Pool Builder & Pool Remodeling in Santa Monica, CA
Source: https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/swimming-pool-spa/santa-monica
Last modified: 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
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Image: Modern pool with in-water loungers beside a two-story home
- Santa Monica
Design · Permit · Build
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Santa Monica
We build new pools and spas, and remodel the ones already in the ground.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for Santa Monica Homes
Working here means designing for a narrow lot with an alley behind it and neighbors close on both sides. We plan pool excavation and material staging around permit-parking blocks and the city's construction-hour limits, and we check early whether a property falls inside the coastal zone or is old enough that demolition triggers landmark review. Salt air also shapes which metals, fasteners and finishes we are willing to put outdoors.
Mostly flat, modest rectangular lots on a tight grid, many of them alley-loaded with shallow rear yards and close side-yard neighbors. Larger estate parcels appear north of Montana Avenue.
We are a design-build team, which means the people who draw your project are the people who build it. Design, engineering, permits and construction run through one project manager and our own crews, so nothing gets lost in a handoff between a salesperson and a subcontractor. We are licensed, bonded and insured, CSLB license #1119054 .
Permits in Santa Monica: Residential building, grading and swimming pool permits are issued by the city's own Building and Safety Division at the Permit Services Center, not by Los Angeles. Properties inside the coastal zone still need a coastal development permit from the California Coastal Commission, because the city has a certified Land Use Plan but not yet a fully certified Local Coastal Program; a memorandum of understanding with the Commission was signed in 2026 to complete it.
Any demolition application for a structure more than 40 years old is transmitted to the Landmarks Commission for landmark review before it can move forward. Review durations vary by project and by whether coastal or historic review applies.
Permit details checked September 2026 against City of Santa Monica . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- Coastal zone screening before design is finalized
- Alley and crane-based pool access planning
- Pre-demolition landmark review for older homes
- New gunite pool and spa construction
- Full pool remodels and replastering
- Pebble, quartz and plaster interior finishes
- Waterline tile and coping replacement
- Raised and attached spas with spillways
- Baja shelves, benches and sun ledges
- Water features, fire bowls and sheer descents
- Equipment upgrades, heaters and automation
- Pool decking in pavers, concrete or travertine
- LED lighting and salt-water conversions
Local Conditions
What to Know in Santa Monica
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
Parcels along the coastline, plus a small area on the eastern edge of the Pico Neighborhood, lie in the state-mapped liquefaction zone, which can push pool shells and ADU foundations toward deeper structural engineering.
02
Standard lots with rear alleys leave narrow side yards, so excavation spoils and gunite material typically move through the alley or over the house by crane.
03
Marine air within a mile of the water corrodes exposed fasteners, railings and equipment, so outdoor kitchens and pool gear get specified in stainless or powder-coated assemblies.
04
Housing stock from the 1920s through the 1940s often still carries undersized service panels and galvanized supply lines that must be upgraded before new outdoor loads are added.
Areas we serve in Santa Monica:North of MontanaSunset ParkOcean ParkWilmontMid-CityPico
Investment
What It Costs in Santa Monica
Real Southern California price ranges, not teaser numbers.
New pool construction
$70,000 to $150,000+
What moves it: size and shape, spa, water and fire features, decking material, automation, and how much access and grading the site needs
Pool remodel and resurfacing
$15,000 to $45,000
What moves it: finish choice (plaster versus pebble or quartz), tile and coping replacement, new equipment, and whether the deck is being replaced at the same time
Paver patio and hardscape
from about $13,000
What moves it: square footage, paver type, base preparation, drainage, and any steps or retaining involved
Your lot, access and finishes set the price. We walk the site, then show you where every dollar goes.
Get a line-item price for your Santa Monica property
The Process
How We Work in Santa Monica
01
Site Review
We walk the property, check access, soil and slope, and confirm what the yard can actually take.
02
Design & 3D
You see the pool in 3D before anything is dug, with finishes, tile and decking chosen.
03
Plans & Permits
We draw the plans, handle engineering where the site needs it, and pull the permits. In Santa Monica that submittal goes to City of Santa Monica Building and Safety Division (Community Development Department).
04
Excavation & Shell
Dig, steel, plumbing and gunite. This is where site access and grading matter most.
05
Finishes
Tile, coping, decking and your chosen interior finish go in.
06
Startup & Handover
We fill, balance the water, commission the equipment and walk you through every control.
Questions
What Santa Monica Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in Santa Monica?
City of Santa Monica Building and Safety Division (Community Development Department). Residential building, grading and swimming pool permits are issued by the city's own Building and Safety Division at the Permit Services Center, not by Los Angeles.
Properties inside the coastal zone still need a coastal development permit from the California Coastal Commission, because the city has a certified Land Use Plan but not yet a fully certified Local Coastal Program; a memorandum of understanding with the Commission was signed in 2026 to complete it.
Any demolition application for a structure more than 40 years old is transmitted to the Landmarks Commission for landmark review before it can move forward. Review durations vary by project and by whether coastal or historic review applies.
We prepare the drawings, make the submittal and handle plan-check corrections ourselves, so you are not the one chasing plan check.
What makes building in Santa Monica different?
Mostly flat, modest rectangular lots on a tight grid, many of them alley-loaded with shallow rear yards and close side-yard neighbors. Larger estate parcels appear north of Montana Avenue. One local condition that shapes the work: Parcels along the coastline, plus a small area on the eastern edge of the Pico Neighborhood, lie in the state-mapped liquefaction zone, which can push pool shells and ADU foundations toward deeper structural engineering.
Which parts of Santa Monica do you work in?
All of it, including North of Montana, Sunset Park, Ocean Park and Wilmont. Our crews run every job out of our Cahuenga Pass base in Los Angeles, with our own people on site.
What does a pool or spa project cost in Santa Monica?
New pool construction: generally $70,000 to $150,000+ across Southern California. What moves it is size and shape, spa, water and fire features, decking material, automation, and how much access and grading the site needs. We give line-item pricing after seeing the site rather than quoting a number over the phone.
How long does a pool remodel take?
A straightforward replaster with new tile and coping usually runs three to five weeks. A full remodel that includes new decking, equipment and features typically runs eight to twelve weeks. Site access and permit timing are the two things that move that most.
How long does a new pool take to build?
Most new pool builds run about three to five months from permit to first swim. Hillside sites that need engineered retaining or difficult access sit at the longer end of that range.
Should I replaster or fully remodel?
If the shell and plumbing are sound and you only dislike the surface, replastering with new tile and coping is the efficient choice. If the equipment is aging, the deck is cracked or the shape no longer suits how you use the yard, a full remodel costs less than doing it in two separate phases.
Do you self-perform the work?
Yes. Our own crews handle the build rather than passing it to a rotating set of subs, which is why the schedule and the finish standard stay consistent.
More Services in Santa Monica
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Santa Monica ADUs & Additions in Santa Monica Kitchen, Bath & Interior Remodeling in Santa Monica Plans, Permits & Design in Santa Monica Everything we build in Santa Monica
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Planning Guides
Before You Build in Santa Monica
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
Santa Monica Outdoor Living Cost on a Small Lot Santa Monica rear yards are small and the rules are not. Line-item costs for a 600 sq ft yard, on-site stormwater budgets, coastal review and the dimensions that make a tight space work. Read guide Building a Pool in Northridge: Costs and Permits A new pool in Northridge typically runs $85,000 to $165,000 all-in with decking and equipment. The tract lots are generous, the soil is workable, and the real variables are access, spa and deck square footage. Read guide Van Nuys Pool and Backyard Costs A new pool in Van Nuys runs $75,000 to $145,000, and a pool-plus-backyard package $110,000 to $220,000. Flat lots keep excavation honest; older service panels and gas meters are where budgets slip. Read guide Travertine vs Porcelain Pavers for SoCal Yards Travertine installs at roughly $22 to $30 per square foot, porcelain at $24 to $34. The real difference is heat, staining and how each one handles a chlorinated pool deck over ten years. Read guide
Planning a Pool in Santa Monica?
Sit down with your project manager and get an accurate estimate. We call you back within one business day.
Book a Consultation 818-300-2393
Licensed, bonded & insured · CSLB license #1119054
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