Pool removal in Florida

The ranges below come from Angi's 2026 figures, scaled to Florida wages for construction laborers. That average is $21.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared with $25.02 nationwide.

Concrete and gunite pools share the same price range in this guide. After a crew visits your yard, you'll receive a written quote. The sooner you call, the sooner a crew can see your yard and give you a price in writing, so your budget rests on real figures, not guesses.

With a fill-in, workers punch holes through the bottom for drainage and pack the shell with soil. A full removal means the entire shell comes out and gets hauled off.

A fill-in tends to cost less and finish faster, per HomeAdvisor.

Each city sets its own rules, so which permit you need comes down to your location.

• Tampa: no permit is needed when the decking stays in place, drainage openings are made in the concrete floor, and the pool is backfilled with soil. Taking out the pool plus the deck counts as a demolition filing.
• Sarasota: a demolition permit is required. The bottom must have two or more drainage holes, each 12 inches wide, with one near the shallow side and one near the deep side.

When you call, tell the crew where the pool is and ask what the job will require.

Under Florida law, Chapter 556, you have to reach out to Sunshine 811 no less than two full business days ahead of any digging. Your call day, weekends, and holidays don't count toward that window. This gives time for underground lines to get marked before work begins.

Orange County wants the water checked before any draining happens. Chlorine needs to read 0.01 mg/L or lower, with pH between 6.5 and 8.0. Ask the crew about the drain rules where you live.

The state's demolition licensing only applies to structures taller than 50 feet and buildings over three stories, so a backyard pool isn't covered, per the state licensing board. Florida does offer swimming pool specialty licenses that cover excavation, so ask each crew which licenses they carry.

Sarasota cautions that ground over a filled pool won't safely hold a room addition or deck until a soils engineer has looked it over. Planning to build on that spot someday? Mention it to the crew before work starts.

A single call connects you with a pool demolition company serving your area. They'll ask a few questions about your pool and yard, schedule a visit, and hand you a written price.