Royal Pools by Adams builds custom inground pools and spas for homeowners throughout Los Altos. Larger lot sizes, 1950s-to-1970s housing stock, and a tree protection ordinance that affects pool siting on many properties make Los Altos a market that rewards a knowledgeable contractor. We are Diamond Certified, CSLB licensed (License #278052, C-53 Swimming Pool), and we have designed and built pools for South Bay homeowners for over 70 years.
Los Altos homeowners benefit from larger lot sizes than much of Silicon Valley (typical parcels run from 7,500 to 12,000 square feet or more), which means more design flexibility and room for the pool configurations that make the most of outdoor space. At the same time, Los Altos’s established tree canopy, which includes mature oaks, redwoods, and eucalyptus, adds a layer of site evaluation that not every contractor knows how to navigate.
Our Diamond Certified rating reflects verified customer satisfaction. Our C-53 Swimming Pool Contractor license from the California State License Board is the required license classification for residential pool construction in California. We handle permitting, engineering review, inspections, and startup, and we offer financing options for qualifying Los Altos homeowners.
Pool construction in Los Altos requires a building permit from the Los Altos Building Division, located at 1 N. San Antonio Road (City Hall). The Building Division can be reached at 650-947-2752 or [email protected]. You will need engineered construction drawings, a site plan showing pool setbacks from property lines and structures, and pool barrier documentation consistent with California Health and Safety Code Section 116049. We prepare and submit all permit documentation as part of the construction contract.
Los Altos has a tree protection ordinance that applies to significant trees on residential properties. Before pool siting is finalized, we assess whether any protected trees are within the proposed excavation zone or within the root zone that could be disturbed during construction. Root intrusion from oaks and redwoods into pool shells is a documented issue in older Los Altos pools. Mature oaks in particular have wide-ranging lateral root systems that can penetrate cracked or aging plaster shells over time. If you have large trees near your proposed pool location, we factor that into the siting recommendation and, if needed, recommend a pre-construction arborist review.
All inground pool construction in Los Altos requires a building permit from the City of Los Altos Building Division at 1 N. San Antonio Road, reachable at 650-947-2752 or [email protected]. The permit requires engineered construction drawings, a site plan showing the pool location relative to property lines and existing structures, and documentation of pool barrier compliance. We prepare and submit the complete permit package on your behalf. Plan check times in Los Altos vary; we factor the typical review timeline into the project schedule at contracting.
Many Los Altos pools were built in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s and are now on their second or third plaster cycle. Pools in this age range often have single-drain systems that do not comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act (VGBA) anti-entrapment requirements that took effect in 2008. Any renovation involving the drain system must bring those drains into VGBA compliance. For pools with a structurally sound shell but deteriorated plaster and outdated equipment, renovation is usually the more cost-effective path. For pools with significant structural cracking, shell movement, or badly deteriorated gunite, a full demolition and rebuild on the same footprint may be the better long-term investment. We evaluate the existing shell condition as part of our renovation consultation at no charge.
Large trees near a pool require attention but are not necessarily a barrier to construction. Mature oaks and redwoods have lateral root systems that can extend well beyond their visible canopy, and those roots have been known to penetrate aging pool shells in older Los Altos pools where gaps or cracks gave them entry points. Before pool siting is finalized, we assess the distance and root spread of any significant trees relative to the proposed excavation zone. Where tree protection ordinance requirements apply, an arborist report may be needed as part of the permit application. In cases where tree roots and pool placement genuinely conflict, we can evaluate alternative pool shapes or locations that preserve both the tree and the pool project.
We build attached in-pool spas that share circulation equipment with the main pool, standalone spa structures placed independently in the yard, elevated spillover spas that overflow into the pool below, and infinity-edge or swim spa configurations for homeowners focused on therapeutic or fitness use. Los Altos’s larger lots give us more room to work with separate spa placement when a homeowner wants the spa in a different orientation or sun exposure than the main pool. During the design consultation, we review spa configuration options with renderings tailored to your specific yard layout.
Los Altos is served by Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) for electricity, and SVCE does not currently offer a specific rebate for pool pumps. However, California’s Title 20 Appliance Efficiency Regulations, effective January 1, 2025, require that all new pool pumps with a motor of one horsepower or greater be variable-speed models. This is a state code requirement regardless of utility rebates. Variable-speed pumps use significantly less electricity than single-speed models, which offsets their higher upfront cost through ongoing energy savings. We install Title 20-compliant variable-speed pumps on all new Los Altos pool builds and equipment replacement projects.
Call us at (408) 371-8000 to schedule a free in-home consultation for your Los Altos pool or spa project. Our San Jose showroom at 2258 Camden Ave. is open for in-person material consultations. You can also reach us through our online contact form.