Filling in a pool takes more than dumping dirt into a hole. Whether the shell is partly left or fully removed, the fill decides whether the yard stays level. Cicarelli Contractors places it in thin lifts, compacts each one, shapes the surface to drain and books the inspections.
What Pool Backfill Is and Why It Decides the Result
Pool backfill is the material that goes into the space a pool used to fill, and the way it is placed. It is the last stage of both removal methods: over a broken-out shell in a partial removal, or into the bare excavation after a full one. Done poorly, it keeps settling; done well, it stays put.
Most problems trace back to three shortcuts: no drainage through a remaining floor, fill dropped in one deep pile instead of thin layers, and soil that was never compacted or tested. Each one leaves voids or trapped water, and the ground above dips, cracks pavers or puddles after the first wet winter.
Cities set the standard for your address. Danville asks for 12-inch layers compacted to 90 percent, San Mateo for 6 to 12 inch lifts on full removals, and Pinole offers either engineered fill or uncertified clean fill with a recorded restricted-use covenant. We match the fill plan to that rule and to what goes on top.
Reviews From Pools We Filled In
Six Google reviews from customers whose pools we broke out and backfilled, reproduced exactly. Swipe or tap the arrows to read on.
DDave "Davie"Fiberglass pool removal · Permit & compaction report
★★★★★
Apr 2026
Ciccarelli demoed and filled our fiberglass pool very quickly and efficiently. Highly recommend them if you are looking to fill in your pool. They handled the city permit process for demo and provided an engineering compaction report. The cost was very reasonable compared to other quotes I received.
AAdam FrostVinyl pool & deck demo · Artificial turf
★★★★★
Jun 2026
Bernardo from Cicarelli contractors was great to work with. We had our vinyl pool and deck demoed and synthetic grass put in. They took care of all our needs. Thank you Bernardo
JJim FrizzellPool demolition on a hillside
★★★★★
2025
I recently hired Cicarelli Contractors for demolition of my swimming pool. From our initial discussion to our final completion Athalyson and his crew were true professionals. Our pool is on a hill with limited access. His crew was able to get their equipment in place for the demolition and wheelbarrow fill dirt up hill. Some of those days had 90+ temps.
I was consistently impressed with the quality and professionalism of his crew. His crews seemed to always have a smile. The project was completed in a timely manner. His crew were consistently courteous and respectful of my property and maintained a clean work environment, restoring the site to its original condition.
I highly recommend Cicarelli Contractors for any construction needs. Their commitment to quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction is commendable.
I wouldn’t hesitate to hire Cicarelli again!
GGigi LimPool demolition
★★★★★
2025
I hired Cicarelli contractor for the demolition of my swimming pool. From the initial consultation through to the final walk through. I was consistently impressed with the quality of their service. Athalyson demonstrated exceptional responsiveness to my inquiries and concerns. The project was completed according to the agreed timeline. Any unforseen issues were addressed promptly and efficiently. The team exhibited a high degree of professionalism throughout the project. They were consistently courteous and respectful of my property. They diligently maintained a clean work environment, restoring the site to its original condition daily. Always on time.
I highly recommend Cicarelli contractors for any construction needs. Their commitment to quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction is commendable. Furthermore, he can give you a significant discount, making their services even more valuable.
DDeejConcrete pool removal & pavers
★★★★★
Dec 2025
Couldn’t be happier with how our yard turned out! We had Cicarelli remove an old concrete pool and install pavers around the new garden area. The whole process was smooth, and the crew was polite and professional.
TTim McGawPool demolition
★★★★★
2025
Did a great job of demolishing old pool! Would hire again.
Material, lift thickness and compaction target come from your city and the future use.
Step 02
Confirm Drainage
Floor openings are checked, or the bare pit is cleared of loose debris.
Step 03
Open-Pit Sign-Off
The inspector sees the pit before the first layer, as nearly every city requires.
Step 04
Place in Lifts
Rubble and soil go in thin, even layers rather than one deep fill.
Step 05
Compact and Test
Each lift is compacted; a soils engineer tests density when required.
Step 06
Grade and Final
The top is shaped to drain, ready for turf or pavers, and the permit is closed.
City rules
Backfill Standards Bay Area Cities Publish
Fill rules are where Bay Area cities differ most. Some set the lift thickness and the compaction percentage, some want a soils engineer to certify it, and some let you skip certification only if you accept limits on future building. Knowing the rule before the bid keeps the fill from being dug out later.
Danville's pool demolition handout asks for fill in 12-inch layers compacted to 90 percent and at least two inspections, the first with the shell broken and the holes drilled.
In Pinole, fill placed without an engineer is accepted only with a restricted-use covenant recorded with the county, while engineered fill is supervised by a civil or geotechnical engineer, per the city's demolition requirements.
Mountain View wants the fill material shown on the site plan and, at final, a compaction report listing the compaction percentage, the backfill material and the soil type, on its pool abandonment page.
Unincorporated Contra Costa County treats filling a pool in place as abandonment, which needs a permit, and warns that a grading permit often applies too, on its pools and spas page.
Draining comes before any fill, and the water belongs in the sanitary sewer after dechlorination, not in a storm drain, as the West Valley Clean Water Program explains on its draining guide.
Filling in a swimming pool draws more searches than any other pool removal question, and most of them ask what goes in the hole and whether it will sink. The answers here draw on Bay Area city handouts and published cost data.
What is used to fill in a pool?
Usually the broken pool concrete, kept low in the basin on partial removals, with clean soil or gravel above it. The fill should be free of wood, roots and trash, which rot and leave voids. Cities such as Mountain View ask for the fill material on the site plan before the permit is issued.
On full removals the hole takes imported soil only, because the shell leaves. When a structure may go on top, an engineer chooses the material and the target, and we place it to that spec.
What does filling in a pool cost?
Angi's guide, updated October 12, 2026, puts a partial fill-in at $2,500 to $10,000 nationally and a full removal with backfill at $4,000 to $16,000. The amount of fill, how far it is trucked, access for the loader and any compaction testing are what change a Bay Area quote from one yard to the next.
We list fill, compaction and testing on separate lines of the written estimate. Our pool demolition cost guide explains the rest of the bill.
Will a filled-in pool sink later?
It can, when the fill went in all at once, was never compacted or covers a shell with no drainage. Placed in thin lifts, compacted one by one and graded to shed water, the fill stays level. A compaction report, where your city requires one, is the written proof the layers reached the target.
If a structure may ever go on the spot, ask for tested, engineered fill at the estimate rather than after the turf is down.
Can I fill in my pool myself?
Not without a permit in most Bay Area cities, and the work needs a breaker, loaders, trucks and compaction equipment. The bigger risk is the inspection: covering the pit before the city signs off can mean digging the fill back out. A licensed contractor also handles the 811 call and the paperwork.
If you do plan any digging yourself, USA North 811 asks for a call before the first shovel goes in, so buried lines are marked.
National cost ranges for filling in a pool, per Angi (October 12, 2026)
Item
Published range
Partial fill-in
$2,500 to $10,000
Full removal and backfill
$4,000 to $16,000
California range
$3,500 to $8,000
Permits and inspections
About $200
Reference figures from Angi's cost guide; the written estimate from Cicarelli is the price that applies to your pool.
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors · CSLB #1109419
FAQ
Pool Fill-In Questions
Not Sure Which Fill Your City Wants?
Send the address and photos of the pool, and tell us what will go on top; we check the local fill standard and send a written estimate. We pick up Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, and the main FAQ has more.
Is a pool fill-in the same as a partial pool removal?
Most people use the terms that way: a fill-in means the top of the shell is broken out, the floor opened and the basin filled. Strictly, every removal ends with a fill-in, because a fully removed pool also leaves a hole to backfill. On this page, fill-in means that final backfill stage.
Do you need a permit to fill in a pool?
In almost every Bay Area city, yes. Filling in a pool is treated as demolition or abandonment, so it needs a permit and inspections, and Contra Costa County adds that a grading permit is often required. Filling without one can surface later at a sale or when you apply for a new permit.
Can I use the dirt from my yard to fill in my pool?
Sometimes, if it is clean and the city or engineer accepts it, but yard soil often carries roots, clay or debris that compact poorly. Where the fill has to be engineered, the engineer names the material. We bring in fill that matches the spec rather than guessing with whatever soil is on site.
How many inspections does a pool fill-in need?
Usually at least two. The first happens with the shell broken and the drainage openings visible, before any fill goes in; the second is the final, after the surface is graded. Danville states a minimum of two, and some cities add a soils engineer's report at final. We book each one and meet the inspector.
Can artificial turf or pavers go on a filled-in pool?
Yes, both are common finishes once the fill is compacted and graded. One of our reviewers had a vinyl pool and deck removed and synthetic grass installed, and another had pavers put in around a new garden. Over a partial removal, check your city's limits on hardscape first.
How do I get a pool fill-in estimate?
Call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or send photos of the pool and its access through the free estimate form. Tell us what will go on top, and the written, itemized estimate we send within 24 hours of the photos or site visit will show the fill and compaction.
