Neighbourhood · Penticton

Custom Home Builder on the Naramata Bench, Penticton BC.

The east-shore wine country appellation above Okanagan Lake, home to over 40 wineries and some of the most desirable custom home lots in BC.

Elevation

350 to 750 m · Steep Bench

Wineries

40+ within 10 km

Penticton

15 min · Naramata Rd

Direct

(604) 897-9390

Overview

Custom home builder in Naramata Bench, Penticton.

Palermo Homes is a licensed BC Housing custom home builder (BC1017682, license 42812) that builds across the Okanagan Valley. On the Naramata Bench we bring the same in-house cabinetry, custom finish carpentry, envelope detail, and fixed-price contracts that define every Palermo build.

We serve the Bench as an extension of our Central Okanagan operation. Site visits and design meetings are a scheduled trip and we price that reality transparently. Bring us your lot survey and we walk it with you before you commit.

The Naramata Bench is a wine appellation and unincorporated community (pop. 1,628, 2021 census) in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, Electoral Area E. Founded 1907 by John Moore Robinson. Runs 14 km along Naramata Road, 15 km north of Penticton. Over 40 wineries in the Naramata Bench Wineries Association including Poplar Grove (an original five), Red Rooster, Four Shadows, Upper Bench Winery & Creamery (BC's only winery-creamery), Lake Breeze, Therapy, Van Westen, Nichol, La Frenz. Kettle Valley Rail Trail runs through. Naramata Village has cafes, the historic Naramata Inn, and a marina. Schools SD67. Penticton 15 min south, Kelowna 1 hour north, YLW 1 hour 15 min.

Custom hillside home portfolio example, Palermo Homes

Community amenities

What Lakestone residents get access to.

Wineries

40+ Bench Wineries

One of Canada's most concentrated wine regions along Naramata Road

Recreation

Kettle Valley Rail Trail

Historic KVR trail runs through the Bench for cycling and walking

Waterfront

Naramata Beach + Marina

Public beaches and marina at Naramata Village

Village

Naramata Village

Cafes, restaurants, historic Naramata Inn, artist studios

Featured build

Modern hillside custom home portfolio example, Palermo Homes
West Kelowna, BC · Portfolio

Modern Lakeview Home on Cabernet Way

→

Portfolio match for the Naramata Bench.

Our Modern Lakeview Home on Cabernet Way in West Kelowna is the closest portfolio match for what a Naramata Bench custom build should be. Hillside cut, full lake-view orientation, custom finish carpentry throughout, and the stone-and-timber material palette that fits the Okanagan wine-country districts. Terrain and view considerations map directly to Naramata Bench lots.

Credentials

Recognized, licensed, and warrantied.

Award-Winning

CHBA Fraser Valley

Awards of Excellence Winner

Experience

15+ Years

Custom homes across BC

Warranty

2-5-10 Home Warranty

Full BC-registered coverage

Licensed

Licensed & Insured

BC Licensed Residential Builder

Portfolio · Palermo Homes

Custom Palermo Homes interior finish, portfolio example

Why Palermo

Why Naramata Bench clients hire Palermo.

  • 01Steep-terrain and view-corridor experienceThe Bench rises steeply from the lake. Retaining, drainage, geotech, and view-first orientation are non-negotiable. We've been doing hillside custom work in Upper Mission, Lakeview Heights, and Lakestone for years.
  • 02Wine country aestheticNaramata Bench homes carry a specific West Coast wine-country design language: stone, timber, deep overhangs, patios oriented for view corridors. It's the finish standard we build to.
  • 03Regional District permitsNaramata is unincorporated. Building permits go through the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), which runs differently than City of Penticton or City of Kelowna. We manage the submission and follow-up so you're not chasing paperwork.
  • 04Water and septic on rural lotsMany Naramata Bench lots are on well water and septic rather than municipal services. That affects design (mechanical room sizing, tank placement, drain field siting) and permits. We coordinate the well driller and septic designer as part of the design phase.
  • 05Same finish standard as our Kelowna workIn-house cabinetry, custom finish carpentry, envelope details that hold up. Bench homes hold value because the setting is one of the most desirable in BC, and we match the level of build the setting deserves.

What we build in Naramata Bench

Custom homes, renovations, and general contracting.

Custom Homes

Custom home builds in Naramata Bench and across Penticton. Every project designed around the lot, the view corridor, and how you actually live.

Custom Homes →

Home Renovations

Whole-home renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, and additions in Naramata Bench. Built to the same finish standard as our custom homes.

Renovations →

General Contracting

Project management with in-house crews on the trades that matter. One team, one contract, one point of contact.

General Contracting →

FAQ

Custom homes in Naramata Bench, answered.

How much does a custom home cost on the Naramata Bench?
Most Naramata Bench custom builds run $2M and up for the home alone, which pencils out around $650 to $950 per square foot depending on finish level and site complexity. Lot prices range from around $500K for smaller off-water Bench lots to $3M plus for premium acreage with vineyard rights or direct lake frontage. Bench lots often carry additional costs: well drilling ($15K to $30K), septic system design and install ($25K to $60K), driveway construction on steep grades ($20K to $80K), and Regional District servicing costs. Total finished cost swings with slope, retaining, geotech, and finish level. We provide line-item pricing up front, break out soft costs (design, permits, geotech, well and septic) from hard costs, and lock in fixed-price contracts where possible.
Do Naramata Bench homes have design guidelines?
The Naramata Bench does not have a single master-planned architectural review committee. However, individual subdivisions may carry design covenants, and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) zoning bylaws govern setbacks, height, and site coverage. Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) rules apply to many Bench lots, which restrict subdivision and can affect siting. Hillside development permits and geotechnical assessment are typically required on steep cuts. We check every lot for ALR status, registered covenants, and RDOS zoning at the design stage and manage all submissions on your behalf.
How long does a Naramata Bench custom home take to build?
Plan on 15 to 22 months from first design meeting to move-in. Roughly 3 to 5 months for design development, 3 to 4 months for RDOS building permits, geotechnical assessment, well and septic design (longer than in-city projects because of ALR and rural servicing coordination), and 9 to 12 months of construction. Steep Bench cuts often add another 4 to 8 weeks for retaining walls, drainage, and foundation stepping. Weather matters. Excavation, foundations, and framing move fastest through summer, and rural driveways and site access can become impassable in wet spring conditions. We schedule with that seasonality in mind.
Which parts of the Naramata Bench do you build in?
Palermo Homes builds across the full length of the Bench, from north of Penticton up through Naramata Village and beyond toward the Chute Lake plateau. The lower Bench between Penticton and Naramata Village carries the highest concentration of wineries and orchards. The upper Bench climbing toward Chute Lake offers larger acreages, elevated views, and more privacy. Naramata Village itself has a small pocket of walkable-to-village lots. We're actively taking on projects across every stretch. Bring us the lot survey and we walk it with you before you commit.
What amenities do Naramata Bench residents get access to?
The Naramata Bench is home to over 40 wineries, most within a 10-minute drive of any Bench lot. Notable stops include Lake Breeze, Poplar Grove, Red Rooster, Therapy Vineyards, Van Westen, Nichol, Elephant Island, La Frenz, Ruby Blues, and Terravista. Naramata Village has cafes (The Village Grounds), restaurants (Naramata Pub, Legend Distilling), the historic Naramata Inn, artist studios, and a small marina. The Kettle Valley Rail Trail (KVR) runs through the community for cycling and walking, connecting Penticton to Chute Lake and beyond. Public beaches include Naramata Beach, Manitou Park, and Wharf Park. Penticton (15 minutes south) offers full urban services, and downtown has an extensive beach network on Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake.
What schools are near the Naramata Bench?
The Naramata Bench is in Okanagan Skaha School District (SD67). Naramata Elementary at 3320 3rd Street in Naramata Village covers K to 7 and sits inside the community. For grades 8 to 12, students attend Penticton Secondary School at 158 Eckhardt Avenue West, roughly 20 minutes south. For families looking at independent schools, Penticton has a limited private school selection, and Kelowna's Aberdeen Hall Preparatory is about 1 hour 15 minutes north. Post-secondary options include Okanagan College's Penticton campus (25 minutes south) and UBC Okanagan (1 hour 15 minutes north in Kelowna).
How far is the Naramata Bench from Penticton, Kelowna, and the airports?
Downtown Penticton is 15 minutes south via Naramata Road. Penticton Regional Airport (YYF) is 25 minutes south with limited direct service. Kelowna is 1 hour north via Highway 97 (through Peachland, West Kelowna, and across the W.R. Bennett Bridge). Kelowna International Airport (YLW) is 1 hour 15 minutes with direct flights to Vancouver, Calgary, Seattle, and seasonal service to Toronto. Osoyoos is 45 minutes south. For weekend recreation, Apex Mountain Resort is 45 minutes southwest for winter skiing, Big White is 1 hour 45 minutes northeast, and the US border at Osoyoos is 45 minutes south.

Also serving

Custom home builder across the Okanagan and Lower Mainland.

Penticton · Kelowna · West Kelowna · Peachland · Vernon · Penticton · Lower Mainland

Updated September 2026

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