Pleasant Hill Pool Removal, Either Method
Full removal with engineered backfill, or a cave-in fill where nothing will be built on top. Both methods need a building permit here.
Learn more about pleasant hill pool removal, either method
Pool Removal and Pavers for Pleasant Hill Backyards
Cicarelli Contractors is a CSLB-licensed general contractor (License #1109419) for yards across Pleasant Hill, from Gregory Gardens to the streets near Diablo Valley College. We remove pools and old concrete, build paver walkways, patios, retaining walls and turf lawns, and handle the city permit when the job needs one.
- Pleasant Hill Building Division filings
- CSLB License #1109419
Contra Costa County
A Central County City of Quiet Residential Streets
Pleasant Hill sits in central Contra Costa County between Concord, Walnut Creek and Martinez. It incorporated in 1961 and is home to Diablo Valley College, College Park High School and the Iron Horse Regional Trail. Many lots date from the postwar years, so plenty of backyards still hold an original pool or a tired slab.
The Building Division at City Hall on Gregory Lane issues permits for homes in town, and applications, fees and inspections run through the PHill Online Service Center. Unincorporated addresses nearby, such as parts of Pacheco, are permitted by Contra Costa County.
Services
Yard Work We Take On, From Breakout to Final Surface
Searching for a general contractor in Pleasant Hill for a backyard project? We handle the demolition, the base and the new hardscape under one contract, and tell you up front which parts need a city permit.
Get A Free EstimateOld Concrete Broken Out
Patios, walks and pool decks demolished and hauled away, with the ground graded and compacted for what comes next.
Learn more about old concrete broken out
Paver Walkways and Patios
Curved front walks and backyard patios in interlocking pavers, laid over a compacted base with a clean border.
Learn more about paver walkways and patios
Block Retaining Walls
Segmental block walls that hold a slope or frame a planter, built with drainage gravel and a perforated pipe behind them.
Learn more about block retaining walls
Turf for Side Yards and Lawns
Artificial grass over a drained base for narrow side yards, dog runs and full backyard lawns.
Learn more about turf for side yards and lawns
Pergolas and Patio Spaces
Pergolas, seat walls and fire pits on new pavers; anything fixed to the ground gets a building and zoning permit.
Learn more about pergolas and patio spaces
Video
Clips From Our Recent Jobs
Watch our crew at work in San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Vacaville and Fremont: pool demolitions, a retaining wall and a pool replaced by an outdoor living space. Pleasant Hill projects get the same team.
Watch On YouTubeThe difference
Reasons Pleasant Hill Homeowners Call Our Crew
4.9★
Average across 45 Google reviews
1961
The year the city incorporated
2
Ways to remove a pool, both permitted
Licensed, Bonded, Verifiable
CSLB License #1109419, B General Building, with an active bond on file.
Written Quote After One Visit
After the site visit, a written estimate reaches you within 24 hours.
Online Service Center Handled
We submit the application and plans and schedule the building inspections online.
One Year of Coverage
Every job carries a 1-year workmanship warranty from the day we finish.
Before and after
Pools and Lawns We Have Turned Around
Drag the sliders to compare real Cicarelli jobs. The Burlingame pool became turf, pavers and a gazebo; the others show pool-to-lawn and front-yard turf work we also do in Pleasant Hill.
See All Projects
BeforeAfterFrom Swimming Pool to Green Lawn
Pool removal and artificial turf
BeforeAfterA Gazebo Where the Pool Was
Burlingame · Pool removal, pavers and turf
BeforeAfterFront Lawn Without the Mowing
Turf with stepping stones
Our process
Six Steps to a Finished Pleasant Hill Yard
You deal with one contact person for the whole job.
Start With A Free Estimate- Step 01
Look at the Yard Together
We check the pool or slab, access for equipment and where water drains.
- Step 02
Pick the Removal Method
Full removal or cave-in, chosen around what you want to build later.
- Step 03
Permit Through PHill Online
Application and plans go in through the city's Online Service Center.
- Step 04
Shell Out, Fill Compacted
The shell or concrete comes out and fill goes in, compacted in layers.
- Step 05
Inspections on the Schedule
We book each building inspection so the job keeps moving.
- Step 06
New Hardscape, Warranty On
Pavers, turf or a pergola are installed with a 1-year workmanship warranty.
What Two Google Reviewers Wrote
Two reviews pasted word for word from Google; they describe our Bay Area work, not specific Pleasant Hill homes.
Marcos GynDrainage installation
very good work, drainage was perfect, works very well.
Hurrem SultanaBackyard project
If I had another project, I wouldn't think twice and they would hire them again because they are clean people at work, flexible with hours and very professional.
Nearby Cities Our Crew Covers
Close neighbors of Pleasant Hill and the office that permits work in each.
Concord
Right across the eastern line, the largest city in the county. A yard project in Concord is filed with its Building Division through the Virtual Permit Center.
Services in Concord
Walnut Creek
Just south, where Treat Boulevard and Geary Road cross into downtown Walnut Creek. Permits there are issued by the City of Walnut Creek.
Services in Walnut Creek
Martinez
North over the hill along Pleasant Hill Road and Alhambra Valley. Martinez handles permits for homes inside its own city limits.
Free estimate in Martinez
Danville
A short way south on I-680, past Walnut Creek and Alamo. Danville is a town with its own permit office and pool demolition rules.
Free estimate in Danville
San Ramon
Farther down the San Ramon Valley, at the southern end of the county. The City of San Ramon runs permits online through its CSS portal.
Services in San Ramon
Pittsburg
Northeast past Concord on Highway 4, near Suisun Bay. Projects there need a permit from the City of Pittsburg.
Free estimate in Pittsburg
Benicia
Across the Carquinez Strait in Solano County, over the Benicia Bridge from Martinez. The City of Benicia issues its permits.
Free estimate in Benicia
Pleasant Hill on the Contra Costa Map
The main pin marks Pleasant Hill; the dots show the neighboring cities listed beside the map.
Pleasant Hill, CACentral Contra Costa, near DVC
Towns ringing the hill
Permits
Permits for Yard Work in Pleasant Hill
The City of Pleasant Hill Building Division issues building permits for homes in town, and applications, fees and inspections are handled online through the PHill Online Service Center. Pool removal needs a building permit whichever method you choose, while flatwork such as driveways and patios generally does not. Cicarelli Contractors files and tracks the permit for you.
Pleasant Hill rules worth knowing
- There are two ways to remove a pool: dig it out and fill the hole with engineered backfill, which allows habitable structures on top, or cave it in, which does not; both require a building permit, per the city's Building Division FAQ.
- Ground work such as driveways, pathways and patios does not need a building permit, but an encroachment permit from Engineering is needed if the work reaches the street, curb or gutter, per the same city FAQ and the encroachment and grading permits page.
- The PHill Online Service Center is used to apply for all building permits, upload plans, pay fees and schedule building inspections, and construction is allowed Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., per the permits and handouts page.
Our pool demolition permit guide breaks down how each Bay Area city handles a pool teardown.
Local guide
Pool Removal and Hardscape in Pleasant Hill: A Local Guide
Planning a pool removal, paver or concrete project in Pleasant Hill, CA? The Building Division permits pool removal under either method and handles applications online. Cicarelli Contractors helps you choose the method, files the permit, removes the pool or slab and builds the new patio, walkway or lawn.
What can you build without a permit in Pleasant Hill?
According to the city's Building Division, ground work such as driveways, pathways and patios does not need a building permit, and neither does a deck no more than 30 inches above grade. A shed up to 120 square feet skips the building permit but still needs a planning zoning permit.
Exempt work still has to meet the codes. Anything with electricity, or a pergola fixed to the ground, needs a building permit.
Should I remove my pool completely or cave it in?
It depends on your plans for the space. The city allows full removal with engineered backfill, which lets you build habitable structures there later, or a cave-in, which rules that out. Both methods need a building permit. If an addition or ADU is a possibility, full removal keeps that door open.
We explain both options on site and price them side by side, so the choice is clear before any concrete breaks.
Do I need a permit to replace my driveway in Pleasant Hill?
Not a building permit. The city treats driveways, pathways and patios as ground work that does not require one. However, if the new driveway touches the street, curb or gutter, Engineering requires an encroachment permit, applied for through the same PHill Online Service Center used for building permits.
For the differences between filling and fully removing a pool, see our pool removal page.
| Topic | Pleasant Hill |
|---|---|
| City permit office | Building Division, City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane |
| How to apply | PHill Online Service Center |
| Pool removal | Building permit for full removal or cave-in |
| Driveways and patios | No building permit; encroachment permit if in the street |
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
Helpful Reading Before You Build
Explore Central County Pages
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- Bathroom remodeling in Pleasant Hill
- House painting in Pleasant Hill
FAQ
Pleasant Hill Project Questions
Planning Yard Work in Pleasant Hill?
Reach us by phone or text Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or browse the full FAQ for quick answers.
Call (650) 404-7049What happens if I pour concrete without a permit?
In town, a plain driveway, path or patio slab is ground work that does not need a building permit. Pouring into the street, curb or gutter without an encroachment permit is a different story. For work that does need a permit, the city warns that unpermitted work is illegal and can complicate the sale of your home.
Do I need a permit to put gravel in my yard?
A gravel bed or path counts as ground work, which the Building Division says does not need a building permit. Large amounts of grading are a separate question handled by Engineering, which publishes a grading permit handout. If your project moves a lot of soil, we check that handout before the work starts.
Can I build over the spot where my pool was?
Only if the pool was fully removed and the hole was filled with engineered backfill. The city does not allow habitable structures over a pool that was caved in. If you might add a room or an ADU later, full removal is the method to choose from the start.
How do I know a contractor is licensed?
Ask for the license number and look it up on the CSLB website, which shows the classification, bond and any complaints. Cicarelli Contractors holds License #1109419 in the B General Building class, with an active bond. Also make sure the contractor will be the one listed on your permit.
Who can pick up my permit if a contractor is listed?
For residential projects, the city releases the permit and approved plans only to the contractor listed on it, because the contractor's signature must be on the permit. When we run your job, we handle the application, the pickup and the inspections, so you do not have to.
How do I start with a no-cost estimate here?
Fill in the free estimate form with your address and what you want built, or reach us at (650) 404-7049 by call or text, Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. We come out, measure the pool or slab, and email a written quote within 24 hours of that visit.