Deck Builder in West Kelowna
West Kelowna is home for Keaton Reid and Brandon Hendrix, the two partners behind EcoHaven, so the benches above the lake and the steep streets of Glenrosa are our own backyard. We design and build decks, pergolas and backyard saunas here, and we look after the City of West Kelowna permit file from first drawing to final inspection.
West Kelowna, BC
A lot of West Kelowna is built on hillsides and benches that rise from Okanagan Lake, so many backyards drop away from the house. A raised deck is often the only way to get flat, usable outdoor space, and it usually stands well above grade on the downhill side. That height drives footing depth, post size, guards and whether a permit is needed.
The City's Official Community Plan also maps environmental development permit areas for Hillside, Aquatic Ecosystem, Sensitive Terrestrial Ecosystem and Wildfire Interface. If your property is inside one of them, a development permit may be needed before the City will issue a building permit. We check your parcel on the City's WestMap tool early.
Permits
Deck and accessory-structure permits here come from the City of West Kelowna Building Department, and applications are submitted through the City's online CityView Portal.
Source: City of West Kelowna Building Regulation Bylaw No. 0086 (consolidated), Development Permits bulletin (revised September 2023) and Building Permits and Inspections page, westkelownacity.ca. Rules change, so we confirm them for every project.
Local Conditions
Because the City's bylaw points to the Code values for Kelowna, West Kelowna roofs are designed for a ground snow load of 1.7 kPa and a January 2.5% design temperature of -17 °C, per BC Building Code Appendix C. A covered deck or a solid-top pergola has to carry that snow, so we size beams and rafters to it.
On a sloped lot the low edge of a deck can sit far above the ground. Taller posts need bracing, footings below the City's 600 mm frost cover and guards on every open edge. We frame for the real height on your lot.
The 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire was a hard reminder of how close the forest sits to West Kelowna's hillside streets. On lots in the Wildfire Interface area, we talk through FireSmart-minded choices such as fire-resistant decking, keeping the space under the deck clear of debris, and what the development permit requires.
Neighbourhoods
From the Westbank Centre core to the hillside subdivisions, these are some of the areas we serve close to home.
Services
Here is what we build for West Kelowna homeowners, from raised hillside decks to pergolas, backyard saunas and home renovations.
Google Reviews
Real Google reviews from homeowners who hired Keaton and Brandon. Rated 5.0 stars across 9 Google reviews.
We had an incredible experience working with Keaton and Brandon from EcoHaven Sustainable Homes. They transformed our backyard by installing a large 20’x30’ concrete pad, textured to perfectly match our existing patio, and building a beautiful custom 20’x14’ cedar pergola on top. They also added cedar hedging to both ends of our yard, planted feature trees, and completely re-did our irrigation system to fit the new layout. Our backyard access is challenging since it’s walkout height from the second floor, but that was no problem for their team. From the start, Keaton stood out with his strong communication and engagement. He listened to our vision, provided great ideas, and brought it all to life better than we imagined. What impressed us most was how quickly everything came together and the outstanding quality of the finished product. We are absolutely thrilled with our new backyard oasis. Highly recommend Keaton, Brandon, and their team!
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!!
They did a significant renovation for me. Two bathrooms, a laundry room and now they’re going to be doing a kitchen and a basement. They are on time on budget professional and they do not leave a mess. Nothing but great things to say about this company.
FAQ
Service Areas
Book a free on-site consultation and we will handle the City of West Kelowna permits for your project.