Pool Removal in Los Angeles, CA

Pool removal in Los Angeles usually starts with an old plaster or gunite pool that costs more to keep than it is worth: a cracked shell, a failing deck, high water and energy bills, or a family that no longer swims. Others are removing the pool to make room for an ADU, a garden or a bigger yard before selling. We drain the pool, break out the shell, haul it away or break it in place, and backfill the hole so the yard is level and usable again.

Partial removal versus full removal

There are two common ways to take out an in-ground pool, and the right one depends on what you want to do with that ground later.

Partial removal (fill-in). The top of the shell, usually the upper 18 inches to few feet, is broken off and removed, holes are punched through the floor so water can drain, and the remaining shell is filled with broken material and soil. It costs less and goes faster. The trade-off is that a buried shell stays on the property, which can matter for future building plans and for buyers.

Full removal. The entire shell, the deck and the plumbing are broken out and hauled away, and the hole is backfilled with soil compacted in layers. It costs more, but nothing is left in the ground, and with compaction testing the area can be built on.

Pool demolition is normally permitted work. HomeAdvisor's pool removal guide puts typical permit fees at $50 to $250. In the city of Los Angeles we confirm the requirements with LADBS for your address, and neighboring cities such as Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena have their own building departments and backfill rules.

Why compaction matters here

A pool hole is a large, deep excavation. If it is filled with loose soil and left to settle on its own, the yard can sink for years, and anything built on top can crack. That is why we place fill in lifts and compact each one, and why, for full removals where something will be built, a soils engineer can test and certify the compaction. If you are planning an ADU, a garage or any structure over the old pool, tell us before work starts so the backfill is engineered for it.

Equipment, access and the rest of the yard

Most Los Angeles backyard pools sit behind the house with access along a narrow side yard. We size the equipment to the gap, protect fences, sprinkler lines and planting along the path, and remove the pool equipment pad, lights, electrical bonding and plumbing back to a safe cap. The gas line to a pool heater is shut off and capped as part of the job.

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After the pool is gone

You are left with a level, compacted area ready for lawn, planting, pavers or a slab. We can also remove the surrounding deck and coping at the same time, which is usually cheaper than coming back later. Call (213) 377-6198 and tell us roughly how big the pool is, whether there is a spa, and how wide the side yard access is.