Pool & Spa Contractor in the Bay Area
Get a Free Pool Consultation
Pools Built by a Licensed General Contractor
A backyard pool is a construction project: excavation and soil export, steel and shotcrete, plumbing, electrical bonding, gas for heaters, equipment pads, decking, fencing and landscaping. As a licensed general contractor (CA Lic. #1105006), Axiom Renovation manages the whole job, including permits, engineering and inspections.
We build in-ground concrete pools and spas, plunge pools for smaller lots, spa additions to existing pools, pool decks in pavers, stone or concrete, and the outdoor kitchens, shade structures and lighting around them. Many clients add a pool together with an ADU or a backyard kitchen, and we plan the layout so the pieces work together.
Hardscape and Pool Deck Work
The base preparation and paver work shown here is the same we use around pools. Ask us for photos of recent pool projects during your consultation.
California Pool Safety Rules
The California Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code §115922) requires that a new pool or spa at a single-family home, or a remodel that requires a permit, include at least two of seven drowning prevention safety features:
- An enclosure that isolates the pool from the house
- Removable mesh fencing with a self-closing, self-latching gate
- An approved safety pool cover
- Exit alarms on doors that give direct access to the pool
- Self-closing, self-latching devices on those doors
- A pool alarm that sounds when someone enters the water
- Another means of protection that is equal or greater
A pool enclosure must be at least 60 inches high under the Act, and gates and openings have specific limits. Your city’s building department inspects these items before final sign-off.
Permits, Setbacks and Site Conditions
- Permits: a pool needs a building permit plus electrical, plumbing and usually gas permits. Drawings show the pool, equipment location, barriers and drainage.
- Setbacks: cities set minimum distances from property lines, the house, easements and septic systems, and some limit where noisy pool equipment can go. These differ city to city.
- Hillside lots: in the Oakland and Lamorinda hills, Los Gatos, Saratoga and the Tri-Valley foothills, a soils report and engineered pool shell are common.
- Equipment: California energy rules require efficient, variable-speed pool pumps on new installations.
- Water: during drought restrictions, some water districts limit filling new pools, so timing matters.
Areas We Serve for Pools & Spas
We build pools and spas throughout the Bay Area, from Lamorinda and the Tri-Valley to San Jose and South County. Every city has its own permit counter and rules, and our city pages explain them:
Orinda · Lafayette · Moraga · Walnut Creek · Alamo · Danville · San Ramon · Dublin · Pleasanton · Livermore · Fremont · Union City · Newark · Milpitas · San Jose · Santa Clara · Sunnyvale · Mountain View · Cupertino · Saratoga · Los Gatos · Palo Alto · Los Altos · Menlo Park · Morgan Hill · San Martin · Gilroy
See all Bay Area service areas.
Outdoor services: Outdoor Living · Outdoor Kitchens · Pavers & Hardscape · Artificial Turf & Landscaping · Pergolas & Patio Covers · Retaining Walls
Also from Axiom: ADU Builders · Garage Conversions · Home Additions · New Custom Homes · Kitchen Remodeling · Portfolio
Pools & Spas FAQ
How long does it take to build a pool in the Bay Area?
Permitting often takes several weeks to a few months depending on the city. Construction of a typical in-ground pool takes about two to three months, longer with spas, retaining walls or difficult access.
What safety features does California require for a new pool?
At least two of the seven drowning prevention features listed in Health & Safety Code §115922, such as an isolation fence, a safety cover, door alarms or a pool alarm.
Can a pool fit in a small backyard?
Often, yes. Plunge pools and compact spas work well on smaller Silicon Valley lots, as long as setbacks, easements and access allow.
Can you build a pool and an ADU on the same lot?
Usually, if the lot has room for both after setbacks. We lay out the ADU, pool, barriers and equipment together so both pass inspection.