Pool Demolition With Planning Approval
The city requires Planning approval and a building permit before any demolition; we file both, break out the shell and compact the fill.
Learn more about pool demolition with planning approval
Oakland Pavers, Concrete and Pool Demolition by a Licensed Crew
Cicarelli Contractors is a CSLB-licensed general contractor (License #1109419, B General Building) based in Richmond, across the county line. From Montclair and the hill streets above Highway 13 to Rockridge, the Dimond and Fruitvale, we lay pavers, replace concrete, demolish pools, build retaining walls and handle the city permits.
- Planning and building approvals handled
- CSLB License #1109419
Alameda County
Lake Merritt, the Hills and the Flatlands in Between
Oakland incorporated in 1852 and is the Alameda County seat, with about 440,000 residents spread from the waterfront flatlands to the hills along the county line. Lake Merritt, named the first official wildlife refuge in the United States in 1870, sits beside downtown.
Projects here go through the Planning & Building Department, whose One-Stop Permit Center is at 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. Hillside work deserves extra planning, since the city sets grading thresholds and a wet-weather season when no grading is allowed.
Our services
Pavers, Concrete and Walls for Hill and Flatland Homes
Comparing pavers and concrete for an Oakland driveway, or need a pool gone first? One crew handles the breakout, the grade and the new surface, and files the demolition and building permits the city requires.
Get A Free EstimateOakland Concrete Contractor for Driveways and Slabs
Old driveways, walks and patios broken out and replaced, with the recycling plan filed that every city permit needs.
Learn more about oakland concrete contractor for driveways and slabs
Paver Driveways and Patios From Rockridge to the Dimond
Pavers on a compacted base, in charcoal, brick red or large-format styles, with edge restraints that hold on sloped streets.
Learn more about paver driveways and patios from rockridge to the dimond
Retaining Walls for Oakland Hill Lots
Block walls for sloped yards. Past 4 feet from the footing, or with a surcharge, a wall needs a permit, and big cuts may need grading approval.
Learn more about retaining walls for oakland hill lots
Turf Lawns With Flagstone and Paver Paths
Artificial turf on a drained base, paired with flagstone or paver paths in yards where grass struggles.
Learn more about turf lawns with flagstone and paver paths
Outdoor Kitchens Under a Covered Patio
Covered patios, outdoor kitchens and fire pits built on the space a pool or slab used to fill.
Learn more about outdoor kitchens under a covered patio
Video
Pool Demolitions and a Wall, Filmed on Our Jobs
Watch our crew on four real jobs: a retaining wall in Walnut Creek and pool demolitions in Fremont, San Ramon and Hillsborough. The same team and equipment handle Oakland projects.
Watch On YouTubeWhy Cicarelli
How We Handle City Approvals, Slopes and Cleanup
4.9★
Rating on Google, 45 reviews
1852
Year Oakland incorporated
50cu yd
Earthwork volume in the city grading test
Licensed B Contractor With a Bond
CSLB License #1109419 for general building work, plus an active contractor's bond.
Estimate Within 24 Hours of the Visit
Once we have measured the yard, a written estimate follows within 24 hours.
Online Permit Center Filings
We submit plans through the Online Permit Center and request inspections with the city's inspection app.
1-Year Workmanship Warranty, in Writing
The warranty is part of the contract and starts when the job is done.
Before and after
Drag the Slider: Pool Areas and Yards We Rebuilt
Each pair shows a finished Cicarelli job in the Bay Area. Oakland homeowners can hire the same pool-to-patio, turf and hillside work.
See All Projects
BeforeAfterPavers Where the Pool Deck Was
Paver patio after pool removal
BeforeAfterA Gazebo Yard on a Former Pool Site
Burlingame · Pool removal, pavers and turf
BeforeAfterTerraced Steps and Turf on a Slope
Hillside yard with steps and turf
Our process
Permits First, Then the Dig: How an Oakland Job Runs
Approvals come before any demolition, and one contact keeps you updated through the final inspection.
Start With A Free Estimate- Step 01
Site Walk and Slope Check
We measure the yard and check slope, access and how much soil will move.
- Step 02
Written Scope and Plan
The estimate spells out the work, the permits and the season for any grading.
- Step 03
Planning and Building Approval
Planning approval and the building permit are filed online, with the recycling plan.
- Step 04
Demolition Under Permit
With approvals in hand, the pool or slab is broken out and hauled away.
- Step 05
Compaction and Inspection App
Fill is compacted and each inspection is requested through the city's app.
- Step 06
Pavers, Turf or Patio, Then Warranty
The new surface goes in, backed by our 1-year workmanship warranty.
Word-for-Word Reviews From Our Google Profile
Two Google reviews quoted exactly as written. They describe our crew and our work, and they are not tied to any local address.
Jose CorreiaGutter installation
Found this company through Google actually. Got a quick response for a gutter installation job - they communicated promptly and showed up right on time - same day - made it so easy! I worked really hard and did a great job cutting branches and changing all the gutters. Pay attention to details. Definitely recommend! Will hire again as it is licensed in California with competitive prices and manufactures all types of Builders
Andy LiPool demolition
Cicarelli just completed our pool demolition job promptly and professionally. I was very pleased that he was able to start so quickly. And I would recommend him. It was very convenient for me that he was able to text me updates and send me photos along the way of the work done. Super for the great work completed!
Cities That Border or Sit Near Oakland
The city touches several neighbors, and each one runs its own permit counter.
Alameda
Across the estuary from downtown and Jack London Square, an island city with its own permit office. Its permits are not issued by Oakland.
Services in Alameda
Berkeley
North of Rockridge and Temescal, with hill streets that continue Oakland's own. Berkeley's Permit Service Center issues permits there.
Services in Berkeley
San Leandro
South of East Oakland along I-880 and the bay. Projects there are permitted by the City of San Leandro.
Free estimate in San Leandro
Albany
Two cities north, beyond Berkeley, small and mostly flat. The Albany Building Division takes applications through Cloudpermit.
Services in Albany
Hayward
Farther south, beyond San Leandro, with neighborhoods climbing into the East Bay hills. Hayward permits come from the City of Hayward.
Free estimate in Hayward
El Cerrito
North past Berkeley and Albany, the first Contra Costa city up I-80. The City of El Cerrito issues its own permits.
Services in El Cerrito
Richmond
The city where Cicarelli Contractors is based, up I-80 past the county line. Richmond's Building Division handles permits inside its limits.
Services in Richmond
Oakland and Surrounding Cities on One Map
Oakland is the highlighted pin, and the dots are the nearby cities listed above, from Alameda to our Richmond base.
Oakland, CAAlameda County seat, served from Richmond
Oakland-area places on the map
Permits
City of Oakland Permits for Demolition, Grading and Hardscape
Oakland's Planning & Building Department issues permits through its One-Stop Permit Center and the Online Permit Center, open around the clock. Every demolition, a pool included, needs Planning approval and a building permit before work starts, and every building permit needs an approved recycling plan. Cicarelli Contractors prepares and files both.
Requirements From the City Website
- All demolitions require Planning approval and a building permit before any demolition work may begin, and projects that disturb paint on pre-1978 structures must also upload a Lead-Based Paint Work Plan, per the city's demolition permits page.
- Retaining walls not over 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, are exempt from a building permit unless they support a surcharge, per the work exempt from a building permit page.
- A grading permit is needed when excavation or fill exceeds 50 cubic yards on a slope over 20 percent or with more than 5 feet of vertical cut or fill, and the wet-weather moratorium bars grading from October 15 to April 15, per the grading permits page.
- Every Oakland building permit needs an approved Recycling Plan before it is issued and a Summary Report before the final inspection can be scheduled, per the construction and demolition page.
- Inspections are requested through the Oakland Inspection Request App, and questions go to Building Services at (510) 238-3444, per the building inspections page.
Oakland is only one of many permit offices; our pool demolition permit guide walks through several of them.
Local guide
Pavers or Concrete in Oakland? Permits, Grading and Pool Sites
Choosing pavers or concrete for an Oakland home often starts with what has to come out first: an old slab, a pool or part of a slope. Cicarelli Contractors handles the city approvals, the demolition and the grading, then builds the paver patio, driveway or concrete surface on a compacted base.
How do I get a building permit from the City of Oakland?
Apply through the Online Permit Center, which is open 24/7, or visit the One-Stop Permit Center at 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, where the permit counters are on the second floor. Before any permit is issued, the city needs an approved recycling plan, and it also offers Rapid Same-Day digital permits for qualifying work.
The building counter is at 510-238-3891. We prepare the drawings, the recycling plan and the application for paver, concrete and pool demolition jobs.
When does Oakland require a grading permit?
When excavation or fill passes 50 cubic yards and the slope exceeds 20 percent, or the cut or fill is more than 5 feet deep, among other triggers that include smaller earthwork near a property line. From October 15 to April 15, the wet-weather moratorium allows no grading operations at all.
A pool removal on a sloped lot can move a lot of soil, so we check the grading triggers during the estimate visit.
Should I choose pavers or concrete for my driveway?
Both hold up on a well-compacted base. Pavers come in many colors and patterns and can be lifted and reset in sections when a repair is needed, while poured concrete gives one continuous surface. On sloped streets in the hills, edge restraints and drainage matter for either choice.
If an old pool or slab must go first, our pool removal page explains how the fill is placed and compacted.
| Topic | Oakland |
|---|---|
| Permit office | One-Stop Permit Center, 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza |
| How to apply | Online Permit Center, open 24/7 |
| Demolition | Planning approval and a building permit first |
| Grading season | No grading Oct 15 to Apr 15 |
| Inspections | Oakland Inspection Request App or 510-238-3444 |
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
Oakland Homeowner Reading List
FAQ
Common Questions About Oakland Projects
Want a Site Visit in Oakland?
Call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or check the full FAQ for more answers.
Call (650) 404-7049Does Cicarelli Contractors work in Oakland?
Yes. Our crew is based in Richmond and takes paver, concrete, pool demolition, retaining wall and turf projects across the city, from the hills to the flatlands. Each job starts with a site visit and a free written estimate that lists the work and the permits involved.
What's the difference between a contractor and a general contractor?
A specialty contractor is licensed for one trade, such as concrete or landscaping. A general contractor with a California B license can take on projects that combine several trades and coordinate the whole job. Cicarelli Contractors holds a B General Building license, which you can confirm on the CSLB website.
Is it better to hire a general contractor for a yard project?
When the job mixes demolition, grading, concrete, pavers and turf, usually yes. One licensed firm pulls the permits, schedules the work and answers for the result, so nothing falls between separate contracts. For a single small task, a specialty contractor may be all you need.
When is the grading moratorium in Oakland?
Every year from October 15 to April 15, the wet-weather season, when the city allows no grading operations. Projects that move enough soil to need a grading permit should plan the earthwork outside that window. We plan the schedule around those dates during the estimate visit.
Is a permit required to take out a pool in Oakland?
Yes. Removing a pool is demolition work, and the city requires Planning approval and a building permit before any demolition begins. The application also needs an approved recycling plan and a BAAQMD asbestos demolition acknowledgment letter. We prepare all of it as part of the job.
How do I book a free estimate in Oakland?
Call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or send your address and a few photos through the free estimate form. We visit, measure the yard and the slope, and send a written quote within 24 hours of the visit.