Pool Builder & Pool Remodeling in Whittier, CA
Source: https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/swimming-pool-spa/whittier
Last modified: 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
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Image: Sunken fire-pit lounge with built-in seating below a modern home at twilight
- Whittier
Design · Permit · Build
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Whittier
We build new pools and spas, and remodel the ones already in the ground.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for Whittier Homes
Whittier's hillside zoning chapter can be amended or repealed only by a vote of the people, and where the city's zoning rules conflict on a hillside property, it tells the Planning Commission and City Council to give preference to protecting the natural environment.
The city also has four locally designated historic districts, from Hadley-Greenleaf, where the Craftsman bungalow is the predominant style, to College Hills, subdivided in 1923 on land that was once part of Worsham Ranch, where many properties have panoramic views.
In College Hills even the retaining walls, the original street lamps and the Canary Island pines along Bryn Mawr Way and Philadelphia Street are listed as contributing features of the district. A backyard plan here starts with three questions: whether the lot is zoned H-R, whether it sits in a historic district, and where it falls on the state fire hazard map.
Hillside parcels in the H-R zone take their lot area, building site and building heights from each approved hillside development plan. Elsewhere, new R-1 lots generally must be at least 7,000 square feet and new R-E estate lots at least 15,000, buildings including accessory buildings may cover no more than 40 percent of the lot in either zone, and heights top out at 35 feet in R-1 and 30 feet in R-E.
Where an R-1 neighborhood is predominantly single story, the city may limit or prohibit second-story additions.
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 Whittier: Projects are first evaluated by the Planning Services Division, then go through plan review and permit issuance with the Building & Safety Division, both part of the Community Development Department. In the H-R Hillside Residential zone no building permit is issued until a hillside development plan is approved, and later buildings and structures must be found consistent with that approved plan.
In the Hadley-Greenleaf, Central Park, College Hills and Earlham historic districts, alterations, additions and new improvements need a Certificate of Appropriateness, or a waiver, before a permit is issued. Additions or accessory structures under 500 square feet and ADUs of 800 square feet or less that are not visible from a public right-of-way can qualify for the waiver when they follow the preservation and design guidelines.
Permit details checked September 2026 against Whittier Municipal Code . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- Hillside development plan and grading design
- Certificate of Appropriateness submittals
- Brush clearance and fire-retardant roofing on H-R lots
- Enclosed pool equipment placement
- Retaining wall and pool-fence detailing
- 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 Whittier
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
In the H-R Hillside Residential zone, cuts and fills may not exceed 20 feet in height or a 2:1 slope, ground of 50 percent slope or steeper cannot be graded except to correct earlier grading, landslides or unstable soil, and each building and structure must fit the natural landform as closely as possible.
02
CAL FIRE's 2025 Local Responsibility Area map shows parts of the northern hills, near Hellman Park, Rideout Way and Turnbull Canyon Road, in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The city code treats every H-R lot as high fire risk, requiring fire-retardant roofing and native brush cleared for at least 20 feet around each habitable structure, replanted with fire-resistant cover on automatic sprinklers.
03
The California Geological Survey's Alquist-Priolo fault trace map shows the Whittier Fault, part of the Elsinore Fault Zone, crossing the eastern part of the city, and any hillside development plan must show the location of known fault lines.
04
Pool equipment may project into a required yard only inside a fully enclosed structure, and then no more than four feet or 40 percent of the yard's width, whichever is less. Walls and fences in interior side and rear setbacks are generally limited to six feet, the same height allowed for a see-through pool enclosure fence in an interior side yard.
Areas we serve in Whittier:Uptown WhittierHadley-GreenleafCentral ParkCollege HillsFriendly Hills
Investment
What It Costs in Whittier
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 Whittier property
The Process
How We Work in Whittier
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 Whittier that submittal goes to City of Whittier Community Development Department, Building & Safety 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 Whittier Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in Whittier?
City of Whittier Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division. Projects are first evaluated by the Planning Services Division, then go through plan review and permit issuance with the Building & Safety Division, both part of the Community Development Department.
In the H-R Hillside Residential zone no building permit is issued until a hillside development plan is approved, and later buildings and structures must be found consistent with that approved plan. In the Hadley-Greenleaf, Central Park, College Hills and Earlham historic districts, alterations, additions and new improvements need a Certificate of Appropriateness, or a waiver, before a permit is issued.
Additions or accessory structures under 500 square feet and ADUs of 800 square feet or less that are not visible from a public right-of-way can qualify for the waiver when they follow the preservation and design guidelines. 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 Whittier different?
Hillside parcels in the H-R zone take their lot area, building site and building heights from each approved hillside development plan. Elsewhere, new R-1 lots generally must be at least 7,000 square feet and new R-E estate lots at least 15,000, buildings including accessory buildings may cover no more than 40 percent of the lot in either zone, and heights top out at 35 feet in R-1 and 30 feet in R-E.
Where an R-1 neighborhood is predominantly single story, the city may limit or prohibit second-story additions. One local condition that shapes the work: In the H-R Hillside Residential zone, cuts and fills may not exceed 20 feet in height or a 2:1 slope, ground of 50 percent slope or steeper cannot be graded except to correct earlier grading, landslides or unstable soil, and each building and structure must fit the natural landform as closely as possible.
Which parts of Whittier do you work in?
All of it, including Uptown Whittier, Hadley-Greenleaf, Central Park and College Hills. 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 Whittier?
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 Whittier
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Whittier ADUs & Additions in Whittier Everything we build in Whittier
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Planning Guides
Before You Build in Whittier
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 Whittier?
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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