Southgate zoning for small homes

Township of Southgate, in the County of Grey. Population 8,716 (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 · Southgate’s term: “additional residential unit (detached) / garden suite”

Detached additional residential units are permitted, but the rules differ by servicing and zone: on lots with municipal water and sewer (s.5.24) and in the Agricultural (A1) zone and on small rural lots / R6 lots on private well and septic (s.5.24.1, 5.24.2). The by-law defines an additional residential unit as a unit available only for long-term rental. [1]

Where allowed: Lots with a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling connected to municipal water and sanitary sewer (s.5.24); Agricultural A1 zone (s.6.1(k), 6.13, 5.24.1); existing lots under 2 ha (s.6.12) and the Residential Type 6 (R6) zone (s.5.24.2) [2]
Number allowed: Up to two additional residential units on serviced lots, of which one may be in a detached building (s.5.24); up to two in A1 (s.6.1(k)); one on lots under 2 ha / R6 lots, or two where the lot exceeds 2 ha (s.5.24.2) [2]
Maximum height: One storey, unless the unit is entirely on the second storey above a detached garage (s.5.1.1, 5.24.1(a)(iv)); a unit built as a garden suite on a lot under 2 ha / R6 lot is one storey (s.5.24.2(a)(ii)) [2]
Maximum size: Unit built as a garden suite on a lot under 2 ha or in R6: 75 m² (805 ft²) gross floor area (s.5.24.2(a)(ii)); in A1 the unit's floor area must be less than that of the primary dwelling (s.5.24.1(a)(v)) [2]
Setbacks: Serviced lots: yard, lot coverage and height rules of the primary dwelling's zone apply, with maximum lot coverage increased by 10% for a detached unit (s.5.24(a)(ii)); A1: yards per s.6.2 and within 50 m of the farm building cluster (s.5.24.1(a)(i)-(ii)) [2]
Parking: One space per additional residential unit; may be tandem (s.5.24(a)(v), 5.24.1(a)(vi)) [2]
Servicing: Serviced lots: both the primary dwelling and the unit must be connected to municipal water and sanitary sewer (s.5.24(a)(i)); unserviced lots: private well and septic must be functionally connected to the unit (s.5.24.1(a)(vii)) [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 · Southgate’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The R1, R2, R5, R6 and Agricultural (A1) zones set a minimum floor area for a single detached dwelling of 90 m² for one storey with a full basement, 105 m² for one storey without a full basement or cellar.

Minimum dwelling size: 1 storey: 90 m² (105 m² where no full basement or cellar is provided); 1½ storey or split level: 105 m²; 2 or 2½ storeys: 130 m² - R1 (s.8.2(i)), R2 (s.9.2(i)), R5 (s.12.2(g)), R6 (s.13.2(g)), A1 (s.6.3(b)) [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 · Southgate’s term: “mobile home / travel trailer”

No travel trailer, motor home or truck camper may be used for permanent living in any zone, except temporary accommodation in the Recreational Commercial zone, and single-wide mobile homes are excluded from the definition of dwelling. Mobile homes are provided for in the Mobile Home Park (MH) zone; double-wide mobile homes on a permanent foundation meeting floor-area requirements can count as single detached dwellings.

Where allowed: Mobile Home Park (MH) zone (s.14.1); minimum mobile home site 350 m² (s.14.2(d)) [2]
Temporary garden suite: No general provision; garden suites have been permitted site-specifically by temporary use by-law (e.g. exception R6-276, s.33.276, for up to 10 years). Previously approved temporary garden suites may be kept permanently as an additional residential unit if relocated to comply with s.5.24.1/5.24.2 [2]
Approvals: s.5.13: no travel trailer, motor home or truck camper may be used for primary residential or permanent living accommodation in any zone, except temporary accommodation in a Recreational Commercial zone [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.

Not allowed · Southgate’s term: “sleeping cabin”

Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except as an additional residential unit, and sleeping cabins (defined as 10-30 m² buildings for temporary accommodation without culinary or sanitary facilities) appear only as part of recreational camp facilities, not as a residential accessory use.

Approvals: s.5.1(a)(ii): a building used for human habitation is not a permitted accessory building except where specifically permitted; definition of accessory building excludes human habitation except an additional residential unit [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

Read the July 2026 office consolidation PDF in full text. Zoning maps on the Township site are Feb 2009 schedules; the Township directs users to Grey County GIS (https://maps.grey.ca/) for current zoning. Section 5.24.2 refers to garden suites being one storey with a 75 m² cap; s.5.1(a)(iv)/(viii) also cap total accessory building ground floor area at 5% of the lot and height at 7 m. The R5 zone (s.12) does not mention additional residential units and is not served by s.5.24.2. The by-law defines additional residential units as long-term rental only. No ARU guide page found on the Township site.

Sources

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