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

Municipality of the County of Colchester. Population 36,044 (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 · Colchester’s term: “accessory dwelling unit”

One accessory dwelling unit, inside the house or in a separate building, is a use permitted with conditions in the residential, rural and shoreline zones under s. 7.1.

Where allowed: Permitted with conditions in R-1, R-2, R-2C, R-3, R-4, C-4, RG, RR, AP and SL zones (Table 11-1) [1]
Number allowed: Only one accessory dwelling per lot (s. 7.1.1(a)) [1]
Maximum size: Gross floor area not over 100.0 m² (1,076 sq ft) or 50% of the primary dwelling's gross floor area, whichever is larger (s. 7.1.1(c)) [1]
Maximum height: Accessory building height limit of the zone, e.g. 7.6 m (24.9 ft) in R-1 (s. 7.1.1(e)(i), Table 12-1) [1]
Separation from house: Minimum 3.0 m (9.9 ft) from the main dwelling (s. 7.1.1(e)(ii)) [1]
Setbacks: Rear or side yard only (front yard allowed in the Shoreline zone); other zone requirements for main buildings apply; total lot coverage max 40% (s. 7.1.1(e)) [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 · Colchester’s term: “dwelling”

The by-law sets no minimum dwelling floor area or width for single dwellings in its residential or rural zones; a dwelling includes a mini home, but the Mobile Home use is listed only in certain zones.

Mini homes: 'Mobile Home' (CSA Z240) is a listed use in the RG, RR, AP and SL zones, and in R-2 only on lots fronting Guest Drive in Bible Hill; it is not listed in R-1 or R-4 (Table 11-1, s. 13.6.3) [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 · Colchester’s term: “mobile home”

CSA Z240 mobile homes are permitted in the rural (RG, RR, AP) and Shoreline zones but not most urban residential zones; recreational vehicles are defined as temporary accommodation and are not listed as a dwelling use outside camping.

Where allowed: Mobile homes permitted in RG, RR, AP and SL zones; R-2 only on Guest Drive in Bible Hill (Table 11-1, s. 13.6.3) [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 · Colchester’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except where a dwelling is a permitted accessory use, so a sleeping building would need to qualify as an accessory dwelling unit under s. 7.1.

Maximum size: In residential and commercial zones, accessory buildings total max 55.0 m² (592 sq ft) on lots under 600 m², otherwise 10% of lot area; same limits apply in the RG zone (ss. 6.2.2, 26.6.3) [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

Effective 2025-06-12, cover says 'With Amendments to 2026.05'. Ambiguity: the Dwelling definition includes a mini-home or manufactured home, while 'Mobile Home' (defined with the same CSA Z240 wording) is listed as a separate use only in some zones; a person should confirm with Community Development how a mini home on a foundation in R-1 is treated. Accessory buildings in R-1 to R-4 zones may not be originally built as a mobile or mini home, construction trailer, semi-trailer or shipping container (s. 6.2.1(d)). Recreational cabins (not for regular occupation) are a main use permitted in some rural zones in Subdivision Area 2 only.

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 Colchester’s area yet. These cover all of Nova Scotia.

All Nova Scotia municipalities