Whitestone zoning for small homes

Municipality of Whitestone, a single-tier municipality. Population 1,075 (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 with limits · Whitestone’s term: “additional dwelling unit in an accessory structure / garden suite”

An additional dwelling unit in an accessory structure is allowed where there is no second unit in the main dwelling, but not in the Waterfront Residential (WF) zones; in WF1-WF3 a second dwelling is allowed only at least 60 m from the main dwelling with separate services. Garden suites are permitted in any zone that permits a residence, subject to a temporary agreement with the Municipality. [1]

Where allowed: s. 3.49 v): an additional dwelling unit in an accessory or ancillary structure where there is no second dwelling in the main dwelling, excluding any Waterfront Residential (WF) zone [1]
Separation from house: WF1-WF3: second dwelling unit minimum 60 m from the main dwelling, each with its own approved water supply and sewage system and able to meet lot and frontage requirements if severed; not on lands adjacent to Lorimer or Fairholme Lakes (s. 3.49 ii) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Permitted in any zone that permits a residence, subject to an agreement with the Municipality covering its temporary nature, installation and removal, a period not exceeding 20 years, and a security deposit (s. 3.27) [1]
Entrance: Any secondary dwelling unit must have a separate entrance from the principal dwelling (s. 3.49 vi) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 5 m (zone standards, e.g. ss. 4.02 k, 7.02 k) [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 · Whitestone’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The Rural, Rural Residential and Waterfront Residential zones require a minimum ground-floor building area of 60 m². [1][5]

Minimum dwelling size: Minimum Building Area – Ground Floor 60 m² in the RU (s. 4.02 h), RR (s. 6.02 h) and WF1/WF2/WF3 (s. 7.02 h) zones [1]
Minimum lot size: RU: 2.0 ha; WF1-WF3: 0.6 ha [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][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.

Allowed with limits · Whitestone’s term: “trailer / mobile home”

Tents, trailers and motorhomes are not permitted as a principal use or for human habitation except under the Municipality's Trailer By-law, in commercial zones that permit them, or temporarily during construction. Mobile homes (over 60 m² on a permanent foundation) are a permitted use in the Rural (RU) zone but excluded in the Waterfront Residential zones. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile home is a permitted use in the RU zone (s. 4.01); 'excluding a mobile home' in WF1-WF3 (s. 7.01); mobile homes must be on permanently fixed foundations (s. 3.46) [1]
Minimum dwelling size: A mobile home is defined as having a ground floor area greater than 60 m² on a permanent foundation; a trailer is a towable vehicle under 60 m² (ss. 2.124, 2.188) [1]
Temporary garden suite: Garden suite definition excludes mobile homes, trailers and recreational vehicles (s. 2.78) [1]
Approvals: s. 3.70: no trailer may be used for human habitation except in accordance with the by-law and the Municipal Trailer By-law [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. [11][6][2][8][7]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Allowed · Whitestone’s term: “sleeping cabin”

Sleeping cabins (no cooking facilities) are permitted accessory buildings; up to two are allowed with a combined floor area of no more than 50 m², and one may be in part of a detached garage. [1][12][13]

Number allowed: Up to two sleeping cabins (s. 3.65 as amended by By-law 10-2021) [12]
Maximum size: Total floor area of all sleeping cabins may not exceed 50 m² (s. 3.65 as amended by By-law 10-2021) [12]
Kitchen: No cooking facilities (definition s. 2.173) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings: 5 m in RU, RR and WF zones (zone standards k) [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. [8][6][2][14]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The posted by-law PDF is dated February 20, 2018 with filename indicating a September 3, 2019 revision; it is not a consolidation of later amendments. Housekeeping By-law 10-2021 (read) deletes the 'Bunkie' definition, lets a sleeping cabin be part of a detached garage, replaces s. 3.65 with 'up to two sleeping cabins, maximum total 50 m²', and adds seasonal dwelling units to RU, RUI and RR. By-law 63-2022 (non-waterfront back lots) is a scanned PDF with no extractable text and was not read; By-law 34-2022 (short-term rental definition) not read. The Municipal Trailer By-law referred to in s. 3.70 is not posted on the by-laws page (only 33-2024 traffic/parking of camping units and trailers) and was not read, so whether full-time trailer living is possible under it is unconfirmed.

Sources

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