Pool Takeouts on Hillside Lots
The pool is drained, broken out and hauled away, then the hole is filled and compacted under a permit from the city Building Division.
Learn more about pool takeouts on hillside lots
El Cerrito Pool Removal and Pavers for Hillside Yards
Cicarelli Contractors is a CSLB-licensed general contractor (License #1109419) working from Richmond, right next door. From the flats along San Pablo Avenue to the hillside streets below Wildcat Canyon, we take out pools and old concrete, lay pavers, build retaining walls and install turf, and we prepare the permit application.
- El Cerrito Building Division permits filed
- CSLB License #1109419
Contra Costa County
A Hillside City Named for a Little Hill
Founded by refugees of the 1906 earthquake and incorporated in 1917, the city takes its name from Albany Hill, which actually sits just over the border in Albany. Elevations climb from 20 feet near the bay to 934 feet in the hills, and the Hayward Fault runs through town, so many back yards here slope.
Homes inside city limits get building permits from the Building Division at City Hall, 10890 San Pablo Avenue, which takes applications through its eTRAKiT online permit counter. Kensington, on the southern edge, is unincorporated and handled by Contra Costa County instead.
What we build here
Yard Work for Sloped Lots and Flat Blocks Alike
Hiring a general contractor in El Cerrito for a yard project? One crew handles the breakout, the base, the build and the city paperwork, so you deal with a single company from start to finish.
Get A Free EstimateCracked Concrete Out, Fresh Base In
Cracked driveways, patios and walks removed down to soil, with a compacted base before new concrete or pavers go in.
Learn more about cracked concrete out, fresh base in
Paver Walkways for Hillside Homes
Front walks, patios and driveway aprons in interlocking pavers, edged to hold their shape on a grade.
Learn more about paver walkways for hillside homes
El Cerrito Retaining Wall Builder
Block walls that turn a slope into level ground, with drainage behind the wall and the permit question checked before we quote.
Learn more about el cerrito retaining wall builder
Synthetic Lawns That Skip the Mower
Artificial turf on a drained, compacted base, a low-water option for yards that bake in the afternoon sun.
Learn more about synthetic lawns that skip the mower
Pergolas, Fire Pits and Outdoor Rooms
Seat walls, fire pits and pergolas that give a narrow or terraced yard a comfortable place to sit.
Learn more about pergolas, fire pits and outdoor rooms
See the crew at work
Short Clips From Jobs Around the Bay
Each video shows a real Cicarelli job: a retaining wall in Walnut Creek, pool demolitions in Hillsborough and San Ramon, and a Vacaville pool turned into outdoor living space. The same crew drives to El Cerrito.
Watch On YouTubeWhy us next door
What a Contractor From the Next City Over Brings to Your Yard
4.9★
Average from 45 Google reviews
1917
Year the city incorporated
934ft
Highest point in town
Licensed B General Building
CSLB #1109419 with an active bond; look it up yourself before you sign.
An Itemized Quote, Sent Promptly
An itemized estimate at no charge, sent within 24 hours of the site visit.
Paperwork Through eTRAKiT
We submit the application on the city's online counter and request each inspection.
A Contract-Backed Workmanship Warranty
The 1-year workmanship warranty starts at completion and is written into your contract.
Before and after
Drag the Divider: Slope, Pool and Gravel Yards
Each slider shows a real Cicarelli project from elsewhere in the Bay Area. Slopes, old pools and bare gravel like these turn up in local back yards too.
See All Projects
BeforeAfterSteps and Turf on a Steep Back Yard
Hillside steps and artificial turf
BeforeAfterOld Pool, New Gazebo and Lawn
Burlingame · Pool removal, pavers and turf
BeforeAfterGravel Lot Turned Green
Turf and pavers over old gravel
Our process
Six Steps From Site Visit to City Sign-Off
You talk to the same team from measuring day to the last inspection.
Start With A Free Estimate- Step 01
Measure the Yard
We walk the site, check the slope and access, and note what has to come out.
- Step 02
Paper Estimate, Line by Line
An itemized estimate lists the scope, the permit and the order of work.
- Step 03
File With the City
The application goes in through eTRAKiT, with plans when the job needs them.
- Step 04
Breaking Out the Old Surface
Old concrete or the pool shell comes out and the debris leaves the site.
- Step 05
Inspections on Request
We use the city request form and keep the permit and plans on site for the inspector.
- Step 06
Build and Hand Over
The new surface goes in, followed by a 1-year workmanship warranty.
Two Google Reviews, Quoted Exactly as Written
Copied word for word from our Google Business Profile. They describe jobs we completed, not where each reviewer lives.
Dave "Davie"Fiberglass pool removal · Permit & compaction report
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.
Kazeem AdebiyiCrew & communication
The team exhibited exceptional performance, demonstrated effective communication, and displayed a commendable work ethic.
Neighbors on Every Side of Town
The cities that touch or sit close to this one, and the office that permits each of them.
Richmond
Borders the city on the west through the Richmond Annex and is home to our crew. Projects in Richmond proper are permitted by the City of Richmond.
Services in Richmond
San Pablo
A short drive north up San Pablo Avenue. The small enclave city has its own Building Division at City Hall on Gateway Avenue, separate from Richmond.
Services in San Pablo
El Sobrante
Over the ridge to the northeast, beyond Wildcat Canyon. It is unincorporated, so a pool or wall there goes through Contra Costa County permits.
Services in El Sobrante
Pinole
Farther north along I-80 on San Pablo Bay. Yards there are permitted by the City of Pinole, which takes applications online only.
Services in Pinole
Albany
Just across the Alameda County line to the south, home of Albany Hill, the knoll behind the name El Cerrito. Albany residents pull permits from their own city hall.
Services in Albany
Berkeley
South past Albany and Kensington, in Alameda County. A project there goes through the City of Berkeley permit office, not Contra Costa.
Services in Berkeley
Oakland
The large city farther south in Alameda County, reached on I-80 or I-580. Oakland runs its own building permit process and grading rules.
Services in Oakland
Where This Hillside City Sits on the East Bay Map
The highlighted pin is this city; the other dots mark the nearby cities in the list.
El Cerrito, CANext door to our Richmond crew
Pinned neighbors along the hills
Permits
Yard and Pool Permits From the El Cerrito Building Division
The City of El Cerrito Building Division requires a permit for new buildings and for existing buildings or structures that are altered, repaired, enlarged or improved. Pools, spas and drainage systems are on its list of projects that need one. Applications go through the eTRAKiT online counter, and Cicarelli Contractors files them for you.
Straight from the El Cerrito Building Division
- Building permits are required for all new buildings and for existing buildings or structures that are altered, repaired, enlarged or improved, and the city lists spas, swimming pools and drainage systems among the projects that need one, per its building permits and applications page.
- New or modified fencing and decks, additions that grow a home's footprint and accessory dwelling units are reviewed by the Planning Division before you apply for a building permit, and submittals go through the eTRAKiT online permit counter.
- Inspections are requested with the city's online form at least 2 business days ahead, with a 4 PM daily cut-off and an AM or PM window, and they run Monday through Thursday plus Friday mornings, per the building inspections page.
- Covered projects must recycle or salvage at least 65 percent of construction and demolition waste under CALGreen, tracked by the Building Division through Green Halo Systems, per the C&D policy page.
Our pool demolition permit guide shows how neighboring cities treat the same pool removal.
Local guide
Slopes, Pools and Permits: Notes for Hiring a General Contractor
A general contractor in El Cerrito, CA spends as much time on paperwork as on the ground: hillside lots often need a wall or drainage, and the Building Division wants a permit for pool and drainage work. Cicarelli Contractors handles the demolition, the build and the eTRAKiT application as one job.
What do you hire a general contractor for?
To run a project that involves more than one trade or a permit. A general contractor plans the work, pulls the permit, schedules the crew and inspections, and answers for the result. For a yard, that can mean removing a pool, grading, building a wall and laying pavers under one contract.
In California, a B General Building license covers projects like these. Ours is CSLB #1109419, and you can look it up before you sign anything.
Do pools and drainage need a permit in El Cerrito?
Yes. The Building Division lists spas, swimming pools and drainage systems among the projects that need a building permit, and changes to an existing structure need one too. The application goes through eTRAKiT, and the city may ask for plans depending on the scope of the work.
Sloped lots often need drainage behind a new wall or patio, so we include it in the written estimate instead of finding it halfway through the job.
How does pool removal work on a hillside lot?
The pool is drained and the shell is broken up or hauled out, depending on the plan. Fill goes back in layers and is compacted, with drainage planned so water does not collect where the pool was. A city permit covers the demolition, and inspections are requested online.
If an ADU or addition might go where the pool was, plan for full removal and engineered fill. Our pool removal page compares the options.
| Topic | El Cerrito |
|---|---|
| City permit office | Building Division, 10890 San Pablo Avenue |
| How to apply | eTRAKiT online permit counter |
| Inspection requests | Online form; Monday to Thursday and Friday mornings |
| Projects listed as needing permits | Pools, spas, drainage, foundations, additions |
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
Reading for Hillside Homeowners
FAQ
Questions From Homeowners in El Cerrito
Have a Slope or a Pool to Deal With?
Our crew is a short trip from any street in town. Call or text Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or browse the full FAQ.
Call (650) 404-7049Do you work in El Cerrito if your office is in Richmond?
Yes. Our crew is based in Richmond, which shares a border with the city, so a site visit is easy to set up. We hold CSLB License #1109419 in the B General Building class, and every estimate is written and free after we see the yard in person.
How do I check a contractor's license before hiring?
Search the license number on the CSLB website. It shows the classification, the bond, workers' compensation status and any complaints on record. Ask for the number in writing, then match the name on the license to the name on your contract. Our number is 1109419.
Which yard projects need a Planning review first?
The city sends new or modified fences and decks, home additions that grow the footprint, and accessory dwelling units to the Planning Division before a building permit application. We check whether your project is on that list during the site visit, so the steps happen in the right order.
Is artificial turf a good fit for a sloped yard?
It can be, as long as the base is built for the grade. We compact the base, add drainage where water runs downhill and secure the edges so the turf does not creep. On steeper sections, a low wall or a few steps often works better than turf alone.
What happens to the concrete and pool debris?
It is broken up, loaded and hauled off the property. For covered projects, CALGreen requires at least 65 percent of construction and demolition waste to be recycled or salvaged, and the city tracks those plans through Green Halo Systems. Ask us during the visit whether your job counts as covered.
What is the first step toward an estimate?
Use the free estimate form to send photos and your street address, or call or text (650) 404-7049 between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Saturday. After measuring the site, we send a written, itemized quote within 24 hours of the visit.