Demolition Contractors in Arcadia, CA

Arcadia sees a steady stream of teardown-and-rebuild projects, and demolition contractors in Arcadia have to work within a detailed city procedure for older buildings. The city, incorporated in 1903 and home to 56,681 residents in 2020, sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains about 13 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Its population grew from 9,122 in 1940 to 23,066 in 1950, as the postwar boom turned chicken ranches into residential lots, and building continued through the 1950s and 1960s. Many of those houses are now being replaced.

The 50-year rule

Arcadia's Certificate of Demolition procedure applies to structures 50 years or older, or whose age cannot be determined. For those, a qualified architectural historian evaluates the property and completes state DPR 523 forms, paid for by the applicant. The Certificate of Demolition application is filed together with the design review application. Within 30 calendar days of receiving it, the Development Services Director or a designee evaluates the request. If demolition is acceptable, the demolition permit can be issued once a building permit for the replacement structure has been issued. If there is substantial evidence of historical significance, the application can go to the Planning Commission, which brings mailed notice to owners within 300 feet and a hearing. Demolishing a 50-year-old structure without an approved certificate is a misdemeanor.

In practice, that means the demolition date in Arcadia is tied to your new home's approvals. We coordinate with your designer so we are ready to start as soon as both permits are in hand.

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Arcadia's own demolition history

The city has made hard calls before. In 1999 the council approved demolition of the historic Anoakia mansion, a 50-room, roughly 17,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance Revival house completed in 1913, and in 2000 the estate was cleared for 31 luxury home sites. Other landmarks survive: Santa Anita Park, which opened in 1934 and is California Historical Landmark No. 934, and Lucky Baldwin's Queen Anne Cottage from 1885 to 1886.

Large lots, big hardscape

Arcadia lots are often generous, with pools, long driveways, block walls and mature landscaping. Teardowns here usually include removing the pool and hardscape along with the house. Before demolition, South Coast AQMD requires a certified asbestos survey and a notification 10 working days ahead. Call (213) 377-6198 to talk about your timeline.