Whitewater Region zoning for small homes

Township of Whitewater Region, in the County of Renfrew. Population 7,225 (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 · Whitewater Region’s term: “additional residential unit (detached)”

One detached additional residential unit is permitted with a single detached, semi-detached or duplex dwelling where both units connect to full municipal sewer and water and the unit sits on a permanent foundation. In the A, RU and WV zones it may use private septic and well on non-waterfront lots of at least 0.8 ha. [1]

Number allowed: Max. 2 ARUs: 1 attached and 1 detached (s. 3.1.2) [1]
Servicing: Full municipal sanitary sewer and water required; private septic/well allowed only in A, RU and WV zones on non-waterfront lots of min. 0.8 ha (must share services where lot is 2 ha or less) [1]
Minimum lot size: 0.8 ha where privately serviced (A, RU, WV zones) [1]
Separation from house: Within 75 m of the principal dwelling where privately serviced; accessory buildings min. 2 m from the principal building unless of incombustible materials [1]
Approvals: Must be on a permanent footing/foundation, have direct pedestrian access from a street or laneway, and use the existing residential vehicular entrance [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 · Whitewater Region’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The base R1, Rural and Waterfront Vicinity zone provisions set no minimum dwelling unit area. A few site-specific exception zones set 55 m² or 74 m². [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 · Whitewater Region’s term: “mobile home / recreational vehicle / park model trailer”

Mobile homes are prohibited except in a Mobile Home Park (MHP) zone, or in an Agriculture (A) zone as a second dwelling accessory to the farm. Recreational vehicles may not be used as dwelling units except as specifically permitted: one licensed RV may be occupied on a vacant lot in the RU, LSR and WV zones. The RV definition excludes a tiny home, which the by-law does not otherwise define. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile homes only in MHP zones, or as a second farm-accessory dwelling in the A zone (s. 3.14) [1]
Approvals: One recreational vehicle may be located and occupied on a vacant lot in the RU, LSR and WV zones if licensed by the municipality; mobile homes and park model trailers excluded from this provision (s. 3.31) [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 · Whitewater Region’s term: “sleeping cabin (bunkie)”

The by-law defines a sleeping cabin/bunkie (up to two sleeping rooms, no cooking, sanitary or plumbing facilities), but no zone in the consolidation lists it as permitted, and accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation unless a dwelling is a permitted accessory use. [1]

Kitchen: Defined as no cooking facilities, sanitary facilities or plumbing [1]
Approvals: No accessory building or structure shall be used for human habitation except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use (s. 3.1 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

The consolidation is dated September 11, 2024 (amendment 24-09-1707). No later consolidation is posted and the hosting page lists no newer amendments, so amendments after September 2024 could not be checked. The PDF cover says 24.01-1650 while the enacting text and web page say 24-01-1655. The R1 and WV zone tables skip a lettered row (g and h), apparently a removed dwelling-area row; no base minimum appears. The bunkie answer relies on the absence of 'sleeping cabin' from any zone's permitted uses. Because a bunkie definition exists, it should be confirmed with the Township. The by-law has no garden suite or temporary use provision. Accessory buildings in residential zones are limited to 5 m height, but whether that applies to detached ARUs is not stated.

Sources

Not legal advice

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