Alameda Pool Removal With the City Permit
Draining, breaking out and hauling the shell, then compacted fill, with the application filed through the city portal before work starts.
Learn more about alameda pool removal with the city permit
Pool Removal and Paver Patios for Alameda Island Homes
Homeowners on the main island and Bay Farm Island call Cicarelli Contractors, CSLB License #1109419, when a yard needs heavy work. We take out pools and old concrete, then build paver patios, driveways, low retaining walls and artificial turf, and we file the application with the city Permit Center.
- City of Alameda Permit Center filings
- CSLB License #1109419
Alameda County
An Island City With Its Own Permit Counter
Founded in 1853, the city sits on a string of islands in San Francisco Bay: the main island, Bay Farm Island and Coast Guard Island. Drivers reach it from Oakland over the Park Street, Fruitvale Avenue and High Street bridges or through the Posey and Webster Street tubes, and our trucks take the same routes.
Every yard on the islands answers to one office, the Permit Center on Santa Clara Avenue. Its online portal is the only way to file, paper plans are no longer accepted, and contractors must hold a current city business license.
Island yard work
Six Ways We Rework a Yard on the Island
Need a general contractor in Alameda for the backyard rather than the kitchen? We handle the outdoor side: breaking out the old pool or slab, grading the base and building what replaces it.
Get A Free EstimateConcrete Breakout and New Slabs
Cracked driveways, patios and side-yard walks removed and replaced over a compacted base, from the West End to the East End.
Learn more about concrete breakout and new slabs
Paver Driveways and Patios on the Island
Interlocking pavers for compact island lots, from Gold Coast streets to Harbor Bay, laid on a graded base with clean edges.
Learn more about paver driveways and patios on the island
Low Retaining Walls and Raised Planters
Walls up to 4 feet from the bottom of the footing are exempt here unless they carry a surcharge; taller ones go through the city.
Learn more about low retaining walls and raised planters
Artificial Turf for Bayside Lots
An old lawn or a former pool area turned into a drained, compacted bed under turf that never needs mowing.
Learn more about artificial turf for bayside lots
Pergolas, Fire Pits and Covered Patios
Outdoor rooms built once the pool or slab is gone, with seat walls and lighting where the yard allows.
Learn more about pergolas, fire pits and covered patios
Crew footage
Short Clips of the Team That Would Cross the Estuary
Recorded on jobs elsewhere in the Bay Area: pool demolitions in Fremont and Hillsborough, a pool-to-outdoor-living makeover in Vacaville and a retaining wall in Walnut Creek. The same crew and machines come to the island.
Watch On YouTubeWhy us on the island
What You Get Hiring Cicarelli for an Alameda Yard
4.9★
Google rating across 45 reviews
1853
Year the city was founded
4ft
Wall height the city exempts
CSLB License Open to Check
CSLB #1109419 in the B General Building class, backed by an active contractor's bond.
Written Number the Next Day
We measure on site, and the itemized written estimate follows within 24 hours of the visit.
Portal Filing, No Paper
The city only accepts applications through Accela Citizen Access, so we prepare and upload the whole package.
One Year of Workmanship Cover
Our 1-year workmanship warranty starts at completion and is written into the contract.
Slide to compare
Pool, Gravel and Lawn: Three Yard Swaps
Real Cicarelli jobs from around the Bay Area, none of them on the island. Drag each handle to see what a pool, a gravel yard or a tired lawn became.
See All Projects
BeforeAfterGazebo and Turf Where the Pool Was
Burlingame · Pool removal, pavers and turf
BeforeAfterGravel Swapped for Green and Pavers
Turf and pavers over a gravel yard
BeforeAfterA Lawn Over a Filled Pool
Pool removal and artificial turf
Step by step
How an Island Job Moves From Visit to Final
The same contact person from the first call to the inspector's sign-off.
Start With A Free Estimate- Step 01
Street Access and Measurements
We walk the yard, check access from the street and note what has to come out.
- Step 02
Line-by-Line Estimate
You get the scope, the permit and the order of work in writing.
- Step 03
Upload to Citizen Access
The application and plans go through the city portal, the only way it accepts them.
- Step 04
Breakout and Off-Island Haul
The pool, slab or old walk is broken out and the debris leaves the island.
- Step 05
Early-Morning Inspection Calls
Inspections are booked on the city line, which takes calls early Monday to Thursday.
- Step 06
New Surface, One-Year Cover
Pavers, turf or a patio go in, with a 1-year workmanship warranty.
Straight From Our Google Profile
Two reviews from our Google Business Profile, quoted word for word. They come from Bay Area clients, not necessarily from the island.
Tania Llaujel RodriguezBackyard & front yard pavers
We are extremely happy with the job performed in my backyard. And my front yard It was done very fast and the quality of the job is excellent. Highly recommended because you have a great service at a reasonable price.
Bay Cleaning CoPool removal
We recently hired Cicarelli Contractors to remove our old, unused pool, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results! From the start, their team was professional, punctual, and extremely knowledgeable. They walked us through the entire process, providing clear explanations and a fair estimate.
Next Door to the Island
Seven nearby cities, from the estuary shore to San Francisco, and who issues permits in each.
Oakland
Across the estuary, reached through the tubes and over three bridges. Oakland runs its own permit system, and its demolitions need Planning approval as well as a building permit.
Services in Oakland
San Leandro
South of Bay Farm Island and the Oakland airport, along the bay shore. Projects there go to the City of San Leandro for permits.
Free estimate in San Leandro
Berkeley
A few miles north of the tubes, past downtown Oakland. Berkeley issues its own permits through the city Permit Service Center.
Services in Berkeley
Hayward
Farther down the East Bay shore, beyond San Leandro, with flats rising into the hills. Its building permits come from the City of Hayward.
Free estimate in Hayward
Albany
The small city at the north end of the East Bay flats, past Berkeley. Its building permits are issued by the City of Albany, not Berkeley.
Services in Albany
San Francisco
Across the bay, reached from the island by ferry or over the Bay Bridge. One agency, the Department of Building Inspection, permits the whole city and county.
Free estimate in San Francisco
El Cerrito
North of Albany on the Contra Costa side, next to our Richmond base. Projects there are permitted by El Cerrito, not by Richmond.
Services in El Cerrito
The Island and Its Neighbors, Mapped
Our Richmond base shows as the HQ pin; the other dots are the island and the neighbors described above.
Alameda, CAAcross the estuary from Oakland
Island neighbors mapped
Permits
Alameda Permit Center: How Filing Works
The City of Alameda Permit Center on Santa Clara Avenue handles building permits for every address on the islands. Applications are accepted only through the Accela Citizen Access portal, paper plans are no longer taken, and contractors need a current city business license. Cicarelli Contractors prepares the package and books the inspections.
What the island's code says
- Permit applications are accepted only through the Accela Citizen Access portal, plan check submittals are digital only, and contractors need a current City of Alameda business license, per the city's apply for a building permit page.
- Retaining walls not over 4 feet in height, measured from the bottom of the footing, are exempt unless they support a surcharge, according to the when is a permit needed page, which also lists fences up to 7 feet and residential sidewalks and driveways as exempt.
- Inspections are requested on the Inspection Line at 510-747-6830, Monday to Thursday from 7:30 to 8:30 am, and the Permit Center is closed on Fridays, per the Permit Center page.
Our pool demolition permit guide explains how island and mainland cities differ on pool removal.
Local guide
Planning a Yard Project on the Island: Permits, Walls and Pools
Searching for a general contractor in Alameda, CA for outdoor work usually starts with one question: does the job need a permit? The Permit Center answers it, and the rules below come from its own pages. Cicarelli Contractors files the application, removes the pool or slab and builds the new surface.
How do I apply for a permit with the City of Alameda?
Register for an account on Accela Citizen Access and submit there, because the city no longer accepts paper plans. Projects that need drawings start as a Building Pre-Application, with a filing fee due up front and plan check submittals taken only in digital form. Contractors also need a current city business license.
Questions go to the Permit Center at (510) 747-6800 or permits@alamedaca.gov, open Monday to Thursday. We prepare the application and drawings for pool, concrete and hardscape jobs.
Is a short retaining wall exempt from a permit in Alameda?
Yes, within limits. The city lists retaining walls not over 4 feet in height, measured from the bottom of the footing, as exempt, but the exemption ends when the wall supports a surcharge, such as a slope, a driveway or a building behind it. Fences up to 7 feet are exempt as well.
Raised planters along a side yard often stay under the limit. We measure from the footing, not from the ground line, before quoting the wall.
What should I know before removing a pool on the island?
Ask the Permit Center first. Its exempt list mentions only prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep and says nothing about taking out an in-ground pool, so we treat removal as permitted demolition: drain, break out, haul off, then backfill and compact, with inspections booked on the city line.
If an ADU or addition may go over the old pool later, full removal with compacted fill keeps that option open. Read the details on our pool removal page.
| Topic | Alameda |
|---|---|
| City permit office | Permit Center, 2263 Santa Clara Ave., Room 190 |
| How to apply | Accela Citizen Access only; no paper plans |
| Inspections | 510-747-6830, Mon to Thu, 7:30 to 8:30 am |
| Retaining wall exemption | Not over 4 ft from the bottom of the footing, no surcharge |
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
Reading for Island Homeowners
FAQ
Questions From Island Homeowners
Have a Yard Project on the Island?
Call or text Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, and we will set a time to see the yard. Other common questions are answered in our full FAQ.
Call (650) 404-7049Does Cicarelli Contractors work on Bay Farm Island too?
Yes. We take jobs on the main island and on Bay Farm Island, which share one Permit Center, so the paperwork is the same for both. Our crew is based in Richmond, holds CSLB License #1109419 in the B General Building class and gives every estimate free and in writing.
What does a general contractor do on an outdoor project?
A general contractor runs the whole job: the permit, the demolition, the haul-off, the base work and the new surface, plus any specialty trades. For a yard, that means one company answers for everything from the first breakout to the final inspection, instead of several separate crews.
What should I avoid saying to a contractor during an estimate?
Avoid agreeing to skip the permit to save time, offering cash for a lower number or accepting a verbal scope. Instead, ask for the license number, the scope in writing and who files the permit. A licensed contractor should welcome those questions, and you can check the answer on the CSLB website.
Are driveways and sidewalks exempt from permits in Alameda?
For homes, the city lists sidewalks and driveways among the exempt items, along with decks no more than 30 inches above grade. A retaining wall over the 4-foot limit still needs a permit, and changes to the exterior of the house need a permit plus Planning Design Review. We check the full scope first.
When can I reach the Permit Center on Santa Clara Avenue?
The counter is open Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 3:30 pm, and closed on Fridays. Walk-ins must sign in at least 15 minutes before closing. Phone questions go to (510) 747-6800, and inspections are scheduled on a separate line.
Can I send photos of the yard before the visit?
Yes. Upload a few photos and your address through the free estimate form, or text them to (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm. We then come out to measure and send a written quote within 24 hours of that visit.