Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh zoning for small homes

Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, in the County of Huron. Population 5,884 (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 · Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh’s term: “additional residential unit (ARU) in an accessory building”

An additional residential unit in a detached accessory building is permitted in the Village/Hamlet Residential (VR1), General Agriculture (AG1) and Agricultural Small Holding (AG4) zones, subject to lot-size, distance and shared-driveway conditions. The Lakeshore Residential zones (LR1, LR2) do not list additional residential units.

Where allowed: VR1 (s.28.2), AG1 (s.4.2, 4.3) and AG4 (s.6.2, 6.3); not listed in LR1 or LR2 [1]
Minimum lot size: VR1: 4,000 m² (1 acre), or 2,000 m² (0.5 acre) in the settlement areas of Port Albert, Dungannon and east of Corrins Line in Nile (s.28.4.14 / 28.4.13.1) [1]
Number allowed: VR1: a single ARU; AG1: up to 2 ARUs, maximum one in a detached structure; AG4: a single ARU in an accessory building (s.28.4.14, 4.2, 6.6.1) [1]
Maximum size: VR1: no greater than 75% of the main floor of the main dwelling (including attached garages), within maximum lot coverage (s.28.4.15 / 28.4.14.4) [1]
Maximum height: VR1: 6 m for an accessory building containing an ARU (s.28.4.15 / 28.4.14.3) [1]
Setbacks: VR1: 3 m rear and 3 m interior side (s.28.4.15); AG4: main-building setbacks of s.6.4, rear or interior side yard only (s.6.6.4-6.6.5) [1]
Separation from house: AG1 and AG4: no further than 60 m from the main dwelling (s.4.4.8.1, 6.6.2) [1]
Parking: VR1: one additional parking space per ARU; must use the same driveway as the main dwelling (s.28.4.14) [1]
Servicing: VR1: must use the same septic and/or well as the main dwelling (s.28.4.14) [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 · Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The VR1, LR2, AG1 and AG4 zones set no general minimum floor area for a single detached dwelling. Minimum floor areas appear only in site-specific exceptions (e.g. LR2-13) and for units in the Residential Park (LR3) zone (55 m²).

Minimum dwelling size: None in the general VR1, LR2, AG1 or AG4 regulations; 55 m² unit floor area minimum applies within the Residential Park (LR3) zone (s.24.4.15) [1]
Minimum lot size: VR1: 1,850 m² (Port Albert, Dungannon, east Nile) or 2,000 m² elsewhere (s.28.4.2); LR2: 2,000 m² (s.17.4.2); AG4: 4,000 m² (s.6.4.2) [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 · Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh’s term: “mobile home; travel trailer; temporary dwelling (garden suite)”

Mobile homes (defined as prefabricated single detached dwellings placed or designed to be placed on permanent foundations) are prohibited except in the AG1, AG4 and Residential Park (LR3) zones. Travel trailers and motor homes may not be used for living accommodation in any zone, apart from sleeping in one for up to 2 weeks a year.

Where allowed: Mobile homes only in AG1 (accessory to agriculture), AG4 (as the one dwelling or as an ARU) and LR3 Residential Park zones (s.3.28.5, 4.3, 6.3, 24.3) [1]
Temporary garden suite: AG1 permits one temporary dwelling (garden suite) subject to an agreement with Council; maximum 1,500 sq ft ground floor, no basement, one storey, within 60 m of the main dwelling, septic certificate required (s.3.15, 4.3) [1]
Approvals: Travel trailers, tourist trailers and motor homes may not be used for temporary or permanent living or eating accommodation in any zone; sleeping in one is limited to 2 weeks per year, including when jacked up or with running gear removed (s.3.26.9); travel trailers may not be occupied on vacant lots except in the RC2 zone (s.3.28.14) [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.

Allowed with limits · Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh’s term: “guest cabin”

One guest cabin is permitted as an accessory use in the Lakeshore Residential Seasonal (LR1) and Year-Round (LR2) zones, for sleeping only with no washroom or kitchen. It is not listed in the general agricultural or village residential zones, where accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except as specified.

Where allowed: LR1 and LR2 zones (s.16.2, 17.2); some site-specific zones [1]
Number allowed: One guest cabin (s.16.2, 17.2) [1]
Maximum size: 23 m² total floor area (definition; s.16.4.11, 17.4.11) [1]
Kitchen: No kitchen or food preparation facilities and no washroom facilities; sleeping accommodation only (definition of Guest Cabin) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory buildings in LR1/LR2: 6 m with at least 3 m setback to all lot lines, or 4.5 m with 1.25-3 m setbacks; maximum 2 storeys (s.3.4.4) [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

Cover page says 'Consolidated May 2026' but page footers read 'October, 2025'. The PDF is also hosted at https://acwtownship.ca/government/by-laws/building-and-property/acw-zbl-consolidated-may-2026-2nd-v. Some subsection numbering in VR1 s.28.4.14-28.4.15 is internally inconsistent (sub-items numbered 28.4.13.x and 28.4.14.x); both numbers are cited. LR2 does not list additional residential units. The by-law's s.3.15 temporary dwelling is tied to an agreement with Council and is not expressly described as a s.39.1 temporary use by-law. No official ARU guide found.

Sources

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