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Houska
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# Posted: 19 Jul 2022 10:54pm - Edited by: Houska
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Ontario small-cabineers might be interested that as of April 2022, storage sheds of up to 15 sq m (161 sq ft) should be exempt from requiring building permits, Ontario-wide, as accessory structures. This is in addition to the general exemption for structures up to 10 sq m (107 sq ft) without plumbing, etc. See https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r22451
Municipalities are updating their bylaws, policies, and building permit application forms with varying degrees of speed. Note this does not include buildings with residential uses or anything with plumbing, and there are reports of bunkies 10-15 sq m continuing to draw bureaucratic ire. So this is not permission to go build a 160 sq ft cabin or tiny house (and local zoning bylaws and primary versus accessory structure rules can continue to be a major obstacle).
But it should loosen regulatory oversight in a meaningful way, both directly in townships that allow an unpermitted <10 sq m structure to be primary and now therefore larger accessory structures. And indirectly, in that enforcement regarding smallish "Amish shed"-type buildings will probably be minimized in general, though that remains to be seen and will likely continue to depend on neighbour uptightness....
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spencerin
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# Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:13am
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That's a "win", I guess.....
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Houska
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# Posted: 20 Jul 2022 06:46am - Edited by: Houska
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It's a big win for those building a compound of structures as a "hunt camp" or similar, or for those with a permitted or grandfathered cabin to which they're adding genuine accessory structures.
It's of limited benefit to those trying to navigate the gotchas to build a small, habitable cabin in an incorporated township, especially with nosey unfriendly neighbours.
It's an indirect benefit for those taking the risk to build tiny away from prying eyes. There was the growing risk that modest buildings built under the radar will be picked up on increasingly detailed aerial photography (the latest round has a ground resolution of 16cm per pixel or so). That risk is reduced with the size exemption increased...and you can't judge use from aerial photos alone.
Put another way: if a township decides to start poring over orthophotos, an unpermitted 24x36' (=80 m2) cabin popping up like a mushroom will still attract attention. But a 12x16 bunkie is now much less likely to prompt someone to go on foot to investigate whether it's a 12x16 1.5 storey seasonal dwelling, built unpermitted in violation of the building code, or a now exempt 10x16 single storey storage shed.
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KelVarnsen
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# Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:53am
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Thanks Houska. This is great information. This is the wording of the section that you are talking about, I assume:
28. Article 1.3.1.1. of Division C of the Regulation is amended by adding the following Sentence:
(6) A shed is exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit under section 8 of the Act and is exempt from compliance with this Code, provided that the shed,
(a) is not more than 15 m2 in gross area,
(b) is not more than one storey in building height,
(c) is not attached to a building or any other structure,
(d) is used only for storage purposes ancillary to a principal building on the lot, and
(e) does not have plumbing.
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Houska
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# Posted: 20 Jul 2022 08:59am
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Kel, yes it is. If you want to be super buttoned up, you can then chase through said article 1.3.1.1 at https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r12332 and the definition of building (vs just structure) in article 1 (1) a at https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/92b23
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KelVarnsen
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# Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:15am
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Quoting: KelVarnsen (d) is used only for storage purposes ancillary to a principal building
Do you think "storing" overnight guests counts as storage?  Lol. I need to build a bunkie.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 20 Jul 2022 10:03am - Edited by: gcrank1
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My 'bunkie' has been a repurposed ice shanty on wheels
Was 1st repurposed as my tool shed/power house but we just bought a pre-built 10x16 barn roof building specifically for that (even got the $50 b.permit from the township, figured its my contribution to the community and why 'offend' the officials).
So, the shanty will be 'set up and ready to go', just parked in a quiet, out of the way spot in the woods.
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bushbunkie
Member
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# Posted: 24 Jul 2022 09:28am
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Nice to know...though it still has to be an auxiliary building. You still have to have a primary residence on property before the shed goes up, which is the biggest barrier by far. Perhaps one Day we will see the allowance of tiny homes or small cabins...that are environmentally responsible with their waste water, septic, etc. Of course. Would be nice to have the flexibility to move away from the minimum 1000 sq ft primary residence required in most areas in Ontario with organized townships.
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