Thorold zoning for small homes
City of Thorold, in the Region of Niagara. Population 23,816 (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 · Thorold’s term: “second dwelling unit (in an accessory building)”
Zoning By-law 60-2019 permits one second dwelling unit, which may be in an accessory building, in the R1, R2 and R3 zones (not with a triplex or fourplex) and in the agricultural and rural zones, subject to a building permit and size limits. [1][2][3]
- Number allowed
- A maximum of one (1) second dwelling unit per lot (s.3.21 a) [4]
- Maximum size
- Gross floor area of a maximum of 40% of the principal dwelling unit gross floor area (s.3.21 c) [4]
- Maximum height
- 4.5 m for accessory buildings in residential zones (s.3.1, Table 3.1); a second dwelling unit in an accessory building is subject to s.3.1 (s.3.21 e) [4]
- Setbacks
- Accessory buildings in residential zones: 0.9 m rear and interior side yards; front yard 6.0 m and not closer to the street than the dwelling's front wall; 1.2 m from any other building; total accessory lot coverage 10% (s.3.1, Table 3.1) [4]
- Parking
- One (1) additional parking space, may be in tandem (s.3.21 d) [4]
- Where allowed
- Second dwelling unit permitted in R1, R2 and R3 zones (not in a triplex or fourplex) (Table 6.2) and in A, AS and RU zones (Table 9.2) [5]
- Approvals
- Subject to a Building Permit being issued (s.3.21 b) [4]
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. [6][7][8]
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 · Thorold’s term: “single detached dwelling”
The lot, building and structure requirement tables for the residential zones (Table 6.3) and agricultural and rural zones (Table 9.3) set lot area, yards, coverage and height but no minimum dwelling floor area. [5][2]
- Minimum dwelling size
- None found in Tables 6.3 (residential) or 9.3 (agricultural and rural) [9]
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. [6][10][11][12][13][14][15]
Tiny home on wheels or park model
Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.
Not allowed · Thorold’s term: “trailer / mobile home”
"Dwelling" and "Building" exclude trailers, motor homes and truck campers (and "Dwelling" excludes mobile homes), and no zone in By-law 60-2019 permits a mobile home park; a mobile home is mentioned only as possible farm help accommodation for agricultural employees. [1]
- Where allowed
- No mobile home park zone; a tent and trailer campground (short-term accommodation) is listed only as a commercial-zone use [9]
- Temporary garden suite
- A garden suite dwelling is only permitted on lots zoned R1 or R2 where a Temporary Use By-law has been passed under the Planning Act; not on the same lot as a second dwelling unit; one additional parking space (s.3.4) [4]
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. [15][10][6][12][11]
Bunkie or sleeping cabin
A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.
Not addressed
By-law 60-2019 does not define or regulate a bunkie or sleeping cabin; accessory buildings fall under the general accessory building rules (s.3.1), and a second dwelling unit in an accessory building is the only listed residential use of one. [4]
- Maximum height
- 4.5 m for accessory buildings in residential zones (Table 3.1) [4]
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. [12][10][6][16]
Official links
Last confirmed October 2026.
Notes and caveats
Sources
- media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com PDF
- media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com PDF
- City of Thorold web page (thorold.ca)
- media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com PDF
- media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com PDF
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 299/19: Additional residential units (Ontario e-Laws)
- Development Charges Act, 1997 (Ontario e-Laws)
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law 60-2019
- Government of Ontario PDF
- Build or buy a tiny home: Building Code requirements (Government of Ontario)
- Building Code Act, 1992 (Ontario e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 163/24: Ontario Building Code (Ontario e-Laws)
- 2024 Ontario Building Code (Government of Ontario)
- Build or buy a tiny home: permits and inspections (Government of Ontario)
- Building Code updates (Government of Ontario)
Not legal advice
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