Walnut Creek Pool Demolition
Pool and spa shells broken out and hauled away, then the hole filled and compacted, with the city permit filed online.
Learn more about walnut creek pool demolition
Walnut Creek Pool Removal, Pavers and Retaining Walls
Cicarelli Contractors is a general contractor with CSLB License #1109419 (B General Building), based in Richmond. From Parkmead and Larkey Park to Castle Hill and Lakewood, we remove pools and concrete, build paver driveways, retaining walls, turf and patios, and submit the city permit through its online portal.
- City of Walnut Creek permits filed online
- CSLB License #1109419
Contra Costa County
Hillside Lots Below Mount Diablo
Walnut Creek was incorporated in 1914 as the eighth city in Contra Costa County. It spreads across the San Ramon and Ygnacio valleys below the western slopes of Mount Diablo, where I-680 meets Highway 24, so many backyards here are sloped and call for retaining walls.
The Building Division at City Hall, 1666 North Main Street, now takes every building permit type through its Accela online portal. Some neighborhoods with a Walnut Creek address are unincorporated and fall under the county instead, so we confirm the jurisdiction first.
Services
Pools, Hardscape and Walls Built for Sloped Yards
Comparing general contractors in Walnut Creek for a pool removal, new pavers or a retaining wall? One licensed crew does the demolition, base preparation and finish work, and files the city permit online.
Get A Free EstimateConcrete Removal for Walnut Creek Homes
Old patios, driveways and pool decks broken out, and a compacted base prepared for new concrete or pavers.
Learn more about concrete removal for walnut creek homes
Paver Driveways in Walnut Creek
Large-format and interlocking paver driveways that handle cars and look finished from the curb.
Learn more about paver driveways in walnut creek
Retaining Walls on Diablo Slopes
Engineered block walls for hillside lots; walls over 4 feet from the bottom of the footing, or holding a surcharge, need a city permit.
Learn more about retaining walls on diablo slopes
Artificial Grass, Walnut Creek
Low-water turf on a drained base that keeps a lawn green through hot valley summers.
Learn more about artificial grass, walnut creek
Patio Roofs, Grills and Seating Areas
Covered patios, outdoor kitchens and seating areas built where the pool or old slab used to be.
Learn more about patio roofs, grills and seating areas
On video
Watch a Retaining Wall Go Up in Walnut Creek
The first clip was filmed on a retaining wall job in Walnut Creek. The others follow pool demolitions in San Ramon, Hillsborough and Vacaville, with the same crew you would hire.
Watch On YouTubeWhy hire us
Reasons Valley Homeowners Choose a Licensed Hardscape Crew
4.9★
Rating on Google, 45 reviews
1914
Year the city incorporated
4ft
Exempt wall height, bottom of footing
License You Can Check
CSLB License #1109419, B General Building, with an active contractor's bond on file.
Written Quote in 24 Hours
We measure on site and send the written estimate within 24 hours of the visit.
Online Permits, Booked Inspections
We upload plans to the city portal and request inspections online, by email or by phone.
A Written 1-Year Workmanship Warranty
Each job includes a 1-year workmanship warranty that starts at completion.
Before and after
Real Before-and-After Results, Slider by Slider
Move each slider to see finished Cicarelli projects from around the Bay Area. Walnut Creek homeowners can book the same pool-to-patio and turf conversions.
See All Projects
BeforeAfterWhere the Pool Was, a Paver Patio
Pool removal and pavers
BeforeAfterBackfilled Pool Under New Turf
Pool removal and artificial turf
BeforeAfterBare Gravel Replaced With Turf and Pavers
Turf and paver border
How it works
The Path From Estimate to Accela Final
A single point of contact handles the visit, the portal and the inspections.
Start With A Free Estimate- Step 01
Slope and Access Check
We measure the yard and look at grade, drainage and equipment access.
- Step 02
Scope and Permit in Writing
The written estimate covers the work, the permit and the sequence.
- Step 03
Plans Uploaded to Accela
We submit the application and PDF plans through the city online portal.
- Step 04
Demo, Haul and Compact
The pool or slab is removed, debris hauled off and the base compacted.
- Step 05
Inspections Requested
We request each inspection online, by email or on the inspection line.
- Step 06
Final Surface and Handover
Pavers, walls, turf or a patio go in, with a 1-year workmanship warranty.
Two Google Reviews in the Customers' Own Words
These two Google reviews appear exactly as written: one on a paver carport, one on a backyard project.
Kevin WilliamsPaver carport & new fence
Just this past week, I hired Cicarelli Contractors to install a carport. Initially I wanted concrete but after speaking with Athalyson and being educated on pavers instead of regular concrete we decided to go with his recommendation. And to our surprise the pavers turned out to be the correct choice versus a concrete slab. The color that we chose really compliments the paint that’s on the house. Cicarelli did an incredible job. They followed the timeline to completion to a tee and each day they worked at my home they always cleaned up before they left for the day. We are so excited how everything turned out, our neighbors constantly come over to say how beautiful the pavers look. To my surprise they completed the work in one week. Not only did they have to prep the work they also had to remove 3 large trees and the existing fence and replace it with a new one. Still hard to believe they did all that work in a short period of time and at the end everything looks very professional.
Melissa DaltonBackyard project
This Company is amazing there work is Better then I could have imagined! and there employees the nicest!
Diablo Valley Cities Around Walnut Creek
Seven nearby cities, each reviewed by its own building department.
Pleasant Hill
Directly north of Walnut Creek along I-680 and Contra Costa Boulevard. Pleasant Hill reviews its own building permits at its city hall.
Services in Pleasant Hill
Concord
East and northeast across Ygnacio Valley, the county's largest city. Projects there go to the City of Concord, not Walnut Creek.
Services in Concord
Danville
South down I-680 past Alamo, in the San Ramon Valley. The Town of Danville publishes its own pool demolition rules.
Free estimate in Danville
Martinez
North up I-680 past Pleasant Hill, on the shore of the Carquinez Strait. Martinez has its own city building division.
Free estimate in Martinez
San Ramon
Farther south on I-680, past Danville. San Ramon issues its own permits, and one of our pool demolition videos was filmed there.
Services in San Ramon
Dublin
Across the county line in Alameda County, where I-680 meets I-580. Dublin is in the Tri-Valley and handles its own building permits.
Free estimate in Dublin
Oakland
West through the Caldecott Tunnel on Highway 24. Oakland runs a separate demolition and grading permit process.
Services in Oakland
Walnut Creek Among Its Diablo Valley Neighbors
The center pin is Walnut Creek; dots mark the nearby cities in the list.
Walnut Creek, CAServed by our Richmond crew
Diablo Valley pins
Permits
Walnut Creek Building Permits, Portal and Inspections
The City of Walnut Creek Building Division requires a permit when you add structures to your property or physically change it, and every building permit type is applied for through its Accela online portal. Inspections are requested online, by email or by voicemail, and Cicarelli Contractors handles the application and scheduling.
Rules from the city building pages
- Building permits are required when you add structures to your property or physically change your property, and an after-hours permit is needed for construction on Saturdays and city holidays, per the building permits page.
- Retaining walls not over 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, are exempt unless they support a surcharge, and so are sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade, according to the city's work not requiring a permit page.
- All building permit types are applied for on the city's online permit portal, and inspections can be requested online, by email to inspectionrequest@walnutcreekca.gov or by voicemail at 925-943-5833, per the building inspections page.
Moving here from another city? Our pool demolition permit guide compares how permits for pools differ.
Local guide
Walnut Creek Permits for Pools, Walls and Hardscape, Explained
Any pool removal, retaining wall or paver project in Walnut Creek, CA that physically changes the property needs a city building permit, filed through the online Accela portal. Cicarelli Contractors prepares the PDF plans, submits the application, requests the inspections and builds the finished hardscape.
What is the process to apply for a Walnut Creek building permit?
Register for an account on the city's Accela portal and apply online, since all building permit types are submitted there. Upload one PDF of the construction plans, signed and stamped when a design professional prepared them, plus a separate PDF for calculations or product specifications.
Questions go to building staff at 925-943-5834 or buildingtech@walnutcreekca.gov. We prepare and upload the plans for pool, concrete and wall projects.
Is a permit required for a retaining wall in Walnut Creek?
Only above the exemption. The city exempts retaining walls not over 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless the wall supports a surcharge such as a sloped yard, a driveway or a structure. Anything taller, or carrying that kind of load, goes through the permit portal.
On hillside lots near Mount Diablo, a wall with a slope above it usually counts as surcharged. We check both the height and the load before quoting.
What does removing a pool in Walnut Creek involve?
Pool removal physically changes the property, so it goes through a city building permit. The pool is drained, the shell is broken out or removed, debris is hauled away and the hole is backfilled and compacted, with inspections requested through the portal, by email or by phone.
If you might build an ADU or addition over the old pool, plan for full removal and compacted fill. See the options on our pool removal page.
| Topic | Walnut Creek |
|---|---|
| Building Division | City Hall, 1666 North Main Street |
| How to apply | Accela online permit portal, all permit types |
| Inspections | Online, inspectionrequest@walnutcreekca.gov or 925-943-5833 |
| Retaining wall exemption | Up to 4 ft from bottom of footing, no surcharge |
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
Further Reading for Diablo Valley Homes
FAQ
Answers for Walnut Creek Homeowners
Ready to Talk About Your Walnut Creek Yard?
Our crew drives over from Richmond for every job. Call or text Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or check the full FAQ.
Call (650) 404-7049What happens if you pour concrete without a permit?
Some flatwork is exempt in Walnut Creek, such as sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade. Work that does need a permit and skips it can be cited, may have to be opened up for inspection or removed, and can come up during a home sale. Checking first costs far less trouble.
What documents are required for a building permit in Walnut Creek?
The city asks for one PDF of the construction plans, signed and stamped if a design professional prepared them, and a separate PDF for Title 24 documents, structural calculations or product specifications. Plans at 11 by 17 inches are preferred, and incomplete submittals are not routed for review.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Walnut Creek?
Not for a wall up to 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, as long as it does not support a surcharge. A wall holding back a slope, a driveway or a building needs a permit at any height, so we check the load as well as the height.
What are the ways to request a Walnut Creek building inspection?
Request it online through an Accela account linked to the permit, email inspectionrequest@walnutcreekca.gov before midnight the day before, or leave a voicemail at 925-943-5833 with the permit number, address and inspection type. Then confirm the time window between 8 and 8:30 am on inspection day.
Why do some contractors avoid pulling permits?
Usually to save time or to hide that they are not licensed for the work. An unpermitted job leaves the homeowner exposed at resale and if something fails. A licensed contractor you can verify on the CSLB website should file the permit and be present for the inspections.
Is the Walnut Creek estimate free, and how do I request it?
Send your address and some photos of the yard through the free estimate form, or call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm. After we measure on site, the written quote reaches you within 24 hours.