Westport 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 · Westport’s term: “coach house (additional residential unit)”

Where a detached, semi-detached, duplex or townhouse dwelling is permitted, additional residential units are permitted, including one in a new or converted accessory building (coach house) in the rear yard. The total is capped at three units per lot, or two on a lot without full municipal services. [1][2]

Maximum size: Floor area of all additional residential units not to exceed 50% of the principal dwelling's floor area, to a maximum of 160 m2 in the Residential Zones (s. 4.1.1.4) [3]
Maximum height: 5 m for a coach house (s. 4.1.2.4) [3]
Where allowed: Coach house must be in the rear yard; no habitable room window may face an interior side or rear lot line (s. 4.1.2.2-4.1.2.3) [3]
Setbacks: 1.2 m from interior side and rear lot lines; front and exterior side setbacks at least those for the principal dwelling (s. 4.1.2.7) [3]
Separation from house: A new accessory building constructed as an additional residential unit 'shall be separated by less than 6 m from the principal dwelling' on a lot zoned Residential (s. 4.1.2.5, wording as passed) [3]
Number allowed: One unit per coach house; no more than three units in total per lot, or two on a lot without full municipal services (s. 4.1.1.6-4.1.1.7, 4.1.2.6) [3]
Servicing: Must connect to the same water supply and sewage disposal systems as the principal dwelling; septic approval needed first on private sewage systems (s. 4.1.1.2-4.1.1.3) [3]
Parking: 1 parking space per ARU in a coach house; must share the driveway entrance with the principal dwelling (s. 3.15 table, 4.1.1.5) [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 · Westport’s term: “detached dwelling”

The R1 zone table (R1A, R1B and R1C subzones) sets lot area, frontage, yards, height and coverage for detached dwellings, but no minimum dwelling floor area; no minimum dwelling floor area was found in the by-law text.

Minimum dwelling size: None set (Table 6.1.2 lists no minimum floor area) [3]
Minimum lot size: R1A (full service) 450 m2; R1B (partial service) and R1C (private service) 0.4 ha (Table 6.1.2) [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. [4][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

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

Not allowed · Westport’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle”

Mobile homes are prohibited in all zones except where permitted site-specifically by an exception zone, and a recreational vehicle may not be used as a dwelling except temporarily while a new dwelling is built or renovated. A portable garden suite may be allowed only through a temporary use by-law, and the definition excludes mobile homes, travel trailers and other recreational vehicles.

Where allowed: Mobile homes prohibited in all zones except by site-specific exception zone (s. 4.5) [3]
Temporary garden suite: One garden suite permitted subject to a Temporary Use By-law under s. 39 of the Planning Act: minimum lot area 450 m2, maximum height 6 m, rear yard, 3 m from rear and interior side lot lines; excludes mobile homes and recreational vehicles (s. 4.10, definition) [3]
Approvals: No recreational vehicle may be used for human habitation except temporarily during construction or major renovation of a dwelling under a valid building permit, for at most two years (s. 3.13, 3.23) [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. [12][7][4][9][8]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not allowed · Westport’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory buildings or structures may not be used for human habitation except as specifically permitted as accessory dwelling units, and buildings accessory to a residential use are listed among those that shall not be used for human habitation.

Approvals: Accessory buildings or structures shall not be used for human habitation, except as specifically permitted elsewhere as accessory dwellings or accessory dwelling units (s. 3.1.1); no building or structure accessory to a residential use shall be used for human habitation (s. 3.13.2) [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. [9][7][4][13]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

New Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2026-27 was passed September 15, 2026 (RES 2026.259, minutes in the October 20, 2026 agenda) and repeals By-law 08-12. The final text is not posted on the Village website (only Draft 1 is), but the by-law text is attached to the September 15, 2026 Council agenda on the Village's CivicWeb portal (item 11.1, agenda pages 28-104); research used that text. A staff memo in the October 20, 2026 agenda states that the appeal deadline passed and the by-law has been declared in full force and effect. Section 4.1.2.5 reads 'separated by less than 6 m' as passed. Site-specific amendment By-law 2026-31 was on the October 20, 2026 agenda.

Sources

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Westport 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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