Pool removal in Illinois
Pool removal in Illinois starts with a local permit and an 811 call before digging; then a crew paid Illinois rates fills the pool in or takes it out.
- Concrete pool, filled in · 1–3 days
- $3,100–$12,500
- Concrete pool, taken out · 3–7 days
- $5,000–$19,900
US ranges from Angi, set for Illinois construction pay (BLS, May 2025); days from HomeAdvisor.
Pool removal cost calculator
What kind of pool is it?
Not sure? Touch the wall: soft and pressable is vinyl, slick and glossy is fiberglass, rough is concrete.
Last question
Fill it in, or take it all out?
Pool removal in Illinois costs about $6,000 on average across all pool types, and your final price depends on the pool you own and whether it gets filled in or fully removed.
One phone call connects you with a pool demolition company near you, and their crew will ask a few questions about your pool and yard, schedule a visit, and hand you a written quote.
Cost by pool type
Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction laborers in Illinois average $32.51 an hour, while the US average is $25.02. The ranges below begin with Angi's national prices, then get adjusted upward for that pay gap.
| Pool type | What happens | Illinois range |
|---|---|---|
| Above ground | Taken apart and hauled away | $600 to $3,125 |
| Concrete or gunite | Broken up and filled | $3,100 to $12,500 |
| Concrete or gunite | Fully removed | $5,000 to $19,900 |
| Fiberglass | Removed | $6,200 to $18,700 |
| Vinyl liner | Removed | $3,700 to $12,500 |
Nobody can lock in an exact figure without looking at your yard first. Call today and the crew will schedule the visit.
Fill it in or remove it fully
With a concrete or gunite pool, you have 2 routes. Filling in means breaking up part of the pool and packing the hole. A full removal pulls every piece out of the ground.
Filling in costs less and wraps up in 1 to 3 days, per HomeAdvisor. Removing the entire pool runs 3 to 7 days and carries a higher price.
The Illinois home sale disclosure form asks sellers if they're aware of buried pits, settling, or similar soil stability concerns, and it also covers material defects in plumbing, the swimming pool included. Worth remembering if a sale could be in your future, so bring up both choices when the crew comes out.
Fill it in
$3,100–$12,500 in Illinois
- 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
$5,000–$19,900 in Illinois
- 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.
Calling JULIE before you dig
JULIE is Illinois' free service that marks underground utility lines before any digging starts. State law says you need a locate ticket at least 2 days and no more than 10 days ahead of excavation, according to Illinois 811.
The day you file, weekends, and holidays JULIE observes don't count in that window. Your ticket remains valid for 25 days.
Chicago permits and neighbor notice
Any time a job involves demolishing a foundation or a similar structure below ground, at any depth, Chicago calls for an excavation certification known as Form 402. Chicago's form never mentions swimming pools directly, so check with the crew on how it fits your project.
Ahead of filing that form, the owner has to notify neighbors who own adjoining properties in writing. That notice needs to give the start date plus the dimensions of the excavation and any other work below ground.
Who can do the work?
Illinois doesn't license general contractors at the state level, though individual towns can impose their own permit requirements, per the state's regulator.
Within Chicago, most demolition jobs call for a city general contractor license. The carve-out for owners living in the home doesn't extend to excavation or demolition, so a DIY approach won't work there.
Getting a written price
The crew will want to know about your pool, your yard, and how you'd prefer the job done. Since they look at the site themselves, your written price reflects your actual project instead of an average one.
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.