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

Town of Lunenburg, in Lunenburg County. Population 2,396 (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: “accessory dwelling”

An accessory dwelling may be in the main building or in a detached accessory building in the Lower Density, Medium Density and Higher Density Residential, General Commercial and Rural use zones, limited to one per lot. A detached unit must meet the form zone rules for accessory buildings and cannot be in the front yard.

Where allowed: Permitted (P) in the RL, RM, RH, CG and RUR use zones [1]
Number allowed: One accessory dwelling per lot (s.6.4.1) [1]
Maximum size: Building footprint of a detached accessory dwelling not more than 60 m² or 40% of the main dwelling's footprint, whichever is larger (s.6.4.2) [1]
Maximum height: 8 m (26 ft) for accessory buildings in all form zones (Table 10) [1]
Setbacks: Not in the front yard (s.6.4.3); accessory building side and rear setbacks 1.2 m (4 ft) in most form zones (Table 6) [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: “dwelling”

The by-law sets no minimum dwelling floor area or width. Main buildings in the Old Town 1 form zone have a minimum height of 6 m.

Minimum dwelling size: None stated [1]
Where allowed: Dwellings permitted in RL (up to 2 units), RM (up to 4 units), RH, CM, CG and RUR use zones [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.

We haven’t researched Lunenburg’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. [8][5][3][4]

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. [8]
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)). [5]
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)). [3]
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)). [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 limited to 8 m in height and must meet form zone setbacks.

Maximum height: 8 m (26 ft) in all form zones (Table 10) [1]
Setbacks: Rural form zone: front 6 m (20 ft), side 1.2 m (4 ft), rear 1.2 m (4 ft); Shoreline form zone: front 0 m, side 1.2 m, rear 0 m (Table 6) [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 LUB cover gives a 2021-09-22 Notice of Effect and leaves 'With Amendments to' blank, so later amendments may not be reflected. Only one main building is permitted per lot except in the Marine, Industry, Shoreline, Old Town/New Town 2, New Town 1 and Main Street form zones (s.7.4). The Old Town Heritage Conservation District By-law also controls development in Old Town (https://www.townoflunenburg.ca/heritage/1643-hcd-plan-and-bylaw-approved-feb-27-24.html).

Sources

Not legal advice

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

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