West Grey zoning for small homes

Municipality of West Grey, in the County of Grey. Population 13,131 (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 · West Grey’s term: “detached accessory apartment”

By-law 2026-060 (passed September 1, 2026) permits one detached accessory apartment as of right in the R2, R3 (with street townhouses), R1A, ER, A1, A2, A3 and several commercial zones. Lots on private services need at least 0.4 hectares. [1][2]

Number allowed: A maximum of one detached unit; not permitted if there are three (3) or more other dwelling units on the lot (R2, A1, A2, A3, ER) or two (2) or more (R1A, C5) (s.6.29.1) [3]
Maximum height: 9.0 m in R2, C3, MU zones; standard main-building height in R1A, C5, A1, A2, A3, ER, C6 zones (s.6.29.1) [3]
Setbacks: R2: minimum rear yard 1.2 m and interior yard 1.2 m, not in a front or exterior yard; R1A/C5: rear yard 3 metres; rural zones: standard main-building yards (s.6.29.1) [3]
Separation from house: Minimum setback from principal dwelling 1.2 m; in A1, A2, A3, ER, C6 zones no further than 75 metres from the principal dwelling (s.6.29.1) [3]
Maximum size: No floor area cap; total lot coverage of all structures must meet the zone maximum (R2: or not exceed 45%); minimum floor area 25 m2 in R1A and rural zones, not applicable in R2 (s.6.29.1) [3]
Minimum lot size: 0.4 hectares in R1A, C5, A1, A2, A3, ER, C6 zones; not applicable in R2, C3, MU (s.6.29.1) [3]
Parking: Minimum 1 space (s.6.29.1) [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. [4][5][6]

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 Grey’s term: “single-detached residential dwelling”

By-law 2026-060 replaced the former minimum floor areas (83.6 m2 for one storey, 102.2 m2 for two or more storeys) with a minimum floor area of 25 m2 in the agricultural, rural, residential, estate residential and mobile home park zones. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: 25 m2 in A1, A2, A3, R1A, R2, R3, ER and MH zones, replacing sections 8.2.7.1, 9.2.8.1, 10.2.8.1, 11.2.9, 13.2.x.9, 14.2.x.8/9, 15.2.9 and 16.2.2.3 (By-law 2026-060, item 27) [3]
Approvals: Former minimum (consolidation to April 1, 2017): less than two storey 83.6 m2 (900 ft2); two or more storey 102.2 m2 (1100 ft2) [7]

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. [4][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.

Allowed with limits · West Grey’s term: “mobile home / recreational trailer”

Use of a mobile home as a residence is prohibited unless 'mobile home' is a listed permitted use in the zone, such as the Mobile Home Park (MH) zone. One recreational trailer may be used for seasonal, temporary occupation on A1, A2 or A3 lots of 2 hectares or more; the garden suite section was deleted in 2026. [2]

Where allowed: Mobile home use prohibited within the municipality unless 'mobile home' is listed as a permitted use within a particular zone (s.6.18); MH zone permits a mobile home on a mobile home site within a mobile home park (s.16.1) [7]
Number allowed: A maximum of one recreational trailer for seasonal human occupation for temporary use on A1, A2 or A3 lots of 2 hectares or greater fronting an open, maintained municipal road (s.6.39) [7]
Temporary garden suite: Section 6.12 Garden Suites (temporary use under s.39 of the Planning Act) is deleted by By-law 2026-060, item 26 [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. [13][8][4][10][9]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not allowed · West Grey’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except where specifically permitted, and the by-law (including By-law 2026-060) contains no sleeping cabin or bunkie provision.

Maximum height: Accessory buildings in residential zones and C1: 5 m (16.5 ft); other zones same as main building (s.6.1.3) [7]
Approvals: Accessory use shall not permit any building or structure used for human habitation, except where specifically permitted by this By-law (s.6.1.1 ii) [7]

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. [10][8][4][14]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The posted consolidation includes amendments only to April 1, 2017. Housekeeping By-law 2026-060 (passed September 1, 2026; notice of passing September 2, 2026; appeal deadline September 22, 2026) adds detached and attached accessory apartments, sets a 25 m2 minimum floor area, deletes the garden suite section 6.12, and rezones all R1B lands to R2. Whether any appeal was filed was not confirmed. The 2026 staff report says a new comprehensive zoning by-law is planned. The enacted by-law PDF is a scan; it was read visually.

Sources

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