Wellington North zoning for small homes

Township of Wellington North, in the County of Wellington. Population 12,431 (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 · Wellington North’s term: “Additional Dwelling Unit (Detached)”

One detached additional dwelling unit in an accessory building is permitted in any zone where a single detached, semi-detached or street townhouse dwelling is permitted, provided the main dwelling has no more than one attached additional unit and there is no garden suite on the lot. The unit must meet the accessory building rules and the Township must be satisfied that water and sewer servicing can accommodate it.

Where allowed: Any zone where a single detached, semi-detached or street townhouse dwelling is a permitted use (s. 6.29.2) [1]
Number allowed: 1 detached unit, where no more than 1 attached additional unit exists in the main dwelling; not permitted on a lot with a garden suite (s. 6.29.2 a), i)) [1]
Separation from house: Within 60 m (196.8 ft) of the main dwelling but not closer than 1.2 m (4.0 ft) (s. 6.29.2 g)) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings in any residential zone: 4.57 m (15 ft); on reduced lots in the Agricultural zone (s. 8.5): 6.7 m (22 ft) (s. 6.1.3) [1]
Maximum size: No unit-specific cap; all accessory buildings combined limited to 10% lot coverage and, in residential zones, 185.8 m² (2,000 ft²) ground floor area on lots of 0.4 ha (1 acre) or less (s. 6.1.4) [1]
Setbacks: In R1A, R1B, R1C, R2 and R3 zones, accessory buildings in rear or interior side yard, at least 1.0 m (3.3 ft) from interior/rear lot lines; ER zone and reduced agricultural lots 3.0 m (9.8 ft) (s. 6.1.2) [1]
Parking: 1 parking space for the sole use of the unit's occupant, may be tandem; single shared driveway access (s. 6.29.2 d), e)) [1]
Servicing: Permitted subject to the Township being satisfied that water and sewer service can accommodate the unit (s. 6.29.2 f)) [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 · Wellington North’s term: “single detached residential dwelling”

The by-law sets minimum floor areas for single detached dwellings in the residential and agricultural zones, ranging from 83.6 m² to 111.5 m² depending on zone and storeys. The by-law's definition of single-detached excludes mobile homes and modular residential dwelling units unless otherwise provided.

Minimum dwelling size: A (Agricultural) zone residential dwellings: 102.2 m² (1,100 ft²) (s. 8.2.7.1); R1A: 102.2 m² (1,100 ft²) (s. 9.2.9); R1B: 100.0 m² (1,076.4 ft²) under two storeys, 139.0 m² (1,496.2 ft²) two or more storeys (s. 10.2.9); R1C: 83.6 m² (900 ft²) under two storeys, 102.2 m² (1,100 ft²) two or more (s. 11.2.9); ER: 111.5 m² (1,200 ft²) (s. 14.2.9) [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 · Wellington North’s term: “mobile home / recreational trailer”

Using a mobile home as a dwelling is prohibited unless 'mobile home' is a permitted use in the zone, which it is in the MH Mobile Home Park zone; using a trailer or motor home for human habitation is prohibited except temporary accommodation in a permitted trailer park or campground. Garden suites require a temporary use rezoning under Section 39 of the Planning Act, and a mobile home may be used as a garden suite only in the Agricultural zone.

Where allowed: Mobile homes only where listed as a permitted use, i.e. on a mobile home site in the MH Mobile Home Park zone (s. 6.18, s. 15.1); trailers/motor homes for human habitation only as temporary accommodation in a permitted trailer park or campground (s. 6.35.2) [1]
Minimum dwelling size: MH zone mobile home site: minimum floor area 55.0 m² (592.0 ft²) (s. 15.2.2.3) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Permitted in A, R1A, R1B, R1C, R2 and ER zones only after a temporary use rezoning under s. 39 of the Planning Act; max 92.9 m² (1,000 ft²), one storey or 4.5 m (14.76 ft); must be portable, pre-fabricated or modular and not a mobile home, except mobile homes may be garden suites in the Agricultural zone (s. 6.12) [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 · Wellington North’s term: “accessory building”

The by-law has no bunkie or sleeping cabin provision, and it defines accessory buildings as not used or intended for human habitation unless permitted by the provisions of certain zones. A detached sleeping space would need to qualify as an Additional Dwelling Unit (Detached), which is a full self-contained dwelling unit.

Where allowed: Definition of ACCESSORY: a use, building or structure 'which is not used or intended for use as human habitation unless permitted by the provisions of certain Zones of this By-law' (s. 5) [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

Read the May 2026 consolidation in full text. Housekeeping/ADU provisions are in s. 6.29; the older 'accessory apartment' wording elsewhere has been replaced. Zone schedules are separate PDFs and were not reviewed. No official ARU guide found. The garden suite definition still describes temporary use for 'physically or mentally challenged adult, children or elderly parents'.

Sources

Not legal advice

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