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

Town of Yarmouth, in Yarmouth County. Population 6,829 (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 · Yarmouth’s term: “accessory dwelling unit”

One Accessory Dwelling Unit is permitted accessory to another dwelling use, inside the house or in a separate building, and it does not count toward the number of units allowed on the lot. Shipping containers may not be used for human habitation. [1][2]

Maximum size: 100.0 m² (1,076 sq ft) gross floor area or 50% of the main dwelling's gross floor area, whichever is larger (s.6.4.2(c)) [1]
Maximum height: 4.6 m (15 ft), or 7.6 m (25 ft) total where the unit is above a garage (s.6.4.2(e)(ii)) [1]
Separation from house: 3.0 m (10 ft) minimum (s.6.4.2(e)(iii)) [1]
Setbacks: 1.2 m (4 ft) from all lot lines; not in the front or flankage yard (s.6.4.2(e)(iv)-(v)) [1]
Servicing: Servicing for a detached unit is subject to approval by the Town Engineer (s.6.4.2(e)(i)) [1]
Number allowed: One per lot (s.6.4.2(a)) [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. [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 with limits · Yarmouth’s term: “dwelling”

No main building in a residential zone may be less than 6.1 m (20 ft) wide between any two main walls, except a manufactured home in a land lease community. Manufactured homes, which the by-law defines to include mini homes and tiny homes, need site plan approval in the Housing 1, 2 and 3 and Comprehensive Development zones. [1]

Minimum width: 6.1 m (20 ft) between any two main walls for any main building in a residential zone, except a manufactured home in a land lease community (s.5.29) [1]
Mini homes: 'Manufactured home' includes homes colloquially known as mobile homes, mini homes or tiny homes and is excluded from 'dwelling'; permitted by site plan approval in H-1, H-2, H-3 and CD zones (ss.7.3, 8.3, 9.3, 23.3) [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. [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.

Needs approval · Yarmouth’s term: “manufactured home”

A recreational vehicle may be used for human habitation for less than 30 days a year only (s.5.4.1). Manufactured homes, which may sit on wheels, jacks or a foundation, need site plan approval in the H-1, H-2, H-3 and CD zones, and new land lease communities need a development agreement in the H-3 zone. [1]

Where allowed: Manufactured homes by site plan approval in H-1, H-2, H-3 and CD zones; land lease communities by development agreement in H-3 (s.9.4.1(c)) [1]
Approvals: RV habitation is exempt from the vehicle habitation ban only when it lasts less than 30 days in a year (s.5.4.1) [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][6][4][5]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

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

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

Accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation except as an approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (s.5.2.1(b)). The Town has no rural or waterfront residential zone. [1]

Maximum height: 4.6 m for accessory buildings in the H-1 zone (s.7.5.1) [1]
Number allowed: 3 accessory buildings, 185.0 m² combined footprint, in the H-1 zone (s.7.5.1) [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. [6][7][10]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

The new Land Use Bylaw 2026 was adopted 2026-06-18, approved 2026-07-09 and took effect 2026-10-21, with no amendments consolidated; the date given is the effective date. The Town's suites page cites the repealed 2016 by-law numbering. Zone figures for bunkies are given for the H-1 zone only.

Sources

Not legal advice

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