Home/Modular Homes by City/Peterborough
Serving the City of Peterborough
Modular Homes in Peterborough, Ontario
Factory-direct modular homes and backyard suites for the City of Peterborough — East City, the Avenues, and the city's residential neighbourhoods. (For the surrounding townships — Selwyn, Lakefield, Keene and the rest of Peterborough County — see the county guide.) Here's what the City's additional-residential-unit rules allow in your backyard.
What you can build in Peterborough
Full modular homes — from $175,696. 29 models from 560 to 1,405 sq ft, 1–3 bedrooms — factory-built to the Ontario Building Code and set on a permanent foundation (a real, permanent house, not a “trailer”).
Backyard suites (ADUs) — from $96,244. 7 compact models built for garden-suite and in-law-suite use, sized to fit what Peterborough's by-law allows.
All homes are CSA-certified (A277 modular / Z240MH manufactured), finished in the factory, and delivered ready for foundation and hook-up. What's the difference between modular, manufactured, and mobile? →
Find your backyard suite — 3 quick questions
We'll narrow the models that fit a typical Peterborough backyard allowance to the ones that fit your life. No email needed.
1 · Who's it for?
2 · What layout?
3 · What size feels right? (Peterborough lots typically allow up to no fixed cap)
Peterborough has no fixed floor-area cap — a detached ARU must be smaller than your home (max 2 bedrooms) and is governed by the 10% accessory-building lot coverage. Municipal water + sewer required. Your exact lot may allow more or less — get the real number for your address in seconds.
Check your exact Peterborough address →Can you put a garden suite (ADU) in your Peterborough backyard?
Often, yes — Peterborough permits a detached Additional Residential Unit on most serviced residential lots. The specifics, from City of Peterborough Zoning By-law 1997-123 (ARU provisions, report IPSPL23-022):
| Max size | No fixed cap — must be smaller than your home; max 2 bedrooms; 10% accessory-building lot coverage |
|---|---|
| Max height | 4.3 m (≈14 ft) for the accessory building containing the ARU |
| Setbacks | 0.6 m (≈2 ft) side & rear · 1.2 m (≈4 ft) from the rear of the principal dwelling |
| Units per lot | One inside the home + one detached (max 1 detached, 2 ARUs / 3 units total) |
| Parking | 0 downtown (Area 1), 0.5/unit in Area 2, 1/unit elsewhere; tandem allowed |
| Servicing | Municipal water + wastewater required; the unit can’t sit in a floodway |
| Conservation | Otonabee Region Conservation Authority (ORCA) |
Grants & financing in Peterborough
See every program → Ontario ADU Grants Directory
A modular or prefab home on a permanent foundation is financed like any house. CMHC Prefab Plus allows an insured mortgage with as little as 5% down on the first $500,000, with construction funds released in stages. How modular home financing works →
Thinking of the suite as a rental? Run the numbers →
Peterborough modular homes — FAQ
Can you build a backyard suite in the City of Peterborough?
Yes. The City permits one ARU inside your home plus one detached ARU (up to 3 units total), on lots where the principal dwelling is a permitted single-detached, semi-detached, or row dwelling, connected to municipal services.
How big can an ARU be in Peterborough?
There’s no fixed m² cap — a detached ARU must be smaller than your principal dwelling, with a max of 2 bedrooms, and is governed by the 10% accessory-building lot coverage. Max 4.3 m tall, set back 0.6 m from the side and rear.
Is this the same as Peterborough County?
No. This guide is the City of Peterborough. The surrounding County townships (Selwyn, Cavan Monaghan, Otonabee-South Monaghan / Keene, Lakefield, etc.) have their own by-laws — see the Peterborough County guide, which is verification-pending.
How much does a modular home or backyard suite cost in Peterborough?
Modular home models start at $175,696 and run to about $338,000 for the largest layouts; backyard ADU models start at $96,244. Site work, foundation, delivery, and permits are additional.
Can I get a mortgage on a modular home in Peterborough?
Yes — on a permanent foundation it is financed as real property, including via CMHC Prefab Plus (5% down on the first $500,000).
Local rules summarized from City of Peterborough Zoning By-law 1997-123 (ARU provisions, report IPSPL23-022); verified by Modular Homes 400 and reviewed by James Clarke, REALTOR®. Always confirm current requirements with the City of Peterborough before you build.