Pool Demolition in San Ramon
Full or partial pool removal with the shell broken out, debris hauled off and fill compacted, with grading and street permits checked first.
Learn more about pool demolition in san ramon
San Ramon Pool Removal, Concrete and Paver Contractor
Cicarelli Contractors removes pools and builds hardscape in San Ramon as a CSLB-licensed general contractor (License #1109419). From Crow Canyon to Dougherty Valley, we demolish pools and concrete, backfill and compact the ground, and build pavers, retaining walls, turf and outdoor living spaces, with the permit filed online.
- San Ramon CSS permit portal handled
- CSLB License #1109419
Contra Costa County
A San Ramon Valley City Under Mount Diablo
San Ramon lies in the San Ramon Valley at the southern end of Contra Costa County, 34 miles east of San Francisco, with Mount Diablo rising to the northeast. It is the fourth-largest city in the county and borders Danville to the north and Dublin across the Alameda County line. Neighborhoods range from the older streets off San Ramon Valley Boulevard to the newer, master-planned Dougherty Valley.
Building and Safety Services at City Hall on Bollinger Canyon Road issues permits, and permitting is completely online through the Citizen Self Service portal. In engineered grading developments such as Dougherty Valley, some exemptions that apply elsewhere in town do not.
Our services
Pool Demolition and Hardscape From the Same Crew
Need pool removal in San Ramon, or a new patio once the pool is gone? We break out the shell, haul the debris, backfill and compact, then build pavers, turf, walls or an outdoor kitchen on solid ground.
Get A Free EstimateConcrete and Deck Removal
Pool decks, patios and driveways broken up and cleared, leaving a compacted base ready for the next surface.
Learn more about concrete and deck removal
Paver Patios Around Trees and Pools
Pavers laid in rings, curves and borders over a compacted base, for patios, pool surrounds and front walks.
Learn more about paver patios around trees and pools
Retaining Walls on Hillside Lots
Single and two-tier block walls with lighting and drainage; walls in Dougherty Valley are reviewed differently.
Learn more about retaining walls on hillside lots
Artificial Grass With Stone Paths
Turf lawns over a drained base, combined with flagstone or paver paths through the yard.
Learn more about artificial grass with stone paths
Shaded Cooking and Dining Areas
Covered patios, outdoor kitchens and fire features built where a pool or bare slab used to be.
Learn more about shaded cooking and dining areas
On video
Watch a Pool Demolition We Filmed in San Ramon
The first clip shows our crew demolishing a pool in San Ramon. The others follow pool demolitions in Hillsborough and Vacaville and a retaining wall in Walnut Creek.
Watch On YouTubeWhy choose us
Why San Ramon Homeowners Trust Us With the Pool
4.9★
Rated on Google, 45 reviews
50yd³
Grading that needs a city permit
4ft
Wall exemption outside Dougherty Valley
State License on Record
CSLB License #1109419, B General Building, with an active contractor's bond.
Written Quote Next Day
We measure on site and send the written estimate within 24 hours.
Permits Filed Through CSS
We apply in the city's Citizen Self Service portal and request inspections there.
Warranty on Our Work
A 1-year workmanship warranty from completion is part of every contract.
Before and after
Former Pools and Slopes, Rebuilt
Move each slider to compare real Cicarelli jobs. The first is our Burlingame project; the others show pool-to-lawn and hillside work we offer to San Ramon homeowners.
See All Projects
BeforeAfterPool Out, Gazebo and Pavers In
Burlingame · Pool removal, pavers and turf
BeforeAfterHillside Yard With New Steps
Steps and turf on a slope
BeforeAfterA Lawn Over the Old Pool
Pool removal and turf
Step by step
How We Take a San Ramon Pool Out
One contact keeps you updated from the first visit to the final sign-off.
Start With A Free Estimate- Step 01
Site Visit and Access Check
We check the pool, the slope and how equipment reaches the backyard.
- Step 02
Quote With Permits Listed
The written estimate names the building, grading and encroachment permits the job may need.
- Step 03
Applications in CSS
We submit everything through the city's Citizen Self Service portal.
- Step 04
Drain, Break Out, Haul
The pool is drained, the shell is broken out and debris leaves the site.
- Step 05
Backfill and Inspections
Fill goes in compacted lifts, and we request inspections through CSS.
- Step 06
New Yard, 1-Year Warranty
Turf, pavers or a patio finish the space, with a 1-year workmanship warranty.
Two Google Reviews in the Reviewers' Own Words
Both are quoted word for word from our Google Business Profile and come from Bay Area customers, not necessarily San Ramon residents.
Gloria McLaughlinFinished in 4 days
Very professional. It was explained what was going to be done.
They were done in 4 days. Other companies gave us a time limit of 2 weeks. Hard workers. We will use this company again. We need more work done.
Tim McGawPool demolition
Did a great job of demolishing old pool! Would hire again.
Neighboring Cities Up and Down the Valley
The closest cities to San Ramon, on both sides of the county line.
Danville
The town directly north along I-680 and the Iron Horse Trail. Danville issues its own permits and has a published pool demolition handout.
Free estimate in Danville
Dublin
Just south across the Alameda County line, where I-680 meets I-580. Yard permits there come from the City of Dublin.
Free estimate in Dublin
Pleasanton
South of Dublin in the Amador Valley, reached down I-680. Pleasanton homeowners apply through that city's permit center.
Free estimate in Pleasanton
Walnut Creek
North past Danville and Alamo, at the I-680 and Highway 24 junction. The City of Walnut Creek permits work inside its limits.
Services in Walnut Creek
Livermore
East over the Tri-Valley along I-580, past Dublin and Pleasanton. Livermore reviews and issues its own building permits.
Free estimate in Livermore
Pleasant Hill
North of Walnut Creek in central Contra Costa. Pleasant Hill takes permit applications through its PHill Online Service Center.
Services in Pleasant Hill
Concord
At the north end of the valley, beyond Walnut Creek. The City of Concord files permits through its Virtual Permit Center.
Services in Concord
San Ramon and the Tri-Valley on the Map
The central pin is San Ramon; the dots are the neighboring cities listed next to the map.
San Ramon, CAVideo job site · San Ramon Valley
Permits
San Ramon Permits for Pools, Walls and Grading
San Ramon Building and Safety Services issues building permits for work outside the public right-of-way, and permitting is completely online through the Citizen Self Service portal. Grading over 50 cubic yards, or a hole 5 feet deep, needs a separate grading permit from Engineering. Cicarelli Contractors files these applications and requests the inspections.
San Ramon requirements we plan around
- Retaining walls not over 4 feet from the bottom of the foundation to the top of the wall are exempt, unless supporting a surcharge (a cut in a hillside creates one) or located within an engineered grading development such as Dougherty Valley, per the city's California code permit exemptions page.
- Grading permits are required for moving 50 cubic yards or more, or digging a hole or trench 5 feet deep or more, and an encroachment permit is needed for work in the street or for parking a dumpster there, per the city's permit center FAQ.
- Applications, fee estimates and inspection requests all go through the Citizen Self Service (CSS) portal, and the permit type cannot be changed once submitted, per the Permit Center page.
See how San Ramon stacks up against other Bay Area cities in our pool demolition permit guide.
Local guide
Pool Removal in San Ramon: Permits, Grading and Next Steps
Pool removal in San Ramon, CA can involve more than one permit: a building permit, a grading permit when enough soil moves or the dig is deep, and an encroachment permit if a dumpster sits on the street. Cicarelli Contractors sorts out which ones apply, files them through CSS, removes the pool and builds the yard that replaces it.
How do you demolish a pool in San Ramon?
The pool is drained, the shell is broken out with an excavator and breaker, and the concrete is hauled away or partly left in the bottom, depending on the method. The hole is then backfilled and compacted. Because a pool dig is often 5 feet deep or more, a grading permit may apply.
Watch the short video above to see how our crew handled a pool demolition in San Ramon.
Do retaining walls in San Ramon need a permit?
Walls up to 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the foundation to the top, are exempt unless they support a surcharge, and the city notes that a cut in a hillside creates one. The exemption also does not apply inside an engineered grading development such as Dougherty Valley, so those walls need review.
Many San Ramon lots sit on cut slopes, so we check how the wall will be loaded before quoting it.
What permits does pool removal in San Ramon need?
Usually a building permit from Building and Safety Services. If the work moves 50 cubic yards of soil or more, or digs 5 feet deep or more, Engineering also requires a grading permit. Parking a dumpster on the street calls for an encroachment permit. All of them are filed through CSS.
Full removal with compacted fill is the better fit if you may build an ADU or addition later. Compare the options on our pool removal page.
| Topic | San Ramon |
|---|---|
| City permit office | Building and Safety Services, 7000 Bollinger Canyon Rd |
| How to apply | Online through Citizen Self Service (CSS) |
| Grading permit | 50 cubic yards or more, or a 5 ft deep hole or trench |
| Retaining wall exemption | Up to 4 ft, no surcharge, not in Dougherty Valley |
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
Guides for Pool Owners and Planners
FAQ
San Ramon Pool and Yard Questions
Thinking About Removing a San Ramon Pool?
Call or text us Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, with your questions, or read the full FAQ first.
Call (650) 404-7049Is a grading permit needed to remove a pool in San Ramon?
Often, yes. The city requires a grading permit for moving 50 cubic yards or more, or for excavating a hole or trench 5 feet deep or more. Many pool removals reach one of those limits, so we check the pool depth and fill volume during the site visit and include the permit when it applies.
What if I build without a permit?
Unpermitted work can be reported to Building and Safety Services, which enforces the city's building codes, and it can cause trouble when you sell or insure the home. Fixing it later usually means opening up finished work for inspection. It is simpler to get the permit before the project starts.
Are Dougherty Valley yards treated differently?
Yes, in some cases. The 4-foot retaining wall exemption does not apply within engineered grading developments such as Dougherty Valley, and the area has its own zoning standards and design guidelines. We check those rules, and any HOA approval, before designing a wall or patio there.
Do I need a permit for a dumpster on my street?
Yes. The city lists parking a dumpster on the street as work that needs an encroachment permit. On pool removal jobs where the bin or trucks must use the street, we include that permit in the plan, or we keep loading on your driveway when there is enough room.
Which contractor did the pool demolition in your San Ramon video?
Our own crew. Cicarelli Contractors filmed that pool demolition on one of our jobs in San Ramon, and you can watch it on this page or on our YouTube channel. You can confirm our License #1109419 and bond status on the CSLB website before you hire us.
What is the first step to price my pool removal?
Send photos of the pool and the side yard through the free estimate form, or phone or text (650) 404-7049 from Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm. On the visit we measure the pool, the depth and the equipment access, and the written quote arrives within 24 hours.