Pool removal in California
Pool demolition in California needs a city permit and backfill rules that vary from Los Angeles to Elk Grove, using California labor rates.
Most pool removals in California land between $3,500 and $8,000, according to Angi, though taking a concrete pool all the way out can cost more.
Your price depends on the kind of pool you have, how much of it comes out, and what your city requires, so one call to a local pool demolition company gets you a written price for your yard.
California prices by pool type
These figures begin with Angi's national ranges, then move upward for California pay rates. Labor is pricier in this state: California construction laborers average $31.19 an hour, while the US average is $25.02, based on May 2025 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Kind of pool | National range | Type of work | California range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete or gunite | $2,500 to $10,000 | Fill-in only | $3,000 to $12,000 |
| Concrete or gunite | $4,000 to $16,000 | Full removal | $4,800 to $19,200 |
| Fiberglass | $5,000 to $15,000 | Removed | $6,000 to $18,000 |
| Vinyl liner | $3,000 to $10,000 | Removed | $3,600 to $12,000 |
| Above ground | $475 to $2,500 | Taken apart and hauled away | $575 to $3,000 |
The national numbers are from Angi's pool removal cost guide. These ranges are estimates, not a quote for your pool, and the crew visits your yard before giving you a written price.
Should the pool be filled in or fully removed?
Our price tool shows both fill-in and full-removal estimates for concrete and gunite pools. With a fill-in, workers break up part of the structure and leave the rest of the shell buried beneath the soil. With full removal, the entire shell is hauled off.
Filling in is the cheaper route. Taking everything out costs more, but it can matter if you want to build on that spot later, since some cities limit what can sit over an old pool.
Fill it in
$3,000–$12,000 in California
- Time in the yard
- 1–3 days
- Build there later?
- Usually not
- Tell a buyer?
- Yes: the bottom of the pool stays buried. Show the permit and the compaction report.
Take it all out
$4,800–$19,200 in California
- Time in the yard
- 3–7 days
- Build there later?
- Usually, once the town approves the packed fill
- Tell a buyer?
- Show the permit and the compaction report.
Permit rules in 4 California cities
Rules change from city to city, and these 4 examples show how wide the gap can be. You don't have to sort these rules out alone, so ask the crew about your city when you call.
Los Angeles. Any pool fill-in requires a grading permit, meaning city approval to move soil and compact it. If a structure will go there later, the soil must be packed to 90 percent or better and verified, and the shell has to leave the site. Source: the city's building and safety department.
Unincorporated Orange County. The work falls under a demolition permit. Crews break two or more 12-inch openings through the pool floor, then set 12 inches of rock. When no structure is planned, the upper 18 inches may be planting soil, the county's public works office says.
San Jose. A building permit is required ahead of any pool or spa demolition or abandonment. On top of that, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District must issue a demolition job number, even if no asbestos is involved, the city's permit center explains.
Elk Grove. If the pool stays buried, it must be broken out to a depth of at least 18 inches, and two 3-by-3-foot openings must go through the floor. Afterward, nothing can be built on top of the old pool or closer than 5 feet to it, per the City of Elk Grove.
If you may build on the pool site later, call now so a nearby crew can plan the work to fit your city's rules.
How you get a written price
A single call connects you with a pool demolition company serving your area. Our number connects you straight to an independent pool demolition company that works in your part of California.
- Use the call button to reach the company assigned to your area.
- Describe your pool and yard so the crew understands the work.
- The crew sets a visit to look at the pool in person.
- You receive a written price.
Ready to get your yard back? Call now, tell them about your pool and yard, and they'll book a visit and give you a written price.
Get a crew to look at your yard
The ranges tell you what is usual. Once a crew sees your pool, the access, and the fill, they will give you a real written quote.