Backyard Pool Removal and Fill
Pool shell demolished and hauled off, the hole backfilled in compacted layers, ready for turf or a patio.
Learn more about backyard pool removal and fill
San Pablo Landscaping and Hardscape: Turf, Pavers and Pool Removal
Cicarelli Contractors holds CSLB License #1109419 (B General Building) and works from Richmond, the city that wraps around this one on nearly every side. We replace worn lawns with turf, lay paver patios and driveways, build block walls, remove pools and old slabs, and prepare the city permit paperwork.
- City of San Pablo permit papers prepared
- CSLB License #1109419
Contra Costa County
A Small City Wrapped by Its Larger Neighbor
San Pablo covers 2.6 square miles on a plain between the northern Berkeley Hills and San Pablo Bay, though its limits stop short of the shoreline. It incorporated in 1948, and Wildcat Creek and San Pablo Creek both cross town. The Hayward Fault runs along its northeastern edge.
Permits come from the Building Division at City Hall, 1000 Gateway Avenue, not from Richmond. Before applying, the city asks you to confirm the address is inside its limits; streets in Tara Hills, Bayview or Montalvin share the mailing address but sit outside the city and go to Contra Costa County.
Landscaping and hardscape
Lawns, Paths and Patios Rebuilt From the Base Up
Searching for landscaping in San Pablo, CA that goes beyond mowing? We take on the hard parts of a yard: removing old surfaces, grading, compacting and building turf, pavers and walls.
Get A Free EstimateSan Pablo Concrete Demolition
Old slabs, cracked driveways and pool decks broken out and removed, with the ground prepared for what comes next.
Learn more about san pablo concrete demolition
Paver Driveways and Side Yards
Interlocking pavers on a compacted base for driveways, patios and side yards, set with tight joints and solid edges.
Learn more about paver driveways and side yards
Block Walls for Grade Changes
Retaining walls that hold back soil where a yard steps up, with drainage gravel and a pipe behind the blocks.
Learn more about block walls for grade changes
Artificial Grass for San Pablo Yards
Turf over a drained base for front lawns, side yards and play areas that stay green without regular watering.
Learn more about artificial grass for san pablo yards
Fire Pit Patios and Seating
Round fire pits, seat walls and paver patios that turn an unused back yard into a place to gather.
Learn more about fire pit patios and seating
Real jobs on video
Pool Demolitions and a Wall, Filmed on Site
These clips come from our jobs in Vacaville, Fremont and Walnut Creek: two Vacaville pools, one demolished and one turned into outdoor living, a Fremont pool demolition and a Walnut Creek retaining wall. The same crew works in San Pablo.
Watch On YouTubeClose by, fully licensed
Reasons Neighbors Here Call a Crew From Across the City Line
4.9★
Google rating across 45 reviews
1948
Year the city incorporated
2.6sq mi
Land inside city limits
A License Number You Can Look Up
CSLB License #1109419, B General Building, backed by an active contractor's bond.
Estimate Sent Within 24 Hours
After we measure the yard, a free written estimate reaches you within 24 hours.
City Paperwork Assembled
We put together the scope, the job value and the signed contract the Building Division asks contractors to provide.
12 Months of Workmanship Coverage
Every finished job carries a 1-year workmanship warranty, stated in the contract.
Before and after
Three Yards, Before the Crew and After
Drag the sliders to see real Cicarelli jobs from other Bay Area cities. Tired lawns, gravel and old pools like these show up on lots in town as well.
See All Projects
BeforeAfterCurb Appeal Without a Sprinkler Schedule
Front yard artificial turf
BeforeAfterWhere the Pool Was, a Lawn Now
Pool removal and turf
BeforeAfterPavers and Turf Over Bare Gravel
Gravel yard rebuilt
Step by step
How We Take a Yard Here From Visit to Final
The same contact answers your calls from the first visit to the last inspection.
Start With A Free Estimate- Step 01
Walking the Lot Together
We look at the yard, the access for equipment and anything that has to be removed.
- Step 02
A Written Scope and Estimate
You get the scope of work, the permit plan and the job order in writing.
- Step 03
Permit Package
We submit the signed scope, job value and contract, plus plans if the city needs them.
- Step 04
Tear-Out, Grade, Compact
Old surfaces come out, debris is hauled away and the ground is graded and compacted.
- Step 05
Inspections by Phone
The Building Division books inspections Monday to Thursday through its main line.
- Step 06
Final Surface, Warranty Starts
Turf, pavers or a patio go in, covered by our 1-year workmanship warranty.
Two Unedited Reviews From Our Google Profile
Both are reproduced word for word from Google. They speak to our work and our crew, not to the reviewer's address.
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.
Julia DCrew & communication
Great Job. Good communication. Hard working crew.
Just Outside the City Line
The places closest to town, with the agency that handles permits for each one.
Richmond
The larger city that surrounds this one on nearly every side, and the base our crew works from. Addresses there are permitted by the City of Richmond.
Services in Richmond
El Sobrante
Up San Pablo Dam Road to the east, in the hills. As an unincorporated community, it gets its building permits from Contra Costa County.
Services in El Sobrante
Pinole
A few exits north on I-80, past Hilltop. Pinole issues its own permits and takes every application online through eTRAKiT.
Services in Pinole
El Cerrito
South down San Pablo Avenue, beyond the Richmond Annex. Its Building Division at City Hall handles permits for homes inside its limits.
Services in El Cerrito
Hercules
The bayside city past Pinole on I-80, which grew up around the old California Powder Works. Hercules keeps its own permit counter for those homes.
Services in Hercules
Albany
Over the county line in Alameda County, south of El Cerrito. The City of Albany reviews permits for its own residents.
Services in Albany
Berkeley
Farther south in Alameda County, past Albany. A yard or pool job there needs a permit from the City of Berkeley.
Services in Berkeley
This Enclave City and Its Neighbors, Mapped
The highlighted pin marks the city; nearby service cities appear as dots, matching the list beside the map.
San Pablo, CASurrounded by Richmond, our base
Places around the enclave
Permits
Permits for Yard and Pool Projects in San Pablo
The City of San Pablo Building Division issues building permits for addresses inside city limits; homes outside them go to Contra Costa County. Most construction, remodeling and repairs need a permit. Contractors must provide a signed scope of work, the job value and the executed contract, and Cicarelli Contractors prepares that package.
Rules from the Building Division
- Most construction, remodeling and repairs require building permits, and you should first confirm the address is inside city limits, or contact Contra Costa County if it is not, according to the Building Services page.
- A geotechnical report is required for all development east of I-80, including construction, grading and tree removal, because of the soil type, the nearby active fault and a greater landslide potential, per the Building Official notice.
- Contractors pulling a permit must provide a complete scope of work and job value signed by contractor and owner, plus the fully executed contract, and inspections run Monday to Thursday, booked at 510-215-3030, per the permit center information.
- Retaining walls not over 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, need no building permit unless they support a surcharge, while sidewalks and driveways need a permit from the Public Works Department, per the city's Work Requiring a Permit handout.
For a city-by-city look at pool removal permits, read our pool demolition permit guide.
Local guide
What to Know Before Redoing a Yard Inside City Limits
Landscaping in San Pablo, CA often means more than plants: old lawns, pool decks and driveways come out, and new turf, pavers or walls go in. When the work touches a structure, a pool or grading, the city Building Division gets involved, and east of I-80 a soils report can be required.
Which yard style needs the least upkeep?
Hardscape and artificial turf need the least care. Pavers, gravel paths and a turf lawn skip mowing, fertilizer and most watering, and a drip line can feed a few drought-tolerant shrubs. The trade-off is up-front work: the old surface must be removed and the base compacted so nothing settles.
A common mix for a family yard is a turf area, a paver patio and one planting bed along the fence.
Do I need a geotechnical report for a yard project?
Only in some places. The city requires a geotechnical report for development east of I-80, including construction, grading and tree removal, because the soil there sits near an active fault with greater landslide potential. That report comes in addition to the standard soils report.
We check which side of the freeway your address is on during the site visit, so any report is planned before work starts.
What does it take to remove a pool here?
A building permit from the city, a demolition plan and a crew to break out the shell, haul the debris and compact the fill. The Building Division publishes its own demolition permit requirements, and plans may be needed depending on the scope. Inspections are booked by phone, Monday through Thursday.
Full removal suits a lot where you may build later, while a partial removal usually leaves the area off-limits for building. Our pool removal page explains both.
| Topic | San Pablo |
|---|---|
| City permit office | Building Division, 1000 Gateway Avenue |
| Phone | 510-215-3030 |
| Inspections | Monday to Thursday, booked by phone |
| East of I-80 | Geotechnical report required for development |
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
Yard and Patio Reading for Local Homeowners
FAQ
Common Questions From San Pablo Owners
Ready to Redo a Lawn, Driveway or Pool Area?
Our crew sits right across the Richmond border. Phone or text Monday through Saturday between 9 am and 5 pm, or open the full FAQ.
Call (650) 404-7049How close is your crew to San Pablo?
Very close. Cicarelli Contractors works from Richmond, which wraps around the city, so a site visit is simple to schedule. We are licensed by the CSLB under #1109419 in the B General Building class, and we carry an active contractor's bond for every job we take on.
Is my home in the city or in the county?
Check the city limit map on the city website. Some nearby streets, including parts of Tara Hills, Bayview and Montalvin, share the mailing address but sit outside the city, so their permits come from Contra Costa County. We confirm the right office before we file anything.
What is the best time of year to landscape?
Late spring through early fall is the easiest stretch for hardscape and turf, since dry ground compacts well and rain does not stall the work. Planting does best in fall, when cooler weather and the first rains help roots settle. Pool removals also go smoother on dry soil.
Should I choose pavers or concrete for a driveway?
Pavers take more labor to install but are easier to repair, because single units can be lifted and reset. Poured concrete is one continuous slab that can crack and is replaced in sections. Both need a well-compacted base, which is where most driveway problems start.
What does the city ask contractors to provide?
A complete scope of work and the job value, signed by the contractor and the property owner, a copy of the fully executed contract, the contractor's pocket card or written authorization, and valid identification. Plans may be required depending on the scope, which the Building Division confirms by phone.
Can you look at my yard and give me a price?
Yes, at no charge. Call or text (650) 404-7049 between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Saturday, or upload photos with your address on the free estimate form. After the visit, you receive an itemized, written estimate within 24 hours.