West Perth zoning for small homes
Municipality of West Perth, in the County of Perth. Population 9,038 (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 Perth’s term: “additional residential unit (in an accessory building)”
One additional residential unit is permitted in a building accessory to a detached, semi-detached or row/townhouse dwelling wherever residential use is permitted, to a total of three units on the lot, subject to the zone's regulations and adequate water and sewage services. Outside Serviced Urban Areas the unit's size is capped. [1]
- Where allowed
- On any parcel where residential use is permitted, within a building accessory to a detached, semi-detached or row/townhouse dwelling; not in hazardous lands, on lots below the zone's minimum lot area, or in a non-complying existing accessory structure (s.5.26.1, 5.26.1.4) [1]
- Number allowed
- Maximum 1 additional residential unit in an accessory building; maximum 2 additional units in total; maximum 3 units on the lot (s.5.26.1(b)) [1]
- Separation from house
- In Serviced Urban Areas, at least 4 m from the building containing the primary unit (s.5.26.1(c)); in the Agricultural zone, an ARU in a farm accessory building must be within 30 m of the main farm dwelling (s.5.26.1.3) [1]
- Maximum size
- Outside Serviced Urban Areas: lesser of 75% of the primary unit's gross floor area or 125 m² (1,345 ft²) in an accessory building (s.5.26.1.2) [1]
- Maximum height
- Accessory buildings: 5.0 m, or 6.0 m in Agricultural zones (s.5.1.3(d)) [1]
- Setbacks
- Accessory buildings in a Residential zone: at least 1.5 m from interior side and rear lot lines; not in front or exterior side yard (s.5.1.3) [1]
- Parking
- Outside Serviced Urban Areas, 1 space in addition to those for the primary unit (s.5.26.1.2(b)); tandem parking permitted for ARUs (s.5.19) [1]
- Servicing
- Water and sewage services to the satisfaction of the approval authority (s.5.26.1(a)) [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 · West Perth’s term: “single-detached dwelling”
The residential zones set minimum ground floor areas for single detached dwellings: 90 m² in the Hamlet/Village Residential zone, 100 m² in Mitchell R1 and 85 m² in Mitchell R2. [1]
- Minimum dwelling size
- Hamlet/Village Residential (HVR): single detached ground floor area minimum 90 m² (968.78 ft²) (s.8.2.10); Mitchell R1: 100 m² (1,076.43 ft²) (s.9.2.9); Mitchell R2: 85 m² (914.96 ft²) (s.10.2.9); Agricultural zone supplementary farm dwelling: 80 m² single detached, 62 m² mobile home (s.6.3.6.1) [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 · West Perth’s term: “mobile home / travel trailer”
Mobile homes are prohibited in every zone unless specifically permitted, which the by-law does in the Mobile Home/Modular Home (MH) zone and, by agreement, as a supplementary farm dwelling on farms of 22 ha or more. Travel trailers and motor homes may not be used as living accommodation, except one for temporary sleeping of up to three months a year on a lot with a dwelling. [1]
- Where allowed
- MH zone: one mobile home or modular home per site in a mobile/modular home community; minimum site area 350 m², minimum gross floor area 62 m² (667.38 ft²) (s.13.2, 13.4) [1]
- Temporary garden suite
- 'Dwelling, Garden Suite' is defined (portable, ancillary detached unit) but no zone permits it as of right; the by-law defines a Temporary Use By-law under the Planning Act [1]
- Number allowed
- Travel trailers/motor homes: not more than one may be used for temporary sleeping accommodation, not exceeding three months in a calendar year, as an accessory use on a lot containing a dwelling (s.5.34) [1]
- Approvals
- Mobile homes prohibited in any zone unless specifically permitted (s.5.10). Agricultural zone: one supplementary farm dwelling in the form of a non-permanent dwelling (e.g., mobile home) on farm lots of 22 ha or more, for farm families, labour or retirees, only after an agreement with the municipality (s.6.2(a)(iii)) [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 · West Perth’s term: “accessory building”
Permitted accessory uses do not include any building or structure used for human habitation unless specifically permitted by the by-law, and the by-law does not specifically permit sleeping cabins. [1]
- Where allowed
- Accessory uses shall not include 'any building or structure used for human habitation except where permitted specifically by this By-law' (s.5.1.1(b)) [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
Sources
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law No. 100-1998 (consolidated)
- 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
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