Basement renovations in Peterborough

Peterborough's older housing, by the numbers

The City of Peterborough had 83,651 residents in 2021, up 3.2% from 2016. Its housing is much older than the Durham towns to the south. About 36% of its 35,980 occupied dwellings were built in 1960 or earlier, and close to 64% before 1981. About four in ten households rent.

Older houses bring their own list. We expect stone, brick or early block foundation walls, low headroom in places, and drain lines that have been repaired over the years. We check for dampness, efflorescence and old leaks before anything else. The moisture and insulation guide explains why wall assemblies in older basements need more care.

Neighbourhoods from East City to Northcrest

The City groups its designated heritage properties by area, using names like Downtown, East City, the North End and the West End. Its five wards are Otonabee, Monaghan, Town, Ashburnham and Northcrest. We take projects across all of them.

The Old West End holds Peterborough's first heritage conservation district, the Avenues and Neighbourhood HCD, designated in 2016 under By-law 16-099. Owners there need a heritage permit before altering their property, which can matter for a new side entrance or a larger window. The City is also studying a downtown district.

The City's stormwater work also includes culvert projects to reduce the risk of flooding in East City. If your home is in one of the lower-lying areas near the river or a creek, tell us about any water you have seen.

Floods, creeks and Otonabee Conservation

Peterborough remembers 2004. The City says a storm that year brought severe rainfall and significant flood damage to downtown, and it has since invested in larger storm sewers. Otonabee Conservation regulates the floodplains of the Otonabee River, Jackson Creek, Byersville Creek and other watercourses, using the Timmins Regional Storm as its standard. Its floodplain mapping page explains that a property can need its permit even outside the mapped floodplain.

For a basement, that history means two things. We ask about past water, and we look closely at the sump, the floor drain and how the foundation drains are connected. The City also bars additional residential units from floodways, so we check mapping before planning a unit.

Otonabee Conservation was established in 1959 and counts the City among its eight member municipalities. The City's ARU page points owners to Otonabee's property inquiry service to confirm floodway status.

The City's Basement Finishing Guide

Peterborough is stricter than many towns on what needs a permit. Its Basement Finishing Guide says a building permit is required for any construction in your basement, including drywall work, creating rooms, adding insulation and installing plumbing fixtures, even in a roughed-in bathroom.

• Homes five years or older may follow Part 11 of the Building Code, which gives some flexibility for renovations
• Drawings can be done by the owner on title or by a designer with at least a BCIN House qualification
• Plumbers must be licensed with the City of Peterborough
• Both the building inspector and the mechanical inspector (plumbing and HVAC) must pass the work
• Every basement with a bedroom needs a safe way out, usually an egress window

Additional residential units and student rentals

Peterborough allows two additional residential units inside a detached, semi-detached or row house, or one inside plus one in an accessory building. Each unit is capped at two bedrooms and must be smaller than the main unit. Parking depends on which of five parking areas you are in: none per unit in Area 1, half a space in Area 2 and one space in Areas 3 to 5. Tandem parking is allowed everywhere. The path to the unit's entrance must stay clear, within set distances for firefighters.

Trent University, founded in 1964, and Fleming College's Sutherland Campus both draw students to the city. Peterborough's rental premises licence under By-law 17-067 applies to rental dwelling units with four or more bedrooms and to lodging houses. The City says a three-bedroom house rented as a whole is not covered. Check where your plan falls before you commit.

The City's grants and incentives page says three programs are available under its Missing Middle Community Improvement Plan, including rebates and a loan for added units. Whether a basement unit qualifies depends on the plan's eligible building types, so confirm with the City.

The City also says it permits up to four units on a lot in its R.1 and R.2 residential zoning districts. The wider Peterborough census metropolitan area had 128,624 residents in 2021, up 5.7%, so demand reaches well beyond the city limits.

Applying and booking inspections

Permit applications, including those for additional residential units, go through the City's online application portal. The Basement Finishing Guide asks for at least 48 hours' notice for inspections and a final inspection at the end.

Two inspectors are involved here, not one. The building inspector looks at framing, insulation, fire safety and egress, and the mechanical inspector checks plumbing and heating. We schedule so each can see the work before it is covered, which keeps the job from stalling. The City's guide also lists common deficiencies, and we use it as a checklist.

Our nearest work and the budget

We have not yet published a finished Peterborough basement. Our closest completed basement renovation is in Lindsay, west along Highway 7, and that client's review is on our basements page. In Peterborough, an older foundation, drain work and an egress window cut through stone or block are the usual budget drivers. The pricing page and cost guide explain how we put an estimate together.