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

Town of Antigonish, in Antigonish County. Population 4,656 (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 · Antigonish’s term: “garden suite (accessory dwelling unit)”

One accessory dwelling unit, either a secondary suite or a garden suite, is permitted as of right with a single unit, semi-detached, triplex, small townhouse or work-live unit in the RN-1, RN-2 and MC zones. Garden suites have a maximum of two bedrooms.

Maximum size: 80% of the gross floor area of the main dwelling, up to 95 m² (Table 8) [1]
Maximum height: Equal to the height of the main dwelling, up to 6.5 m (Table 8) [1]
Separation from house: 2 m from non-habitable buildings on the lot, 3 m from all other buildings (Table 8) [1]
Setbacks: As per zone; not closer to the front lot line than the main dwelling (Table 8) [1]
Number allowed: One accessory dwelling unit per main dwelling (s.7.3.4) [1]
Servicing: On lots exceeding the zone's minimum frontage by a factor of 1.8 or more, separate water and sewer laterals are required (s.7.3.4) [1]
Where allowed: RN-1, RN-2 and MC zones (Table 6, s.8.6.4) [1]

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. [2][3][4][5][6][7]

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 · Antigonish’s term: “single-unit dwelling”

There is no minimum dwelling floor area, and single-unit dwellings are permitted in the RN-1 and RN-2 zones. However, factory-built manufactured homes 6 m wide or less, which includes mini homes, are permitted only in the Manufactured Home Residential (MH) zone.

Minimum dwelling size: None stated [1]
Mini homes: 'Dwelling, Manufactured Home' (factory-built, width or depth not more than 6 m) is permitted only in the MH zone (Table 6, Part 2 definitions) [1]
Minimum lot size: RN-1: 220 m², 9.1 m frontage (Table 9) [1]

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. [2][5][3][8]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

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

Allowed with limits · Antigonish’s term: “manufactured home”

No truck, bus, coach, motor home or other structure except a manufactured home or lawful dwelling unit may be used for habitation, on wheels or not. Manufactured homes are permitted only in the MH zone, and expansion of a manufactured home community needs a development agreement.

Where allowed: Manufactured home dwellings: MH zone only; new or expanded manufactured home communities by development agreement (Table 6) [1]
Number allowed: An existing manufactured home may stay as a temporary structure while a new dwelling is built, for up to 1 year (s.4.14) [1]
Approvals: s.4.15: vehicle bodies, motor homes and shipping containers may not be used for human habitation [1]

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. [8][5][3][4]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not allowed · Antigonish’s term: “accessory structure”

Accessory structures may not be used for human habitation except as a permitted accessory dwelling unit. The Town has no rural or waterfront residential zones.

Maximum size: All accessory buildings combined: 10% of lot area, up to 93 m² ground floor area (s.4.6(b)(iv)) [1]
Maximum height: 5 m where the main building is under 5 m; 6.5 m where it is taller (s.4.6(a)) [1]
Approvals: s.4.6(a)(ii): accessory structures shall not be used for human habitation except where permitted as an accessory dwelling unit [1]

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. [5][6][9]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

LUB adopted 2020-01-20, ministerial approval 2020-04-14, effective 2020-05-07, last amended 2026-02-17 per the cover. Carriage court and urban cottage developments are considered by development agreement (RN-1) or site plan approval (RN-2). The Accessory Dwelling Unit definition text appears garbled in the PDF but s.7.3.4 is clear.

Sources

Not legal advice

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