Amherst land-use by-law for garden suites, tiny homes and bunkies

Town of Amherst, in Cumberland County. Population 9,404 (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 · Amherst’s term: “accessory dwelling (garden suite)”

One accessory dwelling, which may be in a separate building, is permitted on a lot in the General Residential Zone. A detached unit follows the accessory building height rule and has its own entrance. [1]

Maximum size: 80 m² gross floor area [2]
Maximum height: 5 m (accessory building limit) [2]
Setbacks: 1.2 m from side lot lines and 3.0 m from the rear lot line; total lot coverage up to 50% [2]
Separation from house: 2.0 m from any main building (accessory building rule) [2]
Number allowed: 1 accessory dwelling per lot [2]

Nova Scotia-wide rule

Outside Halifax, no Nova Scotia regulation requires municipalities to allow backyard suites or a set number of units per lot. Each municipality decides this in its land-use by-law. Province-wide, the Building Code applies to the suite, and a new on-site sewage system needs provincial notification or approval. [3][4][5][6][7][8]

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 · Amherst’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The by-law sets no minimum floor area, but dwellings with a length to width ratio greater than 3:1 are classed as mobile/mini homes, which are permitted only in the Land Lease Community Zone. [1]

Minimum width: Dwellings longer than 3 times their width are mobile/mini homes [2]
Mini homes: Permitted in the Land Lease Community Zone only [2]
Minimum dwelling size: None stated [2]

Nova Scotia-wide rule

Nova Scotia sets no provincial minimum house size. Since April 1, 2025, the Building Code Regulations define a "tiny house" as a dwelling unit of 37 m² or less in building area and give it its own rules on ceiling heights and lofts. Certified factory-built homes are deemed to meet the Code. Municipal planning documents must provide for manufactured housing. [3][6][4][9]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.

Allowed with limits · Amherst’s term: “recreational vehicle / mobile home”

No recreational vehicle, vehicle body or shipping container may be used for human habitation in the town. Mobile homes are permitted only in the Land Lease Community Zone. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile homes: Land Lease Community Zone only [2]

Nova Scotia-wide rule

The province's Building Code guidance says tiny homes on a permanent trailer chassis with wheels are outside the scope of the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations. Whether you may live in one full-time is decided by the municipal land-use by-law. CSA Z240 manufactured (mini) homes are covered by the Building Code, and municipal plans must provide for manufactured housing. [9][6][4][5]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not allowed · Amherst’s term: “accessory building”

Detached accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation unless they are a permitted accessory dwelling with a permit. The town has no rural or waterfront residential zones.

Maximum size: 80 m² per accessory building [2]
Maximum height: 5 m [2]

Nova Scotia-wide rule

Unless a municipal by-law says otherwise, Nova Scotia does not require a building permit for an accessory building of 20 m² or less, but the Building Code still applies to it. Adding a washroom brings in the on-site sewage rules, unless the building connects to a municipal sewer. [6][7][10]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

New MPS and LUB adopted November 24, 2025, in effect on publication of the notice dated March 17, 2026. Consolidation date taken from the file name tag v20260910 (PDF created September 10, 2026); the PDF's internal title metadata reads 'LUB Draft' although it is the posted by-law. Section 4.31.1 bars shipping containers from human habitation, which may affect container-built suites.

Sources

Not legal advice

Confirm with your municipality before you buy, build or move in.

Suggest a correction or source

Know of a by-law change, an exception or an official page we missed? Tell us. An editor checks every suggestion before the page changes.

Find help nearby

We don’t have a directory page for Amherst’s area yet. These cover all of Nova Scotia.

All Nova Scotia municipalities