Waterloo zoning for small homes
City of Waterloo, in the Region of Waterloo. Population 121,436 (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 · Waterloo’s term: “coach house”
A coach house (detached building with one or two additional residential units) is permitted as of right on a lot with a detached, freehold semi-detached, townhouse or freehold townhouse building, but only where the principal building and coach house are connected to municipal water and sanitary services. One coach house per lot; it must sit on a slab or foundation and cannot be in the front yard. [1]
- Where allowed
- On a lot containing a detached, freehold semi-detached, freehold townhouse or townhouse building (s.3.C.2.1); listed as an ancillary use in residential zones such as R1 (s.7.1.1.3) [2]
- Number allowed
- Maximum 1 coach house per lot (e.g. Table 7A, R1); a coach house may contain up to 2 dwelling units; maximum 3 additional residential units and 4 dwelling units per lot [2]
- Maximum height
- 6.0 metres (Table 3B), except as specified in s.7.15.2 [2]
- Setbacks
- Rear yard 0.6 m, or 1.2 m where the coach house exceeds 4.5 m in height; side yard 1.20 m; flankage yard as for the zone; prohibited in the front yard (Table 3B, s.3.C.2.3) [2]
- Servicing
- Principal building and coach house must be connected to municipal sanitary and municipal water services (s.3.C.2.3 d) [2]
- Parking
- Parking space may be a tandem space in the driveway (s.3.C.2.3 c); R1 requires 1 space for 1 unit, 2 for 2-3 units, 3 for 4 units [2]
- Approvals
- Must be erected on a slab or foundation and not be portable like a mobile home; off-site modular units permanently affixed to a slab or foundation are permitted (s.3.C.2.3 e-g). A GRCA permit is required in regulated areas (s.3.C.2.4) [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 · Waterloo’s term: “detached building”
The R1 zone regulations (Table 7A) set lot area, frontage, setbacks, height, coverage and parking but no minimum dwelling floor area for a detached building.
- Minimum dwelling size
- None stated in Table 7A (Residential One zone) [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 · Waterloo’s term: “recreational trailer / mobile home”
The by-law prohibits in all zones the use of tents, recreational trailers, transport trailers, metal containers, motor vehicles and streetcars as dwelling units or living accommodations, and coach houses may not be portable like a mobile home. Garden suites are also listed as a prohibited use in all zones.
- Where allowed
- Prohibited in all zones: 'tents, recreational trailers, transport trailers, METAL CONTAINERS, motor vehicles, and streetcars used as DWELLING UNITS or living accommodations' (s.3.P.6.1) [2]
- Temporary garden suite
- GARDEN SUITES are listed as a prohibited use in all zones (s.3.P.6.1) [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 · Waterloo’s term: “accessory building”
With the exception of permitted coach houses, accessory buildings and structures shall not be used for human habitation.
- Kitchen
- Not applicable: accessory buildings other than coach houses may not be used for human habitation (s.3.A.1.1 f) [2]
- Maximum height
- Accessory buildings: 4.00 m; 10% lot coverage (Table 3A) [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
Sources
- Waterloo’s guide to additional units
- Zoning By-law 2018-050
- Planning Act (Ontario e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 299/19: Additional residential units (Ontario e-Laws)
- Development Charges Act, 1997 (Ontario e-Laws)
- 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
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
Directory pages that cover Waterloo.