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Building on Your Land2026Tiny, Tay, Oro-Medonte, Wasaga
Can You Live in a Trailer on Your Lot While Building?
In Tiny Township and Oro-Medonte, the zoning by-laws prohibit using a trailer or motor vehicle for human habitation on an ordinary lot, so living in an RV while you build is generally not allowed unless the township approves something specific. Tiny makes an exception only when a house was lost to fire or an Act of God. In Wasaga Beach and Tay the rules we found are less direct, so check with the municipality before you buy the trailer.
Updated October 2026 · Georgian Bay Siteworks, the site work division of ICFHome.ca
Insured to $2,000,000Site work division of ICFHome.caBuilding since 1979250+ projects in Simcoe County
Set Expectations: Usually No
It sounds sensible. You own the land, you are building a house on it, and a trailer saves you a year of rent. Most local zoning by-laws see it differently. They treat a trailer you sleep in as a dwelling, and a dwelling has to meet the building code, septic rules and the zoning.
A construction trailer used as a site office or tool storage is a different thing, and is often allowed while a building permit is active. Sleeping in it is where the trouble starts.
Builder truth: the by-law officer does not care that it is “only until the drywall is done.” Neither will your insurer, if the trailer burns.
What the By-laws Say, Town by Town
We read the zoning by-laws ourselves. Here is what we found. Zoning gets amended, so confirm with the township before you rely on it.
| Municipality | What we found | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny Township | Zoning By-law 22-075, s. 2.23(a), prohibits “the use of any tent, trailer or motor vehicle for human habitation,” except one occasional tent accessory to a dwelling. Section 2.31.1(a) allows a construction trailer, tool shed or storage container on the lot while a building permit is valid, for up to one year. Section 2.31.1(b) allows a mobile home or RV as a temporary dwelling only where a house was destroyed by fire or an Act of God, for up to two years from the rebuild permit. | Planning, 705-526-4204 |
| Oro-Medonte | The Zoning By-law 97-95 consolidation, s. 5.24, prohibits using any trailer (outside a camping establishment) or any motor vehicle for human habitation. Section 5.35(a) allows uses incidental to construction, such as a construction camp, while work is in progress. Whether that covers an owner’s trailer is a question for the Township. | Check with the Township of Oro-Medonte planning or building staff |
| Wasaga Beach | The Zoning By-law 2003-60 consolidation says no building may be used for human habitation before an occupancy permit (s. 3.27.2), and limits where house trailers and motor homes can be parked or stored (s. 3.41). We did not find a clause that allows living in a trailer during construction. | Building Department, 705-429-1120, or Planning, 705-429-3844 |
| Tay Township | The Zoning By-law 2000-57 bars human habitation in accessory buildings (s. 4.1.2), and a 2024 temporary use notice notes travel trailers are not allowed in residential zones unless accessory to an existing home. We did not find a clear rule on living in one during construction. | Building Services, building@tay.ca, 705-534-7248 |
A temporary use by-law, passed by council for a specific property, is the formal route where a town is willing. That Tay notice is an example of the process: an application, a public meeting and a set time limit, which in that case was a request for up to three years. It takes time and is not guaranteed.
If It Is Allowed: Sewage, Hydro, Insurance
Sewage
RV tanks fill fast. Dumping grey or black water on the ground is not an option. A holding tank is a sewage system and needs a permit, and someone has to pump it. Midland has stopped accepting hauled septage, which matters in an area where Tiny alone has more than 500 holding tanks. If the permanent septic is going in anyway, ask whether it can be installed early. See the septic installation process.
Temporary hydro
Hydro One’s 2026 Conditions of Service cover temporary service for construction: the standard transformer and meter material is supplied at no charge, and you pay the labour and other material to install and remove it. ESA has to approve the installation first.
Water
If the well is drilled early, a temporary line to the trailer is simple. If not, you are hauling water. Plan the well and the trench together. See trenching for services.
Insurance
Tell your insurer exactly how the trailer is being used. A policy written for occasional camping may not cover living in it full time on a construction site. Get the answer in writing.
Options That Usually Work Better
- Rent nearby. Price a rental against the trailer, tank pumping, temporary hydro and the risk of a by-law order before you decide. The rental often wins.
- Keep the trailer on the lot as a site office, not a bedroom. Tiny allows a construction trailer with a valid building permit for up to a year.
- Sequence the job to shorten the gap. Getting the septic, well and hydro in early means the house can be occupied sooner. See the site work order.
- Plan for a second unit properly. If you want a garden suite or second dwelling long term, apply for it the right way. GardenSuiteOntario.com covers the planning side.
Before You Call the Township
Have these ready, so you get a real answer instead of “it depends”:
- Your roll number or civic address and the zone on the zoning map
- Your building permit number, or where the application is at
- How long you want to stay, and whether it is full time or weekends
- How sewage, water and hydro will be handled
Ask them to confirm the answer by email. A phone “should be fine” is worth exactly what it cost you.
Get the Services In Early
We can sequence the septic install, well trench and hydro trench so your house is ready for occupancy sooner. Send us your plans for a written quote.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live in an RV on my lot in Tiny Township while I build?
Generally no. Tiny’s Zoning By-law 22-075 prohibits using a tent, trailer or motor vehicle for human habitation, with an exception only where a house was destroyed by fire or an Act of God.
Can I have a construction trailer on my lot in Tiny?
Yes, as a site office or storage. With a valid building permit, a construction trailer is allowed on the lot while work is in progress, for up to one year from permit issue.
Can I live in a trailer while building in Oro-Medonte?
The zoning by-law prohibits using a trailer or motor vehicle for human habitation outside a camping establishment. It allows uses incidental to construction, so ask the Township whether anything applies to your situation.
What about Wasaga Beach and Tay?
We did not find a clear rule allowing it in either by-law. Call Wasaga’s Building Department at 705-429-1120 or Tay Building Services at 705-534-7248 and get the answer in writing.
Can I get temporary hydro for a trailer during construction?
Hydro One offers temporary service for construction sites. The standard transformer and meter material is free; you pay the labour and other material to install and remove it, and ESA must approve it first.
Where does the sewage go if I live in a trailer on site?
It needs an approved sewage system, such as a permitted holding tank that gets pumped, or the permanent septic installed early. Dumping on the ground is not allowed.
