Wilmot 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 · Wilmot’s term: “additional dwelling unit (detached)”

One additional dwelling unit (detached) is permitted with a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling in Zone 1 and in Zones 2, 2a, 2b, 2c and 3. It follows the accessory building setback, height and lot coverage rules and must connect to municipal water and sewer, or to private services at the Township's discretion. [1]

Maximum size: Subject to accessory building lot coverage: in residential zones, all accessory buildings combined may cover at most 10% of the lot or 75% of the main building's lot coverage, whichever is less (s.6.3.3.2, 6.27.4) [2]
Maximum height: 4.5 m and not more than one storey in residential zones (s.6.3.3.1) [2]
Setbacks: Not in the front yard or exterior side yard; accessory building setbacks apply: at least 0.6 m from side and rear lot lines and 3.0 m from any main building on an adjoining lot (s.6.27.4, 6.3.1) [2]
Number allowed: One per lot (s.6.27.3) [2]
Servicing: Must connect to municipal water and sanitary sewer; where not available, private services at the Township's discretion (s.6.27.7, 6.27.8) [2]
Parking: 1 space per additional dwelling unit (s.6.12 parking table) [2]
Where allowed: Zone 1 (agricultural) and Zones 2, 2a, 2b, 2c and 3 (residential) with a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling (s.7, 8.1) [2]

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. [3][4][5]

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 · Wilmot’s term: “residential building - single detached”

The by-law sets a minimum ground floor area for the main residential building: 93 m² (one storey) in most Zone 2 and Zone 3 categories and 100 m² (one storey) in Zone 1.

Minimum dwelling size: Zone 2/2a/2b/3 (single detached): 93 m² for one storey, except 83 m² in Zone 2/2a with municipal or communal water and private sewage and in Zone 2b, and 75 m² in Zone 2c; 56–69 m² for more than one storey (Table 1, s.8.3.4.1) [2]
Minimum dwelling size: Zone 1: 100 m² for 1 storey, 70 m² for more than 1 storey (s.7.5.8) [2]

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. [3][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 · Wilmot’s term: “mobile home / recreational trailer or vehicle”

Mobile homes (which by definition include garden suites and modular or manufactured homes but not recreational trailers) are permitted in the Zone 13 mobile home subdivision, with a 69.5 m² minimum floor area, and as a second farm dwelling on Zone 1 lots of 35 ha or more. The by-law does not provide a general temporary garden suite permission.

Where allowed: Zone 13 mobile home subdivision (s.19.1); a mobile home as a second dwelling unit accessory to a farm on Zone 1 lots of 35 ha or more (s.7.1.2(c), 6.25) [2]
Minimum dwelling size: Each mobile, modular or manufactured home in Zone 13: at least 69.5 m² (s.19.2.4) [2]
Temporary garden suite: 'Garden Suite' is defined only by reference to 'Mobile Home' (s.2.54); no temporary-use garden suite provision found [2]

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][3][8][7]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

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

The by-law states that no accessory building shall be used for human habitation unless specifically permitted in the zone, and it has no general sleeping cabin or bunkie provision.

Approvals: No accessory building shall be used for human habitation unless specifically permitted within the zone (s.6.3.6) [2]

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][3][12]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Consolidation contains amendments to 2025-11-24. The hosting page also carries 2026-amended section PDFs (Sections 1-2 definitions; Section 18 Zone 12). The 2026 definitions amendment only adds care, shelter and treatment-facility definitions and renumbers the rest (Garden Suite becomes 2.55); it does not change the terms used here. Section 18 (Zone 12) was not compared. The linked guide is an older Accessory Apartment Guideline covering Building Code fire separations, not zoning. The by-law allows one detached additional unit; Planning Act s.35.1 may permit more on serviced lots (not verified here).

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Wilmot 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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