You’ve all heard about the landscaper that builds pools or the “designer” that will help you build your pool as an “owner builder” but I bet you were not aware that these same people can help you build your dream project for absolutely nothing.
In California it is illegal to build anything valued over $500 without a valid contractors license in the classification of the work performed. Contracts executed by unlicensed contractors (aka designers) or contractors advertising out of classification are not even worth the paper that they are printed on – in fact a quick google search of the Business and Professions Code of CA confirms that homeowners have actually done projects with unlicensed or out of classification contractors and then upon completion (even if the project is perfect) sued the “contractor” for the total value of the contract – and were successful. So if you have the stomach for a little litigation and don’t mind rolling the dice on a questionable contractor, this could be your opportunity to upgrade your yard at absolutely no cost (obviously this is not formal legal advice – if you have any questions, call your attorney)

Case in Point:

This contractor is clearly advertising Swimming Pools despite the written classifications noted in the advertisement itself. C27 is a Landscaping license and C29 is a Masonry license – neither license will allow you to legally build a swimming pool in California. Another tactic – the years of experience statement – in this case “Over 25 years of Experience”. A quick check of the license number reveals that it was originally issued in 1993 (17 years ago). In fact, as of the date of writing this blog this particular license is currently suspended (please visit the CSLB site for more details).

In conclusion, unless you are on the “free pool” program, you need to fully investigate your contractor and his/her claims regarding licensing, classification and workers compensation insurance. The CSLB website has very detailed information HERE and a few references don’t hurt either.

Guardian removable fencing is now approved as a barrier.
Swimming pool alarms are now approved (in lieu of door alarms at the house).

Why is this important? For starters, in the past if you wanted to have mesh removable fencing you would also have to comply with the door alarm and fencing requirements. This code change will allow you to install removable fencing without having to shell out the money for door alarms or modifying your existing gates (especially those of you who want RV gates, the current code does not allow gates greater than 48″ wide – install removable fencing around the pool and you won’t have to worry about it!).
This also eases the burden of installing (and maintaining) door alarms inside the house on ALL doors that lead to the pool area. A lot of people take matters into their own hands and remove or disable the door alarms due to the irritation factor – now you can have a little more piece of mind knowing that you are legal in unlikely event of a tragedy.

Contact me if you would like more information!

The moral of the story? The City is now apparently in the position of ordering homeowners to upgrade their yard from pre-existing code to new code while holding new construction hostage. In this market and economic time, you would think that they would be promoting new construction and permit revenue, but that just doesn’t seem to be the case.

***EDIT*** I almost forgot to add the $450 plan check and ‘investigation’ fee that the Sewer inspector informed me I would have to pay before he comes out again. $450 for plan check and inspection and we are not altering, changing, removing, relocating or even working remotely near the septic tank. ***EDIT***

In other news our project in the City of L.A. is very close to receiving it’s final 3 inspections – All it took was a bunch of extra money and 25 inspections.

I challenge anyone who reads this to attempt to get a building permit for ANYTHING right now and forward me the story of your experience.

I am currently on day 10 of getting a permit in the City of (insert name). Simple swimming pool and spa in Placerita Canyon – has no oak trees on the actual property and has a septic tank instead of a connection to City sewer line.

Plan Checks to date:
1. Third floor, Engineering department
2. Third floor, Planning department
3. Third floor, Flood department
4. First floor, Building and Safety
***plan check, submit plans and wait***
5. Informed that because there are oak trees “in the area” I will need to deal with “Urban Forestry” (oxymoron?).
6. Informed that because there is a septic tank I need to deal with L.A. County Sanitation – the inspector has NO office hours and roams the entire L.A. County – available only by phone.
7. Submitted oak tree plans, have been waiting for (2) days only to hear back that the homeowner isn’t allowed to have a salt chlorination system in the pool because it could potentially damage the 500 year old oak tree roots that are located 150′ away but the plans are still under review and I will get an answer “in the next week or so”.
8. Submitted plot plan with septic tank and leech field location – after waiting a week and a half, I need to have an on site meeting to verify that there is enough room on the one acre property to install a separate leech field in the event that the first one fails. May have to get an Environmental report for the property and unearth both the leech field and septic tank as well as possibly having to survey the site to prove that it is high enough to withstand the 1000 year flood (yes, everyone knows that water isn’t good for swimming pools).

Does anyone else think this is a little much for a hole in the ground that holds water??