Pool Builders in Paso Robles, CA: Backyard Design and Coordination

Planning a pool in Paso Robles? We design the whole backyard, connect you with three pool builders we've completed whole-yard projects with (you contract with the pool builder directly), coordinate the schedule, and build everything around the pool. We're based on Riverside Avenue in Paso Robles, and our master design lays out the pool, the deck, the shade and the landscape together so the yard works on a 100-degree July afternoon and on a cool fall evening. We also know the City's pool rules, which decide where the pool and the equipment can go before any design gets drawn. Call 805-712-4440 or request a free estimate.

Paso Robles Pool Rules to Plan Around

Inside city limits, pools are reviewed by the City of Paso Robles. The City's own answers on pool permits and pool equipment set the layout for most backyards:

• A permit is required for in-ground pools and spas. Only small prefabricated above-ground pools, under 24 inches deep and no more than 5,000 gallons, are exempt.
• Setbacks. In single-family zones the pool must be at least 10 feet from the main building and 3 feet from the side and rear property lines, measured from the water's edge.
• Equipment. Pumps, filters and heaters must be at least 20 feet from the nearest neighboring residence and screened by a fence. On a narrow lot this one rule often decides where the pool goes.
• Applying. Applications are filed online through the City's PasoPermits portal. The Building Division is at 805-237-3850 and Planning at 805-237-3970.
• Fees. The City's building fee schedule lists a flat fee for a residential pool or spa permit ($1,648 at the time of writing). Check the current schedule before you budget.

We sketch the pool, spa and equipment pad against those distances at the first site visit, so you don't fall in love with a layout the City won't approve.

Designing a Pool for Paso Robles Heat

Paso Robles summers are hot and dry, with big swings between afternoon and night. That changes how we build the yard around the water:

• Shade first. A pergola, patio cover or cabana next to the pool makes the deck usable in the afternoon.
• Cooler decking. Light-colored concrete and pavers stay cooler underfoot than dark stone.
• Low-water planting. Drought-tolerant plants on drip irrigation, kept back from the edge, mean less water use and less debris in the pool.
• Turf lounge areas. Artificial turf gives a soft, green place to lie out without the water bill of a lawn.
• Evenings. Lighting, a fire pit and an outdoor kitchen make the pool the place people gather after dark.

Pool Builders We Trust, One Plan for the Whole Backyard

Paso Robles Landscaping does not build the pool itself. We connect you with three pool builders we've completed whole-yard projects with, and the pool is built under a separate contract between you and the pool builder you choose. We do the master design for the whole space, coordinate the schedule between the pool builder and our crew, and build everything around the pool: decking, hardscape, patios, outdoor kitchens, fire features, landscape, irrigation and lighting. The pieces are planned together from the first sketch.

• Pool and spa (built by the pool builder, under your contract with them): layout, shape, depth, steps and benches, spillover or raised spas, and equipment placement, planned into our master design around the rules below
• Pool deck: concrete, pavers or stone, sloped to drains and away from the house
• Shade and outdoor living: pergolas, patio covers, outdoor kitchens and fire features
• Landscape: low-water planting that keeps leaves out of the water, artificial turf lounge areas, drip irrigation and lighting
• Grading and walls: retaining walls, steps and drainage on sloped lots
• Safety barrier: fencing and self-closing gates, coordinated with the pool builder on the other drowning-prevention features California requires on new pools

Rural Lots Around Paso Robles

Many pools we're asked about sit just outside city limits, on acreage west toward Adelaida and Willow Creek or east toward Creston. Those lots are reviewed by San Luis Obispo County instead of the City, often run on a private well, and may sit in a mapped fire hazard zone. We plan for well capacity when filling the pool, keep planting near the house fire-safe, and lay out long equipment runs. See our wine country landscaping page for more on rural lots.

How a Pool Project Works With Us

1. Site visit. We walk the yard, check access for equipment, slopes, soil, trees, utilities and where water will drain.
2. Design. We do the master design for the whole yard, laying out the pool, spa, deck and planting together and showing where the equipment and barrier go. We introduce you to the three pool builders we work with, and the one you choose details the pool with us.
3. Written estimates. You get our written estimate for the design and everything around the pool, and a separate written bid and contract from the pool builder for the pool itself. No ballparks over the phone.
4. Permits. The pool builder pulls the pool permit. We prepare the plans for our part of the yard and coordinate both with the City of Paso Robles permit review.
5. Build. The pool builder handles excavation, steel, plumbing, shell and equipment. We coordinate the schedule around their work, then build the deck, hardscape and landscape, with inspections along the way.
6. Startup. The pool builder walks you through the pool equipment, and we walk you through the irrigation, lighting and barrier before the yard is yours.

We also design and coordinate pool projects in Templeton, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande. For how pool projects work across the county, see our San Luis Obispo County pool design and coordination page.

More about our work in town is on our Paso Robles landscaping page.

Nearby Areas We Serve

From Paso Robles we also work in Templeton, Atascadero, San Miguel, Creston and Shandon. See every community on our San Luis Obispo County service area page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for a pool in Paso Robles?

Yes, for in-ground pools and spas. The City exempts only small prefabricated above-ground pools under 24 inches deep and no more than 5,000 gallons.

How close to the property line can a pool be in Paso Robles?

In single-family zones the City requires at least 3 feet from the side and rear property lines and 10 feet from the main building, measured from the water's edge.

Where can the pool equipment go?

The City requires pool equipment to be at least 20 feet from the nearest neighboring residence and screened by a fence. We plan the equipment pad at the first site visit.

Do you build the pool, or just the landscaping?

We don't build the pool itself. We connect you with three pool builders we've completed whole-yard projects with, and the pool is built under a separate contract between you and the pool builder you choose. We do the master design, coordinate the schedule, and build the decking, hardscape, patios, outdoor kitchens, fire features, landscape, irrigation and lighting around it.

How much does a pool cost in Paso Robles?

It depends on size, shape, spa, decking, access, soil and the landscape around it. The pool builder you choose prices the pool under their own contract, and we give a free written estimate for the design and everything around it after a site visit.