Lunenburg land-use by-law for backyard suites, tiny homes and bunkies
Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Population 25,545 (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 · Lunenburg’s term: “second dwelling (multiple main buildings)”
The by-law has no backyard suite category, but dwellings with 1 to 5 units are permitted as of right in the Rural General, Rural Residential and Rural Village zones and any number of main buildings may be placed on a lot, so a second detached dwelling is possible subject to zone setbacks. Six or more units in two or more dwellings on a lot not fully on central services is a cluster development needing a development agreement.
- Where allowed
- Dwellings of 1 to 2 and 3 to 5 units permitted (P) in the Rural General (RU), Rural Residential (RR) and Rural Village (RUV) zones; 1 to 2 unit dwellings are not permitted in the Mixed Use Serviced (MUS) zone [1]
- Number allowed
- Any number of main buildings may be located on the same lot, subject to zone requirements (s.7.28.1); 6 or more units in 2 or more dwellings on a lot partly or entirely unserviced is a cluster development by development agreement [1]
- Setbacks
- RU: front 6 m, side 2 m, rear 2 m; RR: front 3 m, side 2 m, rear 2 m; RUV: front 0 m, side 2 m, rear 2 m [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 · Lunenburg’s term: “tiny house”
Tiny houses, defined as dwelling units of 37 m² or less on a foundation, are listed as a permitted use in the Rural General, Rural Residential, Rural Village and Protected Watershed Two zones. The by-law sets no minimum dwelling floor area or width.
- Where allowed
- Tiny Houses permitted (P) in the RU, RR, RUV and PW-2 zones; not listed in the MUS zone [1]
- Minimum dwelling size
- None stated; Tiny House is defined as a dwelling unit of 37 square metres (398.3 square feet) or less in building area on a foundation [1]
- Minimum lot size
- Unserviced lot 2,700 m² in RU and RR; RUV serviced lot 350 m² [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 · Lunenburg’s term: “recreational vehicle parking site”
A recreational vehicle may be lived in for up to 180 days a year without a development permit, and may be the primary use of a lot for longer with a development permit for a recreational vehicle parking site, which is permitted in the Rural General, Rural Residential and Rural Village zones. The definition of dwelling includes homes built to CSA Z241 or an equivalent standard.
- Number allowed
- Maximum of three recreational vehicles on a recreational vehicle parking site at a time [1]
- Setbacks
- RV and parking area subject to all setback requirements for residential uses in the zone [1]
- Where allowed
- Recreational Vehicle Parking Sites permitted (P) in RU, RR and RUV zones [1]
- Approvals
- Temporary habitation of an RV up to 180 days per calendar year needs no development permit (s.7.39.1); longer use as the primary use of a lot requires a development permit for a recreational vehicle parking site (s.7.39.2) [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 · Lunenburg’s term: “accessory building”
The by-law does not address sleeping in accessory buildings. Accessory buildings are allowed on the same lot as the main use subject to zone setbacks, and non-habitable accessory buildings under 19.97 m² need no development permit.
- Setbacks
- Accessory buildings must meet zone minimum setbacks (s.7.2.2) [1]
- Approvals
- Accessory non-habitable buildings under 19.97 m² (215 sq ft) gross floor area do not need a development permit (s.5.2.1(b)) [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
Sources
- Land Use By-law (MODL By-law 049, municipal-wide)
- Minimum Planning Requirements Regulations (Government of Nova Scotia)
- Statement of Provincial Interest Regarding Housing (Government of Nova Scotia)
- HRM Minimum Planning Requirements Regulations (Government of Nova Scotia)
- Building Code Regulations (Government of Nova Scotia)
- Activities Designation Regulations (Government of Nova Scotia)
- Government of Nova Scotia news release
- Building Code Regulations, users’ version with notes (Government of Nova Scotia)
- On-site Sewage Disposal Systems Regulations (Government of Nova Scotia)
Not legal advice
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