
Approvals: Section 3.19(a)(i): human habitation not permitted in any accessory use or marine facility, except a permitted sleeping cabin [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

A comprehensive review of By-law 2011-100 is under way with the United Counties of SDG's consultant (https://www.southstormont.ca/business-land-development/zoning/comprehensive-zoning-by-law-review/). The Township page still links the December 2023 consolidation, and I found no record that a new by-law has passed. Amendments after December 2023 (e.g., site-specific Z-2026-03) are not reflected. The bunkie answer rests on a full-text search of the consolidation: 'sleeping cabin' appears only in s.3.19. If an amendment or exception zone permits sleeping cabins, it was not found.

Sources

Not legal advice

Confirm with your municipality before you buy, build or move in.

Suggest a correction or source

Know of a by-law change, an exception or an official page we missed? Tell us. An editor checks every suggestion before the page changes.

Find help nearby

We don’t have a directory page for South Stormont’s area yet. These cover all of Ontario.

All Ontario municipalities