Agricultural Zoned Areas and the Property Standards By-law Survey

The Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh has formed an Agricultural Property Standards Working Group to explore updating the Property Standards By-law to apply to all properties, including agricultural lands.

Currently, agricultural zones (AG1, AG3, AG4) are exempt, meaning the Township cannot address non-farm-related property condition concerns. Removing the blanket exemption would ensure fairness across all properties, while normal farm practices would remain protected under provincial law.

No decisions have been made. The Working Group is gathering information and community feedback before making any recommendations to Council.

Learn more: www.acwtownship.ca/government/projects-initiatives/agricultural-property-standards-working-group

We invite you to share your thoughts. Limit one completed survey per participant.

Question Title

If you live in the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, or own property here, please indicate where:

(Required.)

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

Area 4

I live outside of the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh

Question Title

Which best describes your residency status? (Required.)

Full Time Resident (year-round)

Seasonal Resident (part-time)

Other (please specify)

Question Title

Which best describes your property? (Required.)

Agricultural (farm operation) (AG1)

Commercial/Industrial Agricultural (AG3)

Rural Residential (AG4)

Settlement Area - Villages

Settlement Area - Lakeshore

Other (please specify)

Question Title

How long have you lived in the Township? (Required.)

Less than 2 years

2 – 5 years

6 – 10 years

11 – 20 years

More than 20 years

Other (please specify)

Question Title

Are you directly involved in farming or agricultural production? (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

How familiar are you with the current Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Very familiar

Somewhat familiar

Not very familiar

Not at all familiar

Question Title

Are you aware that the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW) currently exempts agriculturally zoned areas from its Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Yes

Reduced complaints between neighbours

No clear benefit

Other (please specify)

Question Title

Which of the following, if any, should apply to agriculturally zoned areas? (Select all that apply) (Required.)

Yard cleanliness (garbage, refuse, non‑farm debris)

Safe driveways, parking areas, and access routes

Prevention of unsafe conditions (erosion, unstable soil, open holes)

Exterior lighting safety and light spill control

Maintenance of non‑farm accessory buildings

Safe and well‑maintained fences and retaining walls

Proper outdoor storage of garbage and recyclables

Restrictions on abandoned or inoperative vehicles or equipment

Limits on temporary outdoor storage

None of the above

Question Title

If property standards are adopted in agriculturally zoned areas, what approach would you recommend? (Required.)

Apply the same standards as residential properties

Create modified standards specific to agriculturally zoned areas

Do not include agriculturally zoned areas

Unsure

Other (please specify)

Question Title

Were you aware of the Township's discussing including agriculturally zoned areas in the Property Standards By-Law? (Required.)

Yes

With normal farm practices protected under provincial law, do you support including agriculturally zoned areas in the Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Strongly support

Somewhat support

Neutral

Somewhat oppose

Strongly oppose

Question Title

Do you have any further suggestions and/or comments? (Required.)

Yes

Explain

Agricultural Zoned Areas and the Property Standards By-law Survey

Question Title

* If you live in the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, or own property here, please indicate where: (Required.)

Question Title

* Which best describes your residency status? (Required.)

Question Title

* Which best describes your property? (Required.)

Question Title

* How long have you lived in the Township? (Required.)

Question Title

* Are you directly involved in farming or agricultural production? (Required.)

Question Title

* How familiar are you with the current Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Question Title

* Are you aware that the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW) currently exempts agriculturally zoned areas from its Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Question Title

* Have you read the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Question Title

* Before today, were you aware that ACW is the only municipality in Huron County that exempts agriculturally zoned areas from its Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Question Title

* What benefits, if any, do you see? (Select all that apply) (Required.)

Question Title

* Which of the following, if any, should apply to agriculturally zoned areas? (Select all that apply) (Required.)

Question Title

* If property standards are adopted in agriculturally zoned areas, what approach would you recommend? (Required.)

Question Title

* Were you aware of the Township's discussing including agriculturally zoned areas in the Property Standards By-Law? (Required.)

Question Title

* Have you ever made a property standards complaint? (Required.)

Question Title

* If agriculturally zoned area exemptions were removed from the Property Standards By-law, would you be more likely to file a complaint about a neighbouring property? (Required.)

Question Title

* Do you believe including agriculturally zoned areas would improve the overall appearance of the Township? (Required.)

Question Title

* Do you believe this issue should be a Township priority at this time? (Required.)

Question Title

* Would you be concerned about conflict with neighbours if agriculturally zoned areas were included in the by-law? (Required.)

Question Title

* With normal farm practices protected under provincial law, do you support including agriculturally zoned areas in the Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Question Title

* Do you have any further suggestions and/or comments? (Required.)

If you live in the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, or own property here, please indicate where:

(Required.)

Which best describes your residency status? (Required.)

Which best describes your property? (Required.)

How long have you lived in the Township? (Required.)

Are you directly involved in farming or agricultural production? (Required.)

How familiar are you with the current Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Are you aware that the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW) currently exempts agriculturally zoned areas from its Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Have you read the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Before today, were you aware that ACW is the only municipality in Huron County that exempts agriculturally zoned areas from its Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

What benefits, if any, do you see? (Select all that apply) (Required.)

Which of the following, if any, should apply to agriculturally zoned areas? (Select all that apply) (Required.)

If property standards are adopted in agriculturally zoned areas, what approach would you recommend? (Required.)

Were you aware of the Township's discussing including agriculturally zoned areas in the Property Standards By-Law? (Required.)

Have you ever made a property standards complaint? (Required.)

If agriculturally zoned area exemptions were removed from the Property Standards By-law, would you be more likely to file a complaint about a neighbouring property? (Required.)

Do you believe including agriculturally zoned areas would improve the overall appearance of the Township? (Required.)

Do you believe this issue should be a Township priority at this time? (Required.)

Would you be concerned about conflict with neighbours if agriculturally zoned areas were included in the by-law? (Required.)

With normal farm practices protected under provincial law, do you support including agriculturally zoned areas in the Property Standards By-law? (Required.)

Do you have any further suggestions and/or comments? (Required.)