Thessalon zoning for small homes

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 · Thessalon’s term: “accessory dwelling unit in a detached private garage”

A detached accessory dwelling unit is permitted only within a detached private garage (including its loft) in the RU and R1 zones, subject to size, parking and septic conditions; a freestanding garden suite needs a site-specific temporary use by-law. Ontario's Planning Act (s. 35.1) overrides zoning provisions that would prohibit one unit in a building ancillary to a house on serviced urban land. [1][2]

Where allowed: In a detached private garage in the RU and R1 zones (s. 4.6.2); loft units included by By-law 2760 [3]
Maximum size: No more than 50% of the garage's ground floor area, to a maximum of 50 m², located entirely above grade [3]
Parking: Minimum of three parking spaces on the lot [3]
Servicing: Where applicable, both units connected to the same septic system with a permit from the septic approval authority [3]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 6 m from finished grade to highest point of roof [1]
Temporary garden suite: One garden suite by site-specific temporary use by-law (Planning Act s. 39): min lot 450 m², max GFA 60 m² (645.8 ft²), max height 6 m (19.7 ft), rear or interior side yard, 3 m from rear/side lot lines, agreement with the Town [3]

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][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 · Thessalon’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The R1 zone regulations set lot, yard, height and coverage standards but no minimum dwelling floor area; a site-specific exception for the Lighthouse Point subdivision (R1-5) requires 1,000 sq ft for a one-storey dwelling.

Minimum dwelling size: None in the R1 zone regulations (s. 6.2); R1-5 exception (Lighthouse Point): 1,000 ft² single storey, 1,600 ft² two storey [3]

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][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 · Thessalon’s term: “recreational vehicle / park model trailer / mobile home”

A stored recreational vehicle may not be used for habitable purposes, and tents, trailers or recreational vehicles may be used only for occasional accommodation of guests; no zone permits a mobile home park. Garden suites (temporary use by-law) exclude mobile homes, park model trailers and recreational vehicles. [12]

Temporary garden suite: Garden suite definition excludes a mobile home, a park model trailer or any type of recreational vehicle [3]
Approvals: s. 4.30: a stored RV shall not be used for habitable purposes at any time; s. 4.37: tent, trailer or RV not permitted for other than occasional accommodation of guests [3]

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][2][8][7]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not allowed · Thessalon’s term: “sleep cabin”

The by-law defines a sleep cabin (accessory sleeping building up to 40 m², no cooking) but no zone lists it as a permitted use, and accessory buildings other than accessory dwelling units may not be used for human habitation.

Maximum size: Sleep cabin definition: not exceeding 40 m² (430.5 ft²) gross floor area, no cooking facilities [3]
Approvals: s. 4.37: no accessory building (other than an accessory dwelling unit) shall be used for human habitation [3]

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][2][13]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Site loaded normally on retry (Oct 25, 2026). Zoning By-law 2510 PDF is titled 'Approved October 17, 2022 by By-law 2510' though its filename says 'Final-Draft'; the Notice of Passing confirms passage on Oct 17, 2022 with appeal deadline Nov 17, 2022 (no appeal information found). Housekeeping By-law 2760 (passed June 15, 2026) applied by hand; it incorporates earlier amendments 1684 and 2466. Accessory dwelling units within a house are permitted in RU, R1, R2 and R3 (max 50 m²). New Official Plan adopted Aug 17, 2026 (By-law 2773); no new zoning by-law yet. RU zone lists only agricultural and existing uses. By-law 2442 (trailer licensing) not read in detail.

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Thessalon zoning for small homes

Backyard suite

Ontario-wide rule

Tiny home on a foundation

Ontario-wide rule

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Ontario-wide rule

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

Ontario-wide rule

Official links

Sources

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