West Elgin 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 · West Elgin’s term: “second residential unit / additional dwelling unit”

Wherever a single unit dwelling is a permitted use, a second dwelling unit is permitted either in the dwelling or in a building accessory to it, subject to the accessory building rules, Building Code, servicing and one dedicated parking space (s.4.22). 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: Zones permitting a single unit dwelling, generally A1, A3, R1, R2, RR, HR and LR (s.4.22) [1]
Number allowed: One second dwelling unit, in the dwelling or in an accessory building (s.4.22) [3]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 6 m and no more than two storeys (s.4.1(g)); 7.5 m in the A3 zone (s.7.2.1) [3]
Setbacks: Accessory buildings: not in front or exterior side yard, at least 1 m from any lot line (0.5 m to a public lane) (s.4.1) [3]
Maximum size: Accessory buildings may not exceed 10% coverage of the total lot area (s.4.1(f)) [3]
Servicing: Connect to municipal water and sewer where available; otherwise an on-site water supply of at least 18.9 L/min and an approved on-site sewage system (s.4.22(b)) [3]
Parking: Minimum one parking space dedicated to the unit (s.4.22(b)(vi)) [3]
Approvals: Building permit required [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][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 · West Elgin’s term: “single unit dwelling”

The general residential, rural residential, lakeshore and agricultural zone standards do not set a minimum floor area for single unit dwellings. A 100 m² minimum applies only in the site-specific LR-2 zone.

Minimum dwelling size: None in the general zone standards; 100 m² only in site-specific LR-2 zone (s.13.3.2) [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 · West Elgin’s term: “mobile home; park model trailer; travel trailer”

Mobile homes, and the use of travel trailers, truck campers or motor homes for living or sleeping, are prohibited in every zone unless specifically permitted (s.4.19), and no zone permits mobile homes. The Recreational Vehicle Park (RVP) zone covers existing seasonal campgrounds and trailer parks operating April 1 to October 31 only.

Where allowed: Travel trailers only on campground/trailer park sites in the RVP zone, which is restricted to seasonal operation (April 1 to October 31), maximum 20 travel trailer sites per hectare (s.26, Table 26-1) [3]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite is defined (may include a mobile home) but is not listed as a permitted use in any zone; no general temporary use provision for garden suites was found [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.

Allowed with limits · West Elgin’s term: “cabin”

A cabin (a building primarily for sleeping, without kitchen facilities) is a permitted use in the General Agricultural (A1) zone, limited to one per lot and 50 m². Elsewhere accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation unless a dwelling unit is a permitted accessory use.

Where allowed: General Agricultural (A1) zone (s.5.1.1); not listed in Lakeshore Residential (LR) or other residential zones [3]
Number allowed: One per lot (s.5.2.2(a)) [3]
Maximum size: 50 m² floor area (s.5.2.2(b)) [3]
Kitchen: No kitchen facilities (definition of Cabin) [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][12]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Consolidation is current to By-law 2025-65 (Dec 18, 2025). Schedules (maps) are posted separately on https://www.westelgin.net/business-and-development/planning-and-development. By-law text allows one second residential unit; it does not reflect the Planning Act's allowance of up to three units on serviced lots. The A3 zone's accessory rule (s.7.2.1) mentions cabins, but cabin is not in the A3 permitted-use list. The municipal webpage on mobile homes and park model trailers only describes building inspections.

Sources

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West Elgin 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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