Pergolas, Awnings & Patio Covers in Kelowna & West Kelowna

Usually yes. The City of Kelowna's bulletin states a building permit is required if the pergola is attached to any structure, is over 10 square metres, or has a solid roof. The exemption applies only to pergolas that are under 10 square metres, free standing and of open lateral construction with no roof, and even those must meet accessory structure setbacks and height limits. Most louvered roof systems fail at least one of those tests. Confirm your specific project with the City of Kelowna.

No. West Kelowna is a separate municipality with its own bylaws and it does not publish the same pergola bulletin. Its Zoning Bylaw No. 0320 exempts landscape features including pergolas from siting regulations but states that no landscape feature shall contain a roof for the purposes of that exemption, and the exemption also stops applying above 2.0 metres in height. Treat anything you read about Kelowna as not applying in West Kelowna, and confirm with the City of West Kelowna.

Structurally yes, and attached installations are common because they tie the outdoor space to the building and often need fewer posts. Be aware that in Kelowna attachment to any structure is one of the three conditions that triggers a building permit requirement on its own, regardless of size. The connection detail also has to suit what you are fixing to, which is something we assess on site.

Size first, then system family and roof type, then whether it is freestanding or attached. After that come site conditions such as footings, access and structural loading, then integration such as motorization, screens, heating and lighting, then any permit or engineering requirements. We do not publish prices because a number without a specification would be misleading.

It comes down to whether you want control or constancy. An adjustable louvered roof lets you take sun in the morning, cut it in the afternoon and close against rain, which suits a space you want to tune through the day. A permanent patio cover gives uninterrupted protection every month of the year and suits a space you want to treat as a genuine outdoor room. Many properties end up with both, in different places.

An awning is the better answer where the open sky is part of the appeal and you want shade only some of the time. It also retracts out of winter weather rather than standing in it. A permanent cover is better where you want the space usable regardless of conditions and where you want to mount heating and lighting into the structure.

Radiant infrared. A space open on one or more sides cannot hold warm air, so convection heating loses most of its output. Radiant heat warms people and surfaces directly, which is why it works outdoors. Mounting it into the structure overhead keeps it out of the usable floor area and gives more even coverage than portable units.

Yes, and doing it at the same time as the structure is considerably cleaner than adding it later. Mounting points and the electrical or gas service get designed in, so there are no surface run cables or clamped brackets. It also lets the heat run on the same control as the roof, screens and lighting.

On a west facing Okanagan patio they usually make more difference than the roof does. From mid afternoon the sun is low enough to come in under any overhead structure, which is exactly when people give up on the space. A drop down screen on the exposed side is what recovers those hours.

Yes, the same product family covers both. On homes they secure openings and shut out heat and light completely, which is useful on properties that sit empty between visits. On commercial premises they protect glazing and entrances out of hours. Both can be motorized and run from the same control system as the shade equipment.

No. The property owner is responsible for confirming and obtaining required municipal permits and approvals. What we provide is the project and system information needed to support that process, including system specification and the technical detail your municipality or engineer asks for.

Not currently. Repair and service coverage in the Okanagan is not confirmed, so we are not advertising it here. This page covers design, supply and installation. If you have an existing system and want to ask, contact us and we will tell you plainly what we can and cannot do.