Deck Builder in Lake Country
Lake Country takes in shoreline on Okanagan, Wood and Kalamalka lakes, and its building bylaw contains a condition that catches a lot of homeowners out. Small decks and sheds that would normally be exempt still need a permit when the land sits inside a development permit area.
Lake Country, BC
The District of Lake Country joins Winfield, Oyama, Okanagan Centre and Carr's Landing, so orchard properties, waterfront lots and newer hillside subdivisions all fall under one set of rules. A deck on the isthmus at Oyama and a deck on a view lot above Okanagan Centre face very different sites, which is why every project we take on here starts with a walk around the property.
Building Regulation Bylaw 1070 lists the familiar exemptions for low decks, small accessory buildings and garden trellises, but each one carries a condition. None of them apply where the land is inside a development permit area under the Official Community Plan, or where the work could create a hazard. On lakefront and sloped parcels that condition matters, so we confirm your mapping before we tell you a structure is permit-free.
Permits
In Lake Country, building permits are issued by the District of Lake Country, and inspections on an issued permit can be booked through the District's online eInspection system.
Source: District of Lake Country Building Regulation Bylaw 1070, 2018 (consolidated January 14, 2025) and Building Permits page, lakecountry.bc.ca. Rules change, so we confirm them for every project.
Local Conditions
Lake Country is not listed by name in the BC Building Code's climatic table, and the Code cautions against interpolating values in mountainous terrain. The nearest listed towns differ: Kelowna at 1.7 kPa ground snow load and Vernon at 2.2 kPa. We confirm the design value for your address with the District instead of picking the convenient one.
Lakefront and hillside properties are where we check development permit mapping first. If your parcel is inside a permit area, even a low freestanding deck loses its exemption, so the footprint, footings and any site disturbance get planned with the permit in mind from day one.
Plenty of Lake Country backyards step down in terraces. A single wall under 1.22 m is usually exempt, but taller walls and tightly stacked tiers need a registered professional. When a deck project includes new walls, we coordinate the engineering alongside the deck design.
Neighbourhoods
We work across the district's four original communities and the newer subdivisions that have grown up around them.
Services
Lake Country homeowners hire us for these outdoor and renovation projects.
Google Reviews
Real Google reviews from homeowners who hired Keaton and Brandon. Rated 5.0 stars across 9 Google reviews.
I cannot recommend Keaton and Brandon from Ecohaven Sustainable Homes enough! They did an outstanding job resurfacing my deck. From the demolition to installing the new boards, they worked efficiently and kept the job site clean. Great attention to detail as well! Both were very professional in what they do and how they communicate. Thanks for a great job! I love my new deck!!
EcoHaven Homes is such a refreshing company to work with. Their team has a great balance of professionalism and approachability, and you can tell they genuinely care about the quality of their work. What stood out most to me is how clearly they explain each step of the process, making something that can feel overwhelming much more straightforward. If you’re looking for a company that’s reliable, creative, and easy to communicate with, I would highly recommend EcoHaven Homes.
I’ve used Keaton on many custom projects around the house. Getting to know him, I’ve come to understand his family tree is full of home builders and it shows. His quality of work is outstanding and he is very reliable. This has led me to passing his number on to several friends over the years.
FAQ
Service Areas
Book a free on-site consultation, and we'll handle the District of Lake Country permits.