Truro land-use by-law for backyard suites, tiny homes and bunkies
Town of Truro, in Colchester County. Population 12,954 (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.
Needs approval · Truro’s term: “accessory dwelling unit (detached)”
In the General Residential (GR) zone, which covers most neighbourhoods, a dwelling unit in a detached accessory building needs site plan approval; the Urban Corridor, Urban Growth and Future Growth zones allow it as a conditional use.
- Number allowed
- Only one accessory building may contain a dwelling unit; GR total of 3 units on the property (s. 8.4.1(e)) [1]
- Maximum height
- 4.5 m (15 ft), or up to 6.5 m (21.3 ft) or the main building's height if main-building setbacks are met (s. 3.1.2) [1]
- Separation from house
- At least 2.0 m (6.6 ft) from any main building (s. 3.1.2(d)) [1]
- Setbacks
- Not in a front or flanking yard; 2.0 m (6.6 ft) from side and rear lot lines, or 1.2 m (3.9 ft) if no openings face the line (ss. 3.1.2, 8.4.1(e)) [1]
- Maximum size
- Accessory buildings' ground floor area total max 12.5% of lot area (s. 3.1.2(f)) [1]
- Where allowed
- Rural Residential (RR) zone: residential use of up to 2 units is permitted as of right (Table 12.1), the one-main-building rule does not apply (s. 3.1.18), and lots must be at least 9,000 m² (2.22 acres) with on-site sewage approval (Table 12.2); the by-law has no specific detached accessory unit rule for RR. Watershed Residential (WR) zone: 1 unit only (Table 13.1) [1]
- Approvals
- Site plan approval in the GR zone (s. 8.4.1(e)) and Downtown Neighbourhood zone (s. 7.6(c)); conditional use in the UC, UG and FG zones (ss. 5.4.3, 6.3.3, 11.3.10) [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 · Truro’s term: “single detached dwelling”
The by-law sets no minimum dwelling floor area or width for single detached dwellings, and a converted shipping container may be used as a main building if it meets the by-law and Building Code.
- Mini homes
- Mini-home is defined (CSA Z240) but the by-law sets no separate zone restriction for it [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.
Not allowed · Truro’s term: “recreational vehicle”
No truck, bus, recreational vehicle, coach or similar vehicle, whether or not on wheels, may be used for human habitation or as an accessory dwelling unit, and campgrounds exclude permanent year-round use of mobile homes or trailers.
- Where allowed
- Not permitted as a dwelling in any zone (s. 3.1.27(a)) [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 · Truro’s term: “accessory building”
The by-law does not address sleeping cabins or habitation of accessory buildings other than vehicles; the general accessory building rules in s. 3.1.2 apply.
- Maximum height
- 4.5 m (15 ft), or up to 6.5 m (21.3 ft) or the main building height if main-building setbacks are met (s. 3.1.2) [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
- Town of Truro Land Use By-law (Community Plan Part 7)
- 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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