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

Municipality of the District of Digby. Population 7,242 (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 · Digby’s term: “grouped dwellings”

Grouped Dwellings, defined as two or more residential buildings on the same lot, are permitted in all three zones (General Development Area, Urban Development Area and Village Area), and they are exempt from the one-main-building-per-lot rule. The by-law has no other size or location rules specific to a backyard unit, so the zone standards apply. [1]

Where allowed: GDA, UDA and VA zones (Schedule B) [1]
Number allowed: Outside grouped dwellings, only one main building is allowed on a lot under 1,879 m² (20,235 sq ft) (s.5.15) [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 · Digby’s term: “single unit dwelling”

The GDA, UDA and VA zone standards set lot area, frontage, yards and height but no minimum dwelling floor area or width. Mobile home dwellings built to CSA Z240 are permitted in all three zones. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: None set in the GDA, UDA or VA zone requirements (Parts 8 to 10) [1]
Mini homes: Mobile Home Dwelling (CAN/CSA-Z240, with or without a permanent foundation) permitted in GDA, UDA and VA zones (Schedule B) [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 · Digby’s term: “mobile home dwelling”

No recreation vehicle or prefabricated structure not purpose built for residential occupancy may be used for human habitation anywhere in the Municipality, whether or not it is on wheels (s.5.34). CSA Z240 mobile home dwellings and mobile home parks are permitted in all zones. [1]

Where allowed: Mobile home dwellings and mobile home parks in GDA, UDA and VA zones (Schedule B); RVs may not be used for human habitation (s.5.34) [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 addressed · Digby’s term: “accessory building”

The by-law does not mention sleeping cabins or bunkies. Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation, which the by-law defines as occupying a structure as a permanent dwelling or residence (s.5.3.1(a)). [1]

Maximum height: 10.6 m (35 ft) for accessory buildings (s.5.3.1(e)) [1]
Number allowed: 3 accessory structures on lots under 1,879 m² (20,235 sq ft) (s.5.3.2) [1]
Setbacks: 0.6 m (2 ft) from lot lines, not in the minimum front yard, and at least 2 m (6.5 ft) from the main building (s.5.3.1) [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

The posted LUB PDF (By-law 2023-03) has no consolidation or effective date in its text. 'Secondary Suite' is listed as permitted in all zones in Schedule B but is not defined in the text read. Separate Conway Area and Digby Wellfield Protection Area by-laws apply to those areas and were not reviewed. A February 2026 amendment notice (wind turbines, riparian setback, Mount Pleasant map) at https://digbymun.ca/notice-of-approval-lub-amendment.html now returns 404.

Sources

Not legal advice

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

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