Pool Demolition From the Elmwood to the Hills
Drained, broken out and hauled off under a city building permit, then backfilled and compacted so the lot is ready for a lawn or a patio.
Learn more about pool demolition from the elmwood to the hills
Berkeley Pavers, Patios and Pool Removal From Flats to Hills
Cicarelli Contractors is a licensed general contractor (CSLB #1109419, B General Building) working out of Richmond, a short trip up I-80. From West Berkeley to the Elmwood and the slopes below Grizzly Peak, we demolish pools, replace concrete, set pavers, build retaining walls and lay turf, and we file the permit with the city.
- Permits Online applications prepared for you
- CSLB License #1109419
Alameda County
Between the Bay Shore and the Hills Ridge
Berkeley incorporated in 1878 and stretches from the shoreline to the ridge of the Berkeley Hills, where its eastern edge meets Contra Costa County. Albany and Kensington sit to the north, Oakland and Emeryville to the south. One block can hold a flat lot with a worn patio, and the next a slope that needs a wall.
Yard and pool work inside city limits is permitted by the Permit Service Center on Center Street, downtown. It sees applicants by appointment and also takes building permit applications online through Permits Online, so our team can prepare and upload the documents for you.
Yard and pool services
Hardscape Work Sized for Flatland Lots and Hillside Yards
Searching for a general contractor in Berkeley who handles the whole yard? Our crew breaks out the old pool or slab, fixes the grade and builds the new surface, with the city permit filed under our license.
Get A Free EstimateBerkeley Concrete Breakout and Replacement
Cracked driveways, walks and old pool decks broken out, the subgrade compacted, and new concrete or a paver base set in their place.
Learn more about berkeley concrete breakout and replacement
Paver Walks and Driveways for North Berkeley Homes
Pavers on a graded, compacted base, cut to fit narrow side yards and the front walks of older houses.
Learn more about paver walks and driveways for north berkeley homes
Hillside Retaining Walls Below Grizzly Peak
Short walls without a surcharge skip the building permit, but any retaining wall inside a required setback needs a zoning permit here.
Learn more about hillside retaining walls below grizzly peak
Artificial Turf for Shaded and Sloped Lawns
Synthetic grass over a drained, compacted base, so the lawn needs no mowing and very little water.
Learn more about artificial turf for shaded and sloped lawns
Pergolas, Seat Walls and Fire Pit Patios
Outdoor rooms built where a pool or slab used to be, with seating, lighting and space for a table.
Learn more about pergolas, seat walls and fire pit patios
Watch the work
Short Clips of the Crew on Bay Area Jobs
Each clip was filmed on one of our jobs: a retaining wall in Walnut Creek, pool demolitions in Hillsborough and Fremont, and a Vacaville pool turned into an outdoor living area. Berkeley projects get the same crew and machines.
Watch On YouTubeWhy Cicarelli
What You Get When a Licensed East Bay Crew Takes the Job
4.9★
Google rating across 45 reviews
1878
Year the city incorporated
4ft
Tallest wall exempt from a building permit
Licensed, Bonded, Easy to Check
CSLB License #1109419 in the B General Building class, with an active bond you can look up.
A Written Number Within a Day
After we measure the yard, the written estimate follows within 24 hours of the visit.
Permits Online, Handled for You
We prepare the drawings and documents, upload them and request each inspection from the permit record.
Twelve Months of Workmanship Coverage
Our 1-year workmanship warranty starts on the day the job is complete.
Real results
Slide to Compare Three Finished Yards
These sliders show finished Cicarelli jobs from around the Bay Area, not renderings. The same slope, pool and gravel fixes are available for Berkeley homes.
See All Projects
BeforeAfterSteps and Turf on a Sloped Yard
Hillside steps and artificial turf
BeforeAfterFormer Pool, Now a Gazebo Patio
Burlingame · Pool removal, pavers and turf
BeforeAfterGravel Replaced by Turf and Pavers
Turf lawn with a paver patio
Step by step
Six Steps From Measuring Tape to Final Sign-Off
You deal with one contact from the first visit until the inspector signs off.
Start With A Free Estimate- Step 01
Measure and Photograph
We walk the yard, check slope and access, and note what has to come out.
- Step 02
Estimate on Paper
You get the scope, the permit plan and the order of work in writing.
- Step 03
Permit Service Center Filing
We upload the application through Permits Online or book a counter appointment.
- Step 04
Demolition and Haul-Off
The pool, slab or old wall is broken out and the debris leaves the site.
- Step 05
Base, Grade and Inspection
Fill is compacted, the grade is set, and inspections are requested from the permit record.
- Step 06
Finish Surface and Warranty
Pavers, turf or a patio go down, covered by our 1-year workmanship warranty.
Read Two Google Reviews Before You Call
Both are copied word for word from our Google Business Profile. They describe our work in general, not a job at a particular address.
Belis EtemPool demolition
Bernard completed our pool demolition job promptly and professionally. I was very pleased that he was able to start so quickly as I had a deadline to meet. I would recommend him. It was especially convenient for me that he was able to text me updates and send me photos along the way as I handled the job remotely. Thank you, Bernard!
GabrielaBackyard project
Amanzing job, great people that talked to me. I recommend this company
Cities Bordering Berkeley and a Few Beyond
Every one of these neighbors issues its own permits, so the rules change at the city line.
Albany
Directly north across Codornices Creek, smaller and mostly flat around Albany Hill. Its Building Division takes permit applications through Cloudpermit.
Services in Albany
Oakland
The large city on the southern border, reached through Rockridge and Temescal. The City of Oakland Planning & Building Department issues its permits.
Services in Oakland
Alameda
The island city south of downtown Oakland, flat and close to the water. Permits there come from the City of Alameda, not from its larger neighbor.
Services in Alameda
San Leandro
Farther down the East Bay shore, between Oakland and Hayward. Its building permits are issued by the City of San Leandro.
Free estimate in San Leandro
El Cerrito
Past Albany on the Contra Costa side, with hillside streets above San Pablo Avenue. The City of El Cerrito handles its own permits.
Services in El Cerrito
Richmond
Our home base, a few miles north along the bay. Inside Richmond city limits, the Building Division issues the permits.
Services in Richmond
San Pablo
A small city ringed mostly by Richmond, a little farther north. Yards there need a City of San Pablo permit.
Services in San Pablo
Berkeley on the East Bay Map
The highlighted pin is Berkeley; the other dots are the neighbors listed above, with our Richmond base to the north.
Berkeley, CANorth Alameda County, near our base
East Bay pins near campus
Permits
City of Berkeley Permits for Pools, Walls and Hardscape
Berkeley requires a building permit before you build a new structure, alter an existing one or demolish one, and most repairs need one too. The Permit Service Center at 1947 Center Street takes applications by appointment, and building permits can also be filed through Permits Online. Cicarelli Contractors prepares the application and requests the inspections.
What the City Code Pages Say
- A building permit is required for a new structure, for alterations to an existing structure and for demolition of an existing structure, and most repairs need one unless specifically exempted, per the city's building permits page.
- Retaining walls not over 4 feet, measured from the footing to the top of the wall, need no building permit unless they support a surcharge, but retaining walls in a required setback require a zoning permit, per the work exempt from permits page.
- Inspections are scheduled from the permit record in Permits Online, and inspection questions go to the Building and Safety Division at (510) 981-7440, per the building inspections page.
- New applications at the counter need an appointment, and documents are submitted as PDFs on a USB thumb drive because printouts are not accepted, per the Permit Service Center page.
Pool removal permits vary across the East Bay; our pool demolition permit guide explains how.
Local guide
Hiring for a Berkeley Yard: Permits, Walls and Pools Explained
Hiring a general contractor in Berkeley for yard work comes down to three things: the permit, the slope and what replaces the old surface. Cicarelli Contractors handles all three, filing with the Permit Service Center, breaking out the pool or slab, and building pavers, turf or a patio on a compacted base.
How do I apply for a City of Berkeley building permit?
Book an appointment at the Permit Service Center on Center Street, or apply online through Permits Online with a registered account. At the counter, documents go in as PDFs on a USB thumb drive rather than printouts. Staff then review the application to confirm that the project meets the building code.
Project questions go to (510) 981-7500 or permits@berkeleyca.gov. Our team prepares the drawings and the application for pool, concrete and wall projects.
Does a retaining wall in Berkeley need a permit?
A wall up to 4 feet, measured from the footing to the top, needs no building permit unless it supports a surcharge. Location matters as well: the city requires a zoning permit for any retaining wall inside a required setback, even a short one. Taller or loaded walls need a building permit.
Hillside lots often put a wall close to a property line, so we check the setback and the load before we quote the wall.
What happens during a pool removal in Berkeley?
The city requires a building permit to demolish an existing structure, so plan on one for the pool. The water is drained, the shell is broken up or removed, debris is hauled away, and the hole is filled and compacted in layers, with inspections requested through Permits Online along the way.
If an ADU or addition could go over the pool site someday, full removal with compacted fill keeps that option open. Compare the methods on our pool removal page.
| Topic | Berkeley |
|---|---|
| City permit office | Permit Service Center, 1947 Center Street, 3rd Floor |
| How to apply | Appointment at the center or Permits Online |
| Inspections | Requested from the permit record; (510) 981-7440 |
| Retaining walls | Exempt to 4 ft without surcharge; zoning permit in a setback |
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
Reading for Berkeley Pool and Yard Projects
FAQ
What Berkeley Homeowners Ask Us
Have a Berkeley Yard in Mind?
Call or text (650) 404-7049 Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or browse the full FAQ first.
Call (650) 404-7049Does Cicarelli Contractors take jobs in Berkeley?
Yes. We are based in Richmond, just up the I-80 corridor, and we take pool removal, concrete, paver, retaining wall and turf jobs all over town, from the bay flats to the hill streets. Every job starts with a site visit and a free written estimate.
What does a general contractor do on a backyard project?
A general contractor holds the license and runs the whole job: the permit, demolition, hauling, grading, base work and the new surface, plus any trades the project needs. With one contract, you have one point of contact. Our B General Building license is listed on the CSLB website.
How much can a contractor ask for up front in California?
For home improvement work, state rules cap the down payment at 10 percent of the contract price or 1,000 dollars, whichever is less. Each later payment should match work already done, as listed in the contract. A request for half the money before any work starts is a warning sign.
Do I need a zoning permit for a retaining wall in Berkeley?
Sometimes, even when no building permit is needed. The city requires a zoning permit for retaining walls in a required setback, and a building permit once a wall passes 4 feet from the footing or supports a surcharge. We check both before we price the wall.
How are building inspections scheduled in Berkeley?
From the permit record in Permits Online, where you choose to schedule or request an inspection. The Building and Safety Division answers inspection questions at (510) 981-7440. On our jobs, we request each inspection as the work reaches that stage, so you do not have to track it.
How do I get a free estimate for my yard?
Send your address and a few photos of the yard through the free estimate form, or call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm. We schedule a visit, measure the site and send a written quote within 24 hours of that visit.