Public permit records from August 1 onward show a short list of large commercial, industrial and institutional projects approved across the Okanagan. The list below ranks permits by the declared construction value on the permit. Coverage varies: Kelowna's data runs to September 23, Penticton's weekly reports to October 23 and the North Okanagan regional district's reports to the end of September. West Kelowna does not publish values.
The largest permits
1. 5950 Lapointe Dr, Kelowna: $19.5 million. A new institutional building, issued August 6. The City's record lists 5,175.6 square metres of floor space but does not describe the building's use. Permit record
2. 270 Hiram Walker Ct, Kelowna: $7.2 million. A new one-storey industrial building, issued August 17. Permit record
3. 801-1301 Main St, Penticton: $6.0 million. A commercial interior permit issued August 28, with two related permits the same day (plumbing at $261,797 and a $35,000 alteration). The report does not name the tenant.
4. 351 Loyd Rd, Kelowna: $4.5 million. A new two-storey industrial building, issued September 4. Permit record
5. Reservoir Rd, North Okanagan: $3.5 million. A permit to construct a 3,200 square metre water reservoir, issued September 11. The regional district's report codes it as institutional.
6. 243 Brickyard Rd, Enderby: $1.4 million. A 6,000 square foot commercial building, issued September 11 and listed in the North Okanagan regional district's report under industrial buildings.
7. 710 Evans Ct, Kelowna: $1.17 million. A commercial addition, issued September 16. Permit record
8. 170 Warren Ave W, Penticton: $893,390. Mechanical work on new construction, issued October 6, with a $249,000 fire-suppression permit the same day. A 103-unit multifamily addition was permitted at this address in June.
9. 302 Main St, Penticton: $838,639. A commercial tenant improvement, issued September 9.
West Kelowna: five new non-residential buildings, no values published
West Kelowna's permit map lists five files for new non-residential construction entered since August. By November 3, a retail outlet (entered August 26) had been issued and a religious building (entered September 10) had been finaled. A storage and warehouse building (October 2) and one unspecified building (August 24) were ready for issuance, and another unspecified building (September 10) was in plan check.
Know what is being built?
Three of the four largest permits, at Lapointe Dr, Hiram Walker Ct and 1301 Main St, give no public description beyond the permit type. They are on OKTD's list of large permits with no description, where you can send a tip with a source.
About this data
A permit is approval to build, not proof that work has started. Values are declared construction values, not final costs. Full monthly lists: Kelowna, Penticton, North Okanagan and West Kelowna.