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

Municipality of the District of Shelburne. Population 4,336 (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 with limits · Shelburne’s term: “secondary suite (backyard structure)”

A secondary suite, including one in a separate backyard structure, is permitted as an accessory use to a single or two-unit dwelling in the Rural Development (RD), Rural Resource (RR) and Rural Commercial (RC) zones on lots on a public road. Part 5 Section 16 does not list the suburban Residential (RES) zone. [1]

Where allowed: RD, RR and RC zones, accessory to a single or two-unit dwelling; lot must be on a public road [2]
Maximum size: 80 m² (860 sq ft) gross floor area [2]
Number allowed: One secondary suite per lot [2]
Setbacks: Must meet the main-use setback requirements of the zone (RD and RC: 7.6 m front and rear, 3.0 m side; RR: 7.6 m front and rear, 10 m side) [2]

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. [3][4][5][6][7][8]

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 · Shelburne’s term: “single-unit dwelling (tiny home)”

The by-law defines a single-unit dwelling as including mobile and tiny homes, and it sets no minimum dwelling floor area or width. Single-unit dwellings are permitted in the RD, RR, RC and RES zones. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: None set; tiny home is defined as a dwelling unit of 37 m² (398.3 sq ft) or less and is included in the single-unit dwelling definition [2]
Mini homes: Single-unit dwelling definition includes mobile homes [2]
Where allowed: Single-unit dwellings permitted in RD, RR, RC and RES zones (and in MI with conditions) [2]

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. [3][6][4][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 · Shelburne’s term: “recreational vehicle / trailer”

A dwelling excludes travel trailers and other recreational vehicles, and trailers and similar structures may not be used for human habitation unless the by-law permits it. Mobile homes count as single-unit dwellings, campgrounds and RV parks need site plan approval in the RD and RES zones, and land lease communities are permitted in the RD zone. [1]

Where allowed: Campgrounds and RV parks by site plan approval in RD and RES; land lease communities in RD (new ones by site plan approval); recreational vehicle parking sites permitted in RD, RC, RES and SC, one RV per site [2]
Mini homes: Mobile homes are included in the single-unit dwelling definition [2]

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][6][4][5]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

Not allowed · Shelburne’s term: “accessory building”

Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation unless they hold a permitted secondary suite. Separately, recreational camps (one storey, not built for year-round use, off-grid power, not rented) are a permitted use in the RD, RR and RC zones. [1]

Maximum height: Accessory buildings: two storeys or the maximum zone height [2]
Separation from house: Accessory buildings at least 1.8 m (6 ft) from the main building and 1.2 m (4 ft) from lot lines [2]

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. [6][7][10]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Read the Minister-approved combined MPS/LUB (approval letter dated October 7, 2025; Minister's amendments concern public participation and small option homes only, none affect these four types) and the Council-adopted text LUB of June 2025; the cited sections match in both. The Secondary Suites section ends mid-sentence ('The') in both documents, so any further suite conditions are not readable. 'Recreational vehicle parking site' is not defined, and the by-law does not say whether an RV on such a site may be occupied full-time. Council began 2026 amendments for affordable housing bonusing in the Suburban Designation (April 22, 2026 council package; public hearing noticed for May 27, 2026); outcome not confirmed and they do not appear to touch these provisions.

Sources

Not legal advice

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