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

Town of Mahone Bay, in Lunenburg County. Population 1,064 (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 · Mahone Bay’s term: “accessory dwelling”

One accessory dwelling per lot is permitted in the Residential Core, Residential General, Residential Multi-unit and Residential Unserviced zones, either in the main dwelling or in a separate building in the side or rear yard. It may not be used as a short-term rental.

Where allowed: Permitted (P) in the RC, RG, RM and RU zones [1]
Number allowed: One accessory dwelling per lot (s.5.3.1(a)) [1]
Maximum size: 70 m² gross floor area (s.5.3.1(c)) [1]
Maximum height: May not exceed the height of the main building (s.5.2.1(d)) [1]
Setbacks: Side or rear yard only; at least 1.2 m from rear and side lot lines; no windows on elevations closer than 1.2 m to an adjacent lot [1]
Separation from house: At least 1.5 m from the main building (s.5.2.1(b)) [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 · Mahone Bay’s term: “single-unit dwelling”

The by-law sets no minimum floor area for single-unit dwellings; the 50 m² and 60 m² minimums apply only to units in converted dwellings. Mini homes are permitted in the RC, RG and RU zones with conditions.

Minimum dwelling size: None stated for single-unit dwellings [1]
Mini homes: Permitted in RC, RG and RU zones; one per lot, length to width ratio no greater than 1:3 (as written), towing apparatus removed, and on a permanent foundation or with skirting (s.8.1.4) [1]
Minimum lot size: RC: serviced lot 450 m², 12 m frontage [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 · Mahone Bay’s term: “recreational vehicle; mobile home”

Recreational vehicles and campers may be lived in for no more than 30 days a calendar year on a property with a main dwelling, unconnected to Town services. Mobile homes, which may sit on wheels or jacks, are permitted in the RC, RG and RU zones with skirting and the towing apparatus removed.

Where allowed: Mobile Home permitted in RC, RG and RU zones; one per lot, towing apparatus removed, permanent foundation or visual skirting (s.8.1.4, s.11.1.5) [1]
Approvals: RV or camper habitation: not connected to Town services, no more than 30 days total per calendar year, not for the travelling public, not in the minimum front or flankage setback, only on a property with an established main dwelling (s.5.25.2) [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 allowed · Mahone Bay’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation unless an accessory dwelling is permitted and a permit has been issued for it. A sleeping building would need to qualify as the one accessory dwelling on the lot.

Maximum size: 70 m² gross floor area per accessory building; all accessory buildings together not over 10% of lot area [1]
Approvals: A development permit is required where an accessory structure is used for human habitation (s.5.4.1) [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

Several list items in the PDF have no text layer and were read from rendered page images (s.5.2.1, 5.3.1, 5.25.2, 8.1.4, 11.1.5). Only one main building is permitted per lot in residential zones except grouped dwellings and care facilities. Planning services are provided by the Municipality of the District of Chester.

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 Mahone Bay’s area yet. These cover all of Nova Scotia.

All Nova Scotia municipalities