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

Municipality of the County of Victoria. Population 6,750 (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 · Victoria’s term: “dwelling (up to 4 units per lot)”

The by-law has no separate backyard suite rule. Dwellings with up to four units per lot are permitted in the Residential Centre, Hamlet Residential and Rural General zones, and any number of main buildings may be on one lot, so a second detached dwelling is permitted subject to zone standards.

Number allowed: Up to 4 dwelling units per lot as of right; 5 to 6 by site plan approval (R, HR, RG zones) [1]
Minimum lot size: Unserviced lot: 2,700 m² (R, HR); 3,700 m² (RG). Serviced lot in R zone: 350 m² [1]
Where allowed: Any number of main buildings may locate on one lot (s. 6.20.1) [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 · Victoria’s term: “dwelling”

The by-law sets no minimum dwelling floor area or width. Its definition of dwelling expressly includes manufactured dwellings built to CSA Z240.

Minimum dwelling size: None stated [1]
Mini homes: Dwelling 'includes manufactured dwellings' (CSA Z240 MH series) [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 addressed · Victoria’s term: “recreational vehicle”

The by-law has no rule on living in a recreational vehicle or trailer on a lot. The definition of dwelling excludes travel trailers but includes CSA Z240 manufactured dwellings, and recreational vehicles appear only as camping units in campgrounds. [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 · Victoria’s term: “accessory building”

The by-law does not address sleeping cabins or bar habitation in accessory buildings. General accessory building rules apply, including a combined footprint of no more than 40% of the lot area and an 8 m height limit in the Rural General zone.

Maximum size: Combined footprint of all accessory structures not over 40% of lot area (s. 6.3.2) [1]
Maximum height: 8 m (26.25 ft) in the RG zone [1]
Setbacks: RG: 5 m side, 4 m rear for accessory buildings [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

Plan Victoria LUB effective 2025-10-02. The Minister's two amendments (wind turbine separation, s. 6.33.7(f); small options homes in the dwelling unit definition) are already in the posted LUB; the amendment file is a scanned PDF read by OCR. The Baddeck plan area has its own LUB, which was not reviewed.

Sources

Not legal advice

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

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