Pool Removal Under a County Permit
We file the county demolition permit, break out the shell, haul the debris and compact the fill, adding a grading permit when the county asks for one.
Learn more about pool removal under a county permit
El Sobrante Pool Removal, Concrete and Hardscape Contractor
Cicarelli Contractors is a CSLB-licensed general contractor (License #1109419, B General Building) based just over the ridge in Richmond. Along San Pablo Dam Road, Appian Way and Valley View Road, we remove pools and slabs, build paver patios, retaining walls and turf, and file the county permit.
- Contra Costa County permits filed
- CSLB License #1109419
Contra Costa County
An Unincorporated Valley Next Door to Our Base
El Sobrante is a census-designated place of about 3.1 square miles, strung along San Pablo Creek and San Pablo Dam Road on the way to the San Pablo Reservoir. The name, Spanish for "the surplus," comes from Rancho El Sobrante, the leftover land between six older ranchos.
With no city government, building and grading permits here come from Contra Costa County. Applications go to the Building Inspection Division of the Department of Conservation and Development through the county ePermits Center, not to Richmond or San Pablo.
Services here
Yard Work for Creekside and Hillside Homes
Need a concrete contractor in El Sobrante for a pool, a cracked driveway or a sloped backyard? We break out the old work, prepare and compact the base, and build the new surface under a county permit.
Get A Free EstimateConcrete Breakout Near San Pablo Creek
Old driveways, patios and pool decks removed down to the subgrade and rebuilt on a compacted base.
Learn more about concrete breakout near san pablo creek
Paver Paths and Patios, El Sobrante
Curved walkways and backyard patios set on compacted base rock with a solid border.
Learn more about paver paths and patios, el sobrante
Hillside Retaining Walls, El Sobrante
Tiered block walls with drainage that turn a steep slope above the valley floor into flat, usable yard.
Learn more about hillside retaining walls, el sobrante
El Sobrante Turf Lawns
Artificial grass over a drained base, a good fit for shady, sloped lots where real lawn struggles.
Learn more about el sobrante turf lawns
Pergolas and Outdoor Rooms
Cedar pergolas, fire pits and seat walls that give a backyard a place to sit once the pool is gone.
Learn more about pergolas and outdoor rooms
See the work
Job-Site Videos From Around the Bay Area
The clips show a retaining wall in Walnut Creek, pool demolitions in Fremont and Hillsborough, and a pool-to-patio job in Vacaville. The same crew drives over from Richmond for El Sobrante work.
Watch On YouTubeWhy us
Why Valley Homeowners Call a Contractor From Next Door
4.9★
Average from 45 Google reviews
3.1sq mi
Land area of the community
1109419
Our CSLB license number
Verifiable License, Active Bond
CSLB License #1109419, B General Building, with an active contractor bond.
Written Estimate Within a Day
After the site visit, you get the written estimate within 24 hours.
We Know the County Process
We file through the county ePermits Center and book each county inspection.
A Year of Coverage on Our Work
A 1-year workmanship warranty from completion, spelled out in the contract.
Before and after
Drag the Slider: Real Yard Transformations
Each slider is a finished Cicarelli project from the wider Bay Area. Homeowners in El Sobrante can book the same kind of pool, slope and turf work.
See All Projects
BeforeAfterA Slope Turned Into Steps and Lawn
Hillside steps and artificial turf
BeforeAfterPool Hole Filled, Lawn on Top
Pool removal and turf
BeforeAfterFront Lawn That Stays Green Year-Round
Turf and stepping stones
Step by step
How an Unincorporated-Area Job Moves Forward
We handle the county side, so you deal with one contractor instead of several offices.
Start With A Free Estimate- Step 01
Site Walk in the Valley
We visit, measure and check slope, access from the street and drainage.
- Step 02
Estimate With Permit Path
A written quote covering the work, the county permit and the job order.
- Step 03
County ePermits Filing
We upload the application and plans to the county ePermits Center.
- Step 04
Shell or Slab Comes Out
Breakout, haul-off and compaction of the fill, with grading work when required.
- Step 05
County Inspector Visits
We schedule each county inspection and meet the inspector on site.
- Step 06
Final Surface Goes In
Pavers, turf or a patio finish the yard, covered by a 1-year workmanship warranty.
What Two Google Reviewers Wrote About Us
Both reviews are quoted word for word from our Google Business Profile, one about a pool demolition and one about a backyard.
Gigi LimPool demolition
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.
Gilbert CriswellBackyard project
Great stuff
Cities Around the El Sobrante Valley
Unlike El Sobrante, each of these neighbors is an incorporated city with its own permit office.
Richmond
Wraps around the west side of El Sobrante and is where our crew is based. Addresses inside Richmond city limits apply to the Richmond Building Division, not the county.
Services in Richmond
San Pablo
Down San Pablo Dam Road to the west, where the creek heads toward the bay. San Pablo is its own city with its own building permits.
Services in San Pablo
Pinole
North over the ridge by Appian Way, toward San Pablo Bay. Homes there file with the City of Pinole instead of Contra Costa County.
Services in Pinole
El Cerrito
Southwest, past the Richmond hills, where Victor Castro of Rancho El Sobrante once built his adobe. El Cerrito issues its own permits.
Services in El Cerrito
Hercules
North along I-80 past Pinole, a city since 1900. Hercules permits go through its Civic Drive counter, unlike the county process here.
Services in Hercules
Berkeley
South through the hills in Alameda County. Berkeley runs its own Permit Service Center for building permits.
Services in Berkeley
Albany
Just over the county line in Alameda County, south of El Cerrito. Albany reviews plans for its compact city at its own permit counter.
Services in Albany
Locating the Valley Among Its Neighbors
The pin marks El Sobrante; the dots are the neighboring cities listed beside the map.
El Sobrante, CAOver the ridge from our Richmond base
Communities around the valley
Permits
Contra Costa County Permits for El Sobrante Projects
El Sobrante is unincorporated, so Contra Costa County issues its building and grading permits. Applications go to the Building Inspection Division of the Department of Conservation and Development through the county ePermits Center. The county requires a permit to demolish or abandon a pool and often a grading permit as well.
County rules that apply here
- Contra Costa County requires a permit to demolish or abandon a swimming pool and notes that a grading permit is often required as well, on its pools and spas page.
- In unincorporated areas such as El Sobrante, building and grading applications go to the county Building Inspection Division, part of the Department of Conservation and Development in Martinez, through the county ePermits Center described on its building and planning page.
- The county exempts retaining walls not more than 3 feet tall, measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall, unless they support a surcharge or a slope steeper than 1 to 2; concrete and masonry walls are treated as walls, not fences, per its work not requiring a building permit handout.
Unincorporated or not, each Bay Area agency is different, as our pool demolition permit guide explains.
Local guide
Hardscape and Pool Projects in El Sobrante: What to Expect
A pool removal, concrete or paver project in El Sobrante, CA goes through Contra Costa County, since the community has no city hall of its own. Cicarelli Contractors files the county application, breaks out the old pool or slab and builds the patio, walkway, wall or lawn that takes its place.
How do I get a building permit in El Sobrante?
Apply to Contra Costa County, not a city. The Building Inspection Division of the Department of Conservation and Development takes applications for unincorporated communities through its ePermits Center. Plans, permit status and inspections all run through the county, and grading work may need its own separate permit.
Projects on lots that straddle a city line need a closer look. We confirm which office covers your parcel before we file anything.
Can I build a retaining wall myself without a permit?
Sometimes. The county exempts retaining walls up to 3 feet, measured from the top of the footing, as long as they hold back no surcharge or steep slope. A taller wall, or one holding back a driveway, a structure or a steep bank, needs a permit, and a wall on fill can also trigger a grading permit.
Before we price a wall on a sloped El Sobrante lot, we check its height and the load above it against the county requirements.
Does a pool removal in El Sobrante need a permit?
Yes. The county requires a permit to demolish or abandon a pool, which covers filling it in place, and often a grading permit too. The shell is drained, broken out or partly removed, and the hole is backfilled in compacted layers before the county signs off.
If a future ADU or addition might sit on that spot, plan for full removal. Learn the differences on our pool removal page.
| Topic | El Sobrante |
|---|---|
| Permit office | Contra Costa County Building Inspection Division |
| How to apply | County ePermits Center |
| Pool demolition | County permit; grading permit often required |
| Retaining walls | Exempt up to 3 ft from top of footing, no surcharge |
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
Guides for Valley Homeowners
FAQ
Asked Often by Valley Homeowners
Thinking About a Project in the Valley?
We are just over the ridge in Richmond. Phone or text us from Monday through Saturday between 9 am and 5 pm, or open the full FAQ.
Call (650) 404-7049Is El Sobrante part of Richmond?
No. El Sobrante is an unincorporated census-designated place in Contra Costa County, even though it borders Richmond and shares mailing addresses with the area. Because it has no city government, building, grading and demolition permits for homes here come from the county, not from Richmond or San Pablo.
Who handles building permits in El Sobrante?
The Contra Costa County Building Inspection Division, part of the Department of Conservation and Development in Martinez. Applications and plans are submitted through the county ePermits Center. When you hire Cicarelli Contractors, we prepare the application, upload the plans and schedule the county inspections for you.
Do I need a permit to fill in a pool in El Sobrante?
Yes. Contra Costa County requires a permit to demolish or abandon a pool, and that includes filling it in place. A grading permit is often required too. Skipping the permit can cause problems later, when you sell the house or try to build over the old pool area.
Do you need a permit to build a pergola in California?
It depends on the size, height and whether it attaches to the house, and each jurisdiction applies its own version of the building code. In El Sobrante, the county decides. We check the design against the county requirements and include any permit in the written quote before work begins.
How do I check a contractor before hiring for an El Sobrante job?
Look up the license on the CSLB website, confirm the classification fits the work, and ask for a written contract with the scope spelled out. Ask whether the contractor files county permits for unincorporated areas, since that process differs from the cities nearby.
How can I get a free estimate in El Sobrante?
Fill out the free estimate form with your address and a couple of photos, or call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm. We come out to measure, check access and slope, and send a written quote within 24 hours of the visit.