Pool Removal in San Rafael
Pool removal in San Rafael and Novato under the city's own pool demolition permit type, or the county permit in unincorporated Marin, with fill compacted for the next use.
Learn more about pool removal in san rafael
General Contractor in Marin County, CA
Cicarelli Contractors, a CSLB-licensed general contractor (License #1109419) based in Richmond, California, serves 7 cities in Marin County, 10 miles from our base, with pool removal, demolition, excavation, pavers, retaining walls and artificial turf. We pull the permits and send a written quote within 24 hours.
- Permits and inspections handled
- CSLB License #1109419
North Bay
Working in Marin County
Marin County is across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge from our base, so San Rafael and Novato are among the closest cities we serve outside Contra Costa. The crew also works in Mill Valley, Sausalito, Tiburon, San Anselmo and Fairfax.
On sloped Marin lots, outdoor projects often start with excavation, drainage and retaining walls before pavers or turf go in. Each city issues its own permits, and the county handles unincorporated communities such as Kentfield and Marin City.
Marin services
General Contractor for Marin Slopes, Walls and Patios
As a general contractor in Marin County, we start with what the slope needs: excavation, drainage and retaining walls. Then come the patio, turf or walkway on level ground.
Get A Free EstimateGeneral Contractor for Marin Excavation
As a general contractor in Marin County, we dig, grade and drain hillside lots so walls, patios and turf have stable, level ground to sit on.
Learn more about general contractor for marin excavation
Pavers in San Rafael
Curved paver walkways, patios and driveways in San Rafael, Mill Valley and Novato that follow the shape of a sloped Marin yard.
Learn more about pavers in san rafael
Retaining Wall Contractor in Marin
Terraced and lit retaining walls for Marin slopes; taller walls go through San Rafael's full plan review, and we plan the schedule for it.
Learn more about retaining wall contractor in marin
Artificial Turf in Marin County
Artificial turf on the level ground our walls create, laid over a drained base for Marin homes from Sausalito to Novato.
Learn more about artificial turf in marin county
Pergolas and Patios With a View
Pergolas, seat walls and paver patios placed to make the most of Marin views, quoted in writing the day after the visit.
Learn more about pergolas and patios with a view
Marin-ready work
Retaining Walls and Pool Work Like Our Marin Projects
Sloped Marin lots need walls and careful grading. Start with our Walnut Creek retaining wall, then a San Ramon pool demolition, a Vacaville makeover and a Hillsborough removal.
Watch On YouTubeBuilt for Marin
Why Marin Homeowners Trust Our Crew With Hillside Projects
4.9★
Score from Google reviewers
7
Marin towns served
10
Miles from Richmond to San Rafael
CSLB Licensed and Bonded
B General Building License #1109419, with a contractor's bond on record.
Slope Measured, Quote Sent
We visit, measure the slope and send the written quote the next day.
Plan Review Planned For
Walls over a certain height and decks need full plan review in San Rafael; we schedule for it.
Warranty From Completion
A 1-year workmanship warranty on every Marin job.
Hillside results
Hillside and Backyard Makeovers for Marin-Style Lots
Our hillside steps-and-turf project is the closest match to a Marin lot. Drag each slider to compare.
See All Projects
BeforeAfterHillside Made Walkable
Steps and turf on a slope
BeforeAfterPool to Gazebo Retreat
Burlingame · Pool removal and pavers
BeforeAfterFresh Front Approach
Turf and stepping stones
Our Marin method
Building on a Marin Slope, One Step at a Time
Hillside work follows a clear order. Here is how we take a Marin project from first look to final inspection.
Start With A Free Estimate- Step 01
Slope and Drainage Review
We study grade, water flow and access before anything is designed.
- Step 02
Written Quote and Permit Type
Your quote arrives within 24 hours and says whether the work needs plan review.
- Step 03
Permit in San Rafael or the County
We apply to your town, or online to Marin County Building and Safety.
- Step 04
Excavation and Walls
Earthwork and retaining walls come first to create stable, level ground.
- Step 05
Pavers, Turf and Pergolas
The finished surfaces go in on the new level areas.
- Step 06
Inspection and Coverage
Final inspection, then your 1-year workmanship warranty.
Google reviews to read before hiring in Marin County
Two of our Google reviews, word for word, picked for Marin County homeowners comparing contractors.
Adam FrostVinyl pool & deck demo · Artificial turf
Bernardo from Cicarelli contractors was great to work with. We had our vinyl pool and deck demoed and synthetic grass put in. They took care of all our needs. Thank you Bernardo
DeejConcrete pool removal & pavers
Couldn’t be happier with how our yard turned out! We had Cicarelli remove an old concrete pool and install pavers around the new garden area. The whole process was smooth, and the crew was polite and professional.
Marin County cities we serve
Cities with their own page are linked; the rest are served too.
San Rafael
The Marin county seat, across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge from our base, with Mission San Rafael at its center. Population 61,271.
Services in San Rafael
Novato
A North Bay city in northern Marin, home to the former Hamilton Air Force Base. Population 53,225.
Services in Novato
Mill Valley
A city on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais and Richardson Bay, about 14 miles north of San Francisco, with many wooded hillside lots.
Free estimate in Mill Valley
Sausalito
A waterfront city at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge, about 8 miles south-southeast of San Rafael. Population 7,269.
Free estimate in Sausalito
Tiburon
A town on the Tiburon Peninsula, which reaches south into San Francisco Bay, sharing a ZIP code with neighboring Belvedere.
Free estimate in Tiburon
San Anselmo
A town 1.5 miles west of San Rafael, between Fairfax and Ross, about 20 miles north of San Francisco.
Free estimate in San Anselmo
Fairfax
A small town bordering San Anselmo, about 3 miles west-northwest of San Rafael. Population 7,605.
Free estimate in Fairfax
Map of Marin County
The 7 cities we serve in Marin County. Tap a pin or a name for details.
Marin County7 cities served
Marin County cities on the map
Permits
Building permits in Marin County
In Marin County, the city where the home sits issues the building or demolition permit. Homes in unincorporated areas get it from the county instead, through Marin County Building and Safety. Each office sets its own fees, plans and inspections, and Cicarelli Contractors pulls the permit and schedules every inspection.
Local rules in Marin County
- In unincorporated Marin, building permits are handled by Marin County Building and Safety, part of the Community Development Agency at the Civic Center in San Rafael, and applications can be submitted online.
- San Rafael lists demolition of a building, a portion of a structure or a swimming pool as its own demolition permit type, and puts retaining walls over a certain height and decks among the projects that need full plan review, on its building permit types page.
Compare Marin County with other Bay Area cities in our pool demolition permit guide.
Local guide
Pool removal and backyard projects in Marin County: what to know
A pool removal or backyard project in Marin County starts with one question: who issues the permit. Across the 7 cities we serve in Marin County, the city building department issues it; in unincorporated areas, Marin County Building and Safety does. Cicarelli Contractors, a CSLB-licensed general contractor based in Richmond, pulls the permit, schedules the inspections, removes the pool or concrete and builds what comes next with the same crew.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Marin County?
It depends on whether the job needs plan review. San Rafael separates minor permits, which issue faster, from permits that require full plan review, such as retaining walls over a certain height and decks. Unincorporated Marin applies online to the county.
For a job in San Rafael, Novato and Mill Valley, the written estimate from Cicarelli Contractors lists the permit, the inspections and the order of the work, and the crew sends photo updates while it is underway. See the official Marin County Building and Safety site for current processing notes.
Do you need a permit to fill in a pool in Marin County?
Yes. San Rafael lists swimming pools under its own demolition permit type, next to the demolition of a building or a portion of a structure. In unincorporated Marin, the application goes online to Marin County Building and Safety.
Keep the permit and the final inspection with your house records in San Rafael and Novato; buyers and future contractors ask for them. More on the pool removal page.
What can you build after a pool removal in Marin County?
On sloped Marin lots, the old pool area usually needs grading and drainage first, then turf, pavers or planting. A retaining wall over a certain height needs full plan review in San Rafael, and an ADU, addition or deck footings need a full removal with compacted fill.
| Where | Rule |
|---|---|
| San Rafael, pool removal | Its own demolition permit type, next to buildings and portions of structures |
| San Rafael, plan review | Retaining walls over a certain height and decks need full plan review |
| Unincorporated Marin | Apply online to Marin County Building and Safety in San Rafael |
On sloped Marin lots, a retaining wall over a certain height needs full plan review in San Rafael, so plan it into the schedule. Compare full pool removal, artificial turf and paver patios, or read what you can build after a partial removal.
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
Guides for Marin County homeowners
FAQ
Marin County questions
Planning a project in Marin County?
Share your Marin County address by phone or text, Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, or browse the full FAQ.
Call (650) 404-7049Does Cicarelli Contractors work in all of Marin County?
Yes. Cicarelli Contractors works in 7 cities in Marin County, including San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, Sausalito, Tiburon and San Anselmo. Unincorporated communities in the county can usually be confirmed with a quick call. Every job starts with a free on-site estimate and a written quote within 24 hours.
Do you need a licensed contractor for pool demolition in Marin County?
Yes. California's Contractors State License Board licenses this work under classifications such as B General Building, C-21 Building Moving and Demolition and C-53 Swimming Pool. Cicarelli Contractors holds B license #1109419. Before you hire anyone in Marin County, ask for the license number and look it up on the CSLB website.
How do I apply for a building permit in Marin County?
In unincorporated Marin, apply online to Marin County Building and Safety, part of the Community Development Agency at 3501 Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. In San Rafael, a pool removal is its own demolition permit type. Cicarelli Contractors prepares the application, pulls the permit and schedules each inspection.
How long does a pool removal take in Marin County?
It depends on plan review and the slope. In San Rafael, a minor permit issues faster than one that needs full plan review, which applies to retaining walls over a certain height and decks. On sloped Marin lots, excavation, drainage and wall work usually come before any pavers or turf.
Does a retaining wall need a permit in San Rafael?
A taller one does. San Rafael lists retaining walls over a certain height among the projects that need a permit with full plan review, along with decks, foundation work and structural changes. Plan review takes longer than a minor permit, so Cicarelli Contractors builds it into the schedule for sloped Marin lots.
How do I get a free estimate in Marin County?
Send photos of your yard and your address in San Rafael, Novato and Mill Valley or anywhere else in Marin County through the free estimate form, or call or text (650) 404-7049. Cicarelli Contractors visits, measures the work and sends a written quote within 24 hours that lists the work, the permit and the schedule.