Royal Pools by Adams has been building custom inground pools and spas in San Jose for over 70 years. Our showroom at 2258 Camden Ave. in South San Jose serves homeowners throughout the city, from Willow Glen and Almaden Valley to Berryessa and East San Jose. As a Diamond Certified contractor and CSLB-licensed pool builder (License #278052, C-53 Swimming Pool), we bring the expertise, resources, and local knowledge that San Jose homeowners have trusted since 1953.
We design and build every type of pool and pool-related project for San Jose residential and commercial properties. Our full range of services includes:
We have been one of the South Bay’s most recognized pool contractors for seven decades. That tenure means we have built pools in nearly every San Jose neighborhood and understand the soil conditions, permit timelines, and site challenges specific to this city. Our Diamond Certified rating reflects verified customer satisfaction, and our C-53 Swimming Pool Contractor license from the California State License Board confirms that every project meets California’s construction code requirements.
Our showroom on Camden Ave. displays tile, plaster, coping, and water feature samples so San Jose homeowners can see and touch their material choices before construction begins. We offer free in-home consultations and can walk your backyard before you commit to a design.
Pool construction in San Jose requires a building permit from the City’s Development Services Department. You will need to submit engineered plans, a site plan showing property lines and proposed pool placement, and documentation for fencing compliance. Plan check times vary but typically run four to six weeks for residential pool projects. Our team manages the permit application process on your behalf.
San Jose’s residential pool setback requirement is generally five feet from the rear and side property lines, though setbacks vary in hillside zones and on corner lots. We verify setbacks during our site consultation before finalizing pool dimensions.
San Jose is served by San Jose Water (SJW), which blends surface water from the Santa Cruz Mountains with local groundwater. The groundwater component can run as high as 364 mg/L total dissolved solids (roughly 21 grains per gallon), which is classified as Very Hard. Hard water accelerates calcium scale buildup on plaster surfaces, tile grout lines, and equipment. We factor water chemistry into our plaster and finish recommendations: certain aggregate and quartz finishes resist scaling better than standard white plaster, and we can advise on startup water treatment that reduces scale formation from day one.
In most San Jose residential zones, a pool must be set back at least five feet from the rear property line and five feet from side property lines. Corner lots and hillside zones may have different requirements. The pool equipment pad (pump and filter) typically must be at least five feet from any habitable structure window or door opening. We pull the specific zoning requirements for your parcel before finalizing placement, so there are no surprises at permit review.
Pools built in San Jose during the 1960s and early 1970s often have single-drain configurations that do not meet current Virginia Graeme Baker Act (VGBA) anti-entrapment standards. Any renovation that involves the pool drain system requires bringing those drains into compliance with VGBA, including the installation of compliant anti-entrapment covers and, in many cases, converting to a dual-drain or suction-limiting design. Older pools in this vintage also frequently have galvanized steel return fittings that corrode and fail over time. A full inspection before renovation helps identify what the project scope will include.
California Health and Safety Code Section 116049 requires new residential pools to be enclosed by a four-sided isolation fence that meets specific standards: a minimum height of 60 inches on the exterior side, a self-closing and self-latching gate with the latch located on the pool side at a height of 54 inches or more, and no horizontal members on the exterior face that could serve as footholds. The fence must be designed so that a child cannot pass through, under, or around it. We include fencing specification and permit documentation as part of every new pool project.
Yes. We offer financing options for pool construction in San Jose through third-party lending partners. Financing allows you to begin your project without paying the full cost upfront. Terms, rates, and qualification requirements vary by lender. We can walk you through the options during your free in-home consultation.
Royal Pools by Adams is located at 2258 Camden Ave., San Jose, CA 95124. Call us at (408) 371-8000 to schedule a free in-home design consultation or to visit our showroom. You can also reach us through our online contact form. We look forward to building your next pool.