Pool Builder & Pool Remodeling in South Pasadena, CA
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Last modified: 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
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Image: Pool with a fire table, lounge chairs and paver decking set in turf at sunset
- South Pasadena
Design · Permit · Build
Pool & Spa Remodeling in South Pasadena
We build new pools and spas, and remodel the ones already in the ground.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for South Pasadena Homes
South Pasadena is a small city that takes its architecture seriously, and we plan for that from the first sketch. Much of what we touch here is a century old, so we treat the existing house as a design constraint rather than a blank slate. Our scopes account for historic review, protected oaks, tight rear-alley access, and electrical systems that were never sized for a pool heater or a detached studio.
Most parcels are modest by San Gabriel Valley standards: long, narrow lots with generous street trees and detached garages set at the rear. Hillside neighborhoods trade flat yard for slope and view.
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 South Pasadena: Residential permits come from the Building Division of the Community Development Department, with entitlements handled by the Planning Division in that same department. Because so much of the housing stock is historic, alterations, additions, and demolitions affecting designated resources go before the Cultural Heritage Commission for a Certificate of Appropriateness.
The city's tree ordinance protects all oak species and other mature protected trees, requiring a removal permit and replacement planting, with steep fines for unpermitted removal. The Raymond Fault Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone crosses the city.
State law exempts most individual one- and two-story wood-frame single-family homes from its fault-study requirement, but cities can set stricter rules, so we check parcels inside the zone early.
Permit details checked September 2026 against City of South Pasadena , South Pasadena Municipal Code and State of California . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- Cultural Heritage Commission submittals
- Rear-alley ADU and pool access planning
- Service and sewer lateral upgrades
- 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 South Pasadena
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
Hillside tracts on the southwest side climb quickly, so pools and outdoor rooms there usually need retaining walls, pier-supported decks, and engineered drainage rather than simple flat-yard construction.
02
Craftsman and Victorian houses commonly sit on shallow unreinforced foundations with knob-and-tube remnants and undersized panels, so pool equipment and detached-unit loads usually force a service upgrade.
03
Deep, narrow lots with rear alleys are common, which favors detached ADUs but limits excavator size and often means conveyor or crane access for gunite.
04
Original clay sewer laterals under mature parkway trees are frequently root-intruded, and they get discovered during trenching for new backyard structures.
Areas we serve in South Pasadena:Altos de MontereyMission WestGarfield ParkRaymond Hill
Investment
What It Costs in South Pasadena
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 South Pasadena property
The Process
How We Work in South Pasadena
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 South Pasadena that submittal goes to City of South Pasadena Community Development Department, Building Division.
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 South Pasadena Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in South Pasadena?
City of South Pasadena Community Development Department, Building Division. Residential permits come from the Building Division of the Community Development Department, with entitlements handled by the Planning Division in that same department.
Because so much of the housing stock is historic, alterations, additions, and demolitions affecting designated resources go before the Cultural Heritage Commission for a Certificate of Appropriateness. The city's tree ordinance protects all oak species and other mature protected trees, requiring a removal permit and replacement planting, with steep fines for unpermitted removal.
The Raymond Fault Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone crosses the city. State law exempts most individual one- and two-story wood-frame single-family homes from its fault-study requirement, but cities can set stricter rules, so we check parcels inside the zone early.
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 South Pasadena different?
Most parcels are modest by San Gabriel Valley standards: long, narrow lots with generous street trees and detached garages set at the rear. Hillside neighborhoods trade flat yard for slope and view. One local condition that shapes the work: Hillside tracts on the southwest side climb quickly, so pools and outdoor rooms there usually need retaining walls, pier-supported decks, and engineered drainage rather than simple flat-yard construction.
Which parts of South Pasadena do you work in?
All of it, including Altos de Monterey, Mission West, Garfield Park and Raymond Hill. 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 South Pasadena?
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 South Pasadena
Backyard & Outdoor Living in South Pasadena ADUs & Additions in South Pasadena Kitchen, Bath & Interior Remodeling in South Pasadena Plans, Permits & Design in South Pasadena Everything we build in South Pasadena
Pool & Spa Remodeling Nearby
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Planning Guides
Before You Build in South Pasadena
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
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 Pool Coping Options: Concrete, Stone and Porcelain Coping runs $28 to $55 per lineal foot in concrete, $55 to $110 in natural stone and $60 to $120 in porcelain. On an average pool perimeter that is a $2,500 to $11,000 decision. Read guide
Planning a Pool in South Pasadena?
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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