Annapolis Royal land-use by-law for backyard suites, tiny homes and bunkies

Town of Annapolis Royal, in Annapolis County. Population 530 (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.

Not allowed · Annapolis Royal’s term: “accessory building”

The by-law has no accessory or backyard suite provision, accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation unless a dwelling is a permitted accessory use, and only one primary building is allowed per lot. The exception is grouped dwellings, which may be considered by development agreement in the Residential Designation. [1]

Approvals: Grouped dwellings (two or more architecturally similar units in separate buildings on one lot) by development agreement only [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 · Annapolis Royal’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The by-law sets no minimum floor area or width for a single unit dwelling. A single detached dwelling does not include a mini home or mobile home, and those are allowed only as temporary uses. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: None stated [2]
Mini homes: Not a single detached dwelling; a mobile or mini-home structure is only allowed as a temporary use (s. 4.21) [2]
Minimum lot size: RSU zone: 700 m² (7,535 sq ft) [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.

We haven’t researched Annapolis Royal’s by-law for this yet.

What applies everywhere in Nova Scotia

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]

Building permit: Note A-9.39 in the province's Building Code users' guide (February 1, 2026) says tiny houses on a permanent trailer chassis with wheels "do not fall within the scope of the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations" and may fall under other laws such as the Motor Vehicle Act. The guide says notes are explanatory and are not part of the regulations. [9]
Mobile homes: A CSA Z240 MH certified "manufactured home" is a building under the Building Code Regulations (s. 2). It is deemed to comply when marked under CSA A277 clause 7.4 (s. 10A(2)), and its installation is inspected at set stages (s. 35(1)(f)). [6]
Mobile homes: Municipal planning documents must provide for manufactured housing (Statement of Provincial Interest Regarding Housing, provision 4). Halifax only: HRM must permit manufactured housing, including converted shipping containers, in all residential zones (HRM Minimum Planning Requirements Regulations s. 4A(2)(l)). [4]
Approvals: Halifax only: HRM must permit temporary housing in non-permanent structures in all zones where it can be safely established (HRM Minimum Planning Requirements Regulations s. 4A(2)(k)). [5]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not allowed · Annapolis Royal’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory buildings shall not be used for human habitation except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use, and no residential zone lists one.

Maximum height: 4.5 m (14.76 ft) [2]
Setbacks: At least 1 m from a lot line (0.6 m in residential zones if the facing wall has no openings) [2]
Separation from house: At least 2 m from the main building [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

Hold resolved: the Town's by-laws page and Building & Planning page both link this document, titled 'Land Use By-law 2020' and dated December 2020, as the Town's only LUB; the 2019 date refers to adoption, so there is no competing by-law. No consolidated amendments were found. Section 4.21 refers to temporary uses in 'Part 4.28', but temporary uses are in section 4.30.

Sources

Not legal advice

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

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