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

Town of Port Hawkesbury, in Inverness County. Population 3,210 (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.

Not allowed · Port Hawkesbury’s term: “accessory apartment”

Only one main building is allowed per residential lot (Part 6A s. 19), and accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation (Part 6A s. 1). An accessory unit is permitted only inside a dwelling in the R2 and R5 zones.

Number allowed: One main building per lot, except in commercial and industrial zones, grouped dwellings in R3 and mobile homes in R4 (Part 6A s. 19) [1]
Where allowed: Accessory unit inside a single unit dwelling (R2) or dwelling (R5), up to 50% of gross floor area (Part 9 s. 3, Part 12 s. 3) [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 with limits · Port Hawkesbury’s term: “single unit detached dwelling”

There is no minimum dwelling floor area, but mobile homes, including mobile homes and modular dwellings with any main wall under 6.10 m wide, are permitted only in the Mobile Home Park (R4) zone. A site-built small house is a single unit detached dwelling. [8]

Minimum width: Mobile and modular dwellings with any main wall narrower than 6.10 m (20.0 ft) are classed as mobile homes (Part 25 def. 58) [1]
Mini homes: Only in mobile home parks in the R4 zone (MPS Policy L-1.5.1; R4 zone, Part 11) [8]
Minimum dwelling size: None stated [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][9]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.

Allowed with limits · Port Hawkesbury’s term: “mobile home”

No truck, bus, coach or other structure except a mobile home or dwelling unit may be used for human habitation, whether on wheels or not (Part 6A s. 28). Mobile homes are permitted only in mobile home parks in the R4 zone, which require 2.02 ha and municipal water and sewer. [8]

Where allowed: Mobile Home Park (R4) zone only [1]
Minimum lot size: Mobile home park: 2.02 ha (5 acres) [1]
Servicing: Municipal water and sewer required in the R4 zone [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. [9][5][3][4]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.

Not allowed · Port Hawkesbury’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory buildings in any zone shall not be used for human habitation (Part 6A s. 1(a)(i)). [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][10]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

EDPC copy reads 'Last amended: 12 June 2026'. The Town's own site hosts an older copy (2022). The R5 Residential Rural zone has no 70 m² accessory building floor area cap.

Sources

Not legal advice

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

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