Pool Breakout and Fill for Albany Yards
The shell broken up and hauled away, the hole filled and compacted, and the city permit filed online so the lot is usable again.
Learn more about pool breakout and fill for albany yards
Albany, CA Hardscape Contractor for Concrete, Pavers and Pools
Cicarelli Contractors holds CSLB License #1109419 (B General Building) and works from Richmond, one of the two cities on Albany's northern line. Around Albany Hill, near Solano Avenue and across the flat blocks toward Berkeley, we remove pools and concrete, lay pavers and turf, build low walls and file the city permit.
- Cloudpermit applications filed for you
- CSLB License #1109419
Alameda County
A Small Bayside City Next to Our Base
Albany voted to incorporate in 1908 as Ocean View and took its current name the next year. Most of its 5.5 square miles is water; the land is about 1.8 square miles, largely flat, with Albany Hill rising near the shore and Codornices and Cerrito creeks marking the south and north edges.
With Richmond and El Cerrito on its northern line, the city is one of the closest places our crew works outside our own. Permits come from the Building Division of the Community Development Department on San Pablo Avenue, which takes applications through Cloudpermit.
Services for local homes
Six Services for Compact Lots Near the Bay
On flat city blocks, access and haul-off planning matter as much as the finish. We break out the old surface, prepare the base and build the new one, and the permit goes through Cloudpermit.
Get A Free EstimateAlbany Driveway and Slab Replacement
Old slabs out and new concrete in; sidewalk and driveway-approach work in the public right-of-way needs an encroachment permit, issued only to licensed contractors.
Learn more about albany driveway and slab replacement
Paver Front Walks and Back Patios
Interlocking pavers on a compacted base, with curved or straight borders cut to fit the yard.
Learn more about paver front walks and back patios
Low Block Walls Around Albany Hill
Capped block walls with lighting; a wall over 4 feet from the bottom of the footing, or one carrying a surcharge, needs a building permit.
Learn more about low block walls around albany hill
Turf for Side Yards and Small Lawns
Artificial turf over a drained base, a good fit for narrow side yards and front lawns that struggle to stay green.
Learn more about turf for side yards and small lawns
Fire Pit Circles and Garden Patios
Round fire pit patios, seat walls and pergolas that make a small backyard feel like an extra room.
Learn more about fire pit circles and garden patios
Crew on camera
See Our Crew Break Out Pools and Build Walls
Clips from our own jobs: pool demolitions in San Ramon and Vacaville, a Vacaville pool converted to outdoor living, and a retaining wall in Walnut Creek. The same people would work on your Albany lot.
Watch On YouTubeNext-door contractor
Reasons Albany Homeowners Call a Crew From Next Door
4.9★
Average of 45 Google reviews
1908
Year Albany incorporated
1.8sq mi
Land inside city limits
State License You Can Verify
CSLB License #1109419, class B General Building, backed by an active contractor's bond.
Quote in Writing, 24 Hours
The estimate arrives within 24 hours of the site visit, itemized and in writing.
Cloudpermit Filing and Inspections
We file in Cloudpermit and book inspections from the project workspace, a task the city leaves to the permit holder.
A Year of Workmanship Warranty
Each finished job carries our 1-year workmanship warranty, spelled out in the contract.
Finished yards
Three Yards Before and After Our Crew
Drag the sliders on these real Cicarelli jobs from around the Bay Area to see what pool removal, pavers and turf can do for a small lot.
See All Projects
BeforeAfterPool Filled, Lawn on Top
Pool removal and artificial turf
BeforeAfterFront Lawn Swapped for Turf
Turf and stepping stones
BeforeAfterGazebo and Pavers Over a Former Pool
Burlingame · Pool removal, pavers and turf
The process
How an Albany Job Goes From Walk-Through to Final
The same contact answers your questions from the walk-through to the last inspection.
Start With A Free Estimate- Step 01
Walk-Through on Site
We look at access, drainage and what needs to come out of the yard.
- Step 02
Scope and Price on Paper
A written estimate lists the work, the permit and the sequence.
- Step 03
Cloudpermit Application
We create the project in Cloudpermit and upload the plans and forms.
- Step 04
Breakout and Haul-Away
Concrete or the pool shell comes out and the debris is hauled off the lot.
- Step 05
Compaction and City Inspections
Fill is compacted in layers and inspections are booked through the workspace.
- Step 06
Finish Work and Warranty
The new patio, pavers or turf go in, with a 1-year workmanship warranty.
Two Reviews Straight From Google
Quoted word for word from our Google Business Profile, with no edits. They speak to our work, not to where the reviewers live.
Hanh NguyenPool leak repair
That was a great job they did! Well done! They did good fixing the leak in the pool and cleaning the whole thing up. Looks great !
Nauzer GotlaHouse & backyard
Athalyson did great work at my house and backyard. Very happy with the result. Highly recommend.
Albany's Neighbors on Both Sides of the County Line
The city sits on the Alameda and Contra Costa line, so several of these neighbors fall under a different county.
Berkeley
The larger city wrapping around Albany to the south and east, past Codornices Creek. Berkeley issues permits through its Permit Service Center on Center Street.
Services in Berkeley
Oakland
Beyond Berkeley to the south, the county seat and the biggest city in the East Bay. Permits there go through the City of Oakland Planning & Building Department.
Services in Oakland
Alameda
An island city farther south, past Oakland's waterfront. It runs its own permit office, separate from Oakland and from the county.
Services in Alameda
El Cerrito
Right across Cerrito Creek to the north, in Contra Costa County. Hillside lots there need a permit from the City of El Cerrito.
Services in El Cerrito
Richmond
Our home base, sharing Albany's northern line near Point Isabel. Inside Richmond, permits go through the city's online iMS portal.
Services in Richmond
San Pablo
North of El Cerrito and almost enclosed by Richmond. Permit applications there go to the City of San Pablo.
Services in San Pablo
El Sobrante
A community in the hills above San Pablo with no city government of its own, so Contra Costa County's building office handles its permits.
Services in El Sobrante
Albany and Its Neighbors, Mapped
Albany is the highlighted pin; the dots show the nearby cities listed above, with our Richmond base just to the north.
Albany, CAJust south of our Richmond base
Small-city neighbors mapped
Permits
Albany Building Permits Through Cloudpermit
The Building Division of Albany's Community Development Department issues building permits, and applications go through Cloudpermit, the city's online permitting portal. Inspections are booked in that workspace, by phone or by email, and scheduling them is the permit holder's job. Cicarelli Contractors files the application and books each inspection.
Rules From the City Handouts
- Building permit applications are submitted through Cloudpermit, and scheduling inspections is the responsibility of the permit holder, online, by phone at 510-528-5760 or by email, per the city's Building Division page.
- Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, are exempt unless supporting a surcharge, per the city's work exempt from permit handout.
- Replacing sidewalks and driveway approaches in the public right-of-way requires an encroachment permit, and by department policy those permits are issued only to licensed contractors, per the same exempt work handout.
- Demolishing any complete building, such as a garage or pool house, needs a Bay Area Air Quality Management District J Number and a building permit before work starts, per the city's building demolitions handout.
If you own property in more than one city, the pool demolition permit guide helps compare the steps.
Local guide
Planning Yard Work in Albany: Permits, Sidewalks and Pools
For concrete, pavers or pool removal in Albany, CA, the first stop is the Building Division and its Cloudpermit portal, and any work on the public sidewalk needs a separate encroachment permit. Cicarelli Contractors holds the license the city requires for that sidewalk work and handles the application, the demolition and the new surface.
How do I apply for a building permit in Albany, CA?
Create a project in Cloudpermit, the city's permitting portal, and upload the application and plans there. The Building Division reviews the submittal, and the same workspace is used later to book inspections. Questions can go to 510-528-5760 or permits@albanyca.org, and the office is at 1000 San Pablo Avenue.
The building page also links the city's permit application form and its handouts. We prepare the documents for pool removal, concrete, paver and wall projects and upload them for you.
Can I replace my sidewalk or driveway apron myself?
Not in the public right-of-way. Replacing sidewalks and driveway approaches there requires an encroachment permit, and by department policy the city issues those permits only to licensed contractors. Sidewalks and driveways on your own lot, not more than 30 inches above grade, are on the code's list of work exempt from a building permit.
When a job covers both, we handle the encroachment permit and the work on your lot as one project.
What does a pool removal in Albany involve?
Draining the pool, breaking out the shell, hauling away the debris and filling the hole with compacted soil, under a permit from the Building Division. If a pool house or another complete building comes down too, the city expects a BAAQMD J Number and a building permit before demolition begins.
Keep a future ADU or addition in mind: full removal with compacted fill leaves the most options. Our pool removal page explains the choices.
| Topic | Albany |
|---|---|
| Permit office | Building Division, 1000 San Pablo Avenue |
| How to apply | Cloudpermit online portal |
| Inspections | Cloudpermit, 510-528-5760 or permits@albanyca.org |
| Sidewalk or apron work | Encroachment permit, licensed contractors only |
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
Guides for an Albany Yard Project
FAQ
Albany Homeowner FAQ
Thinking About an Albany Project?
We work from just across the city line. Call or text Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or read the full FAQ.
Call (650) 404-7049How close is Cicarelli Contractors to Albany?
Very close. We are based in Richmond, ZIP code 94805, which shares the city's northern border along with El Cerrito. That makes site visits easy to fit in, and the written estimate still arrives within 24 hours of the visit, at no charge to you.
Is a short retaining wall exempt in Albany?
Short ones usually do not. The code list the city publishes exempts retaining walls not over 4 feet from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless the wall supports a surcharge. A taller wall, or one holding back a driveway or a slope, goes through the Building Division.
Who schedules inspections on an Albany permit?
The permit holder. The city leaves inspection scheduling to the permit holder, through the Cloudpermit project workspace, by phone at 510-528-5760 or by email to permits@albanyca.org. When Cicarelli Contractors pulls the permit, we book each inspection as the work reaches that stage.
What should I check before hiring a contractor?
Look up the license on the CSLB website, ask for a written contract and estimate, and read reviews that describe real jobs. Be wary of cash-only offers or a down payment above 10 percent or 1,000 dollars. Cicarelli Contractors holds License #1109419 and a 4.9 rating on Google.
What can go where an old pool was?
Once the shell is out and the fill is compacted, the space can hold a paver patio, artificial turf, a fire pit area or a pergola. If you may build an ADU there later, plan for full removal so the fill can support it. We sketch the new layout with you during the estimate visit.
How do I request a free estimate in Albany?
Use the free estimate form to send your address and a few yard photos, or call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm. We set up a visit, measure the yard and send a written quote within 24 hours of that visit.