Asphodel-Norwood 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 · Asphodel-Norwood’s term: “second dwelling unit”

One second dwelling unit is permitted in a single detached, semi-detached or row house dwelling or in an accessory building on the lot, where those dwellings are permitted (s.3.41). A detached unit must meet the zone regulations, may not be a mobile home, and must connect to municipal services in serviced areas. Ontario's Planning Act (s. 35.1) overrides zoning provisions that would prohibit one unit in a building ancillary to a house on serviced urban land. [1]

Where allowed: Zones listing a second dwelling unit, including R1, R2, RR, RU and A (s.5.1.5, 6.1.4, 8.1.5, 10.1.11, 11.1.9); not in the EP zone or floodplain (s.3.41(f)) [2]
Number allowed: One second dwelling unit per dwelling, in the dwelling or in an accessory building but not both (s.3.41(a),(b)) [2]
Parking: One off-street parking space in addition to other required spaces; may be stacked (s.3.41(d)) [2]
Servicing: In a serviced area, must connect to municipal water and sewer (s.3.41(e)(iii)) [2]
Maximum height: General accessory building limit of 4.5 m 'except as otherwise permitted' (s.3.1(d)) [2]
Setbacks: Accessory buildings in R1/R2/R3/RR/LSR: side or rear yard only, 1.5 m side, 3 m rear (1 m and 1.5 m on serviced R1-R3 lots), 1.5 m from other buildings (s.3.1(f)) [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. [1][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 with limits · Asphodel-Norwood’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The main residential and rural zones set a minimum dwelling unit area of 92.9 m² for single detached dwellings (R1, RR, and in RU and A as of April 14, 2015).

Minimum dwelling size: 92.9 m² minimum dwelling unit area for single detached dwellings in R1 (s.5.2.1(m)), RR (s.8.2.1(k)), RU (s.10.2.1(j), as of April 14, 2015) and A (s.11.2.1(j), as of April 14, 2015) [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. [1][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.

Not allowed · Asphodel-Norwood’s term: “mobile home; recreational travel trailer; park model trailer”

No mobile home or recreational travel trailer may be located or used in any zone for residential purposes, temporarily or permanently, unless a zone specifically lists it (s.3.21), and no zone in the consolidation lists mobile homes as a permitted use. A dwelling unit excludes tents, cabins, trailers and mobile homes.

Where allowed: No zone lists mobile homes; s.3.21 allows a mobile home or trailer under a temporary use by-law only for construction or emergency use after a dwelling is destroyed by fire or natural disaster [2]
Temporary garden suite: No general garden suite provision; one site-specific exception (A-4(H), By-law 2014-93) permits a garden suite under an agreement with the Municipality (s.11.4.4) [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. [10][5][1][7][6]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not addressed

The by-law does not address bunkies or sleeping cabins. Accessory buildings may not be used as a dwelling unit unless specifically permitted (s.3.1(a)(ii)) and are generally limited to 4.5 m height and 8% total lot coverage.

Maximum height: 4.5 m for accessory buildings unless otherwise permitted (s.3.1(d)) [2]
Maximum size: All accessory buildings together: 8% of lot area (s.3.1(c)) [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. [7][5][1][11]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The office consolidation includes amendments only up to By-law 2020-22 (the Township planning page states this); the PDF has no stated consolidation date (inventory notes it as dated 2021-10). Later amendments (e.g. By-law 2025-06 / ZBLA-03-2024, ZBLA-02-2025, 01-2026) are not consolidated; the ones found by search are site-specific rezonings, but no check could confirm that no township-wide additional residential unit amendment has been passed since 2020. The by-law still uses 'second dwelling unit' (one unit), which may not reflect current Planning Act ARU permissions. Planning services are provided by the County of Peterborough.

Sources

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Asphodel-Norwood 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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