Getting rid of your pool takes a permit, a licensed contractor, and a clear plan. Most removals cost $5,000–$20,000 and take 1–5 days. This guide walks you through every step. For deeper cost context before you begin, see our full breakdown of how much pool demolition actually costs — and our companion guide on the best removal method for your situation.
The decision to remove your swimming pool is one of the most empowering moves you can make as a homeowner. Not because pools are bad — but because unused pools are expensive, potentially dangerous, and quietly limiting. When you stop using a pool and start paying for it anyway, that’s not ownership. That’s servitude. And no person of sound mind holds onto something that costs them money without giving joy back in return.
The good news: getting rid of a swimming pool is a well-worn road. Thousands of homeowners do it every year across Florida alone. The specialists at Pool Removal Orlando have helped homeowners throughout Central Florida — and across the state, from Tampa to Miami — reclaim their yards with professionalism and care. It’s not complicated. It just requires clear, sequential thinking. So let’s walk the board, step by step.
First Understand Why You’re Doing It — Then Commit
Before the first call to a contractor, take a breath and articulate your reason clearly. This isn’t therapy — it’s strategy. Your reason shapes which removal method is right for you, what you’ll do with the space afterward, and how you’ll communicate your decision to future buyers or family members.
Common — and completely valid — reasons homeowners remove pools: the kids grew up and nobody swims; the maintenance cost has become unjustifiable; there’s a safety concern for young grandchildren or pets; you want to build an addition or garage; or you’re preparing to sell and want the cleanest yard presentation possible. All of these are good reasons. Own yours fully. If you’re still deciding which removal approach fits your situation best, read our detailed comparison of the best ways to get rid of an inground pool before committing to a contractor.
“The move that frees the most space on the board is almost never the flashiest one. It’s the quiet, deliberate removal of something that was blocking everything else you wanted to build.”
Step 1 Choose Your Removal Method
There are two primary ways to remove an inground pool. Your budget, your future plans, and your timeline determine which one is right for you. For a fully detailed breakdown of how these compare — including every cost variable — see our guide to swimming pool demolition costs.
Step 2 Get Your Permits in Order
This step happens before any contractor touches your yard. Pool removal permits are required in virtually every US city and county. They ensure utilities are properly disconnected, fill material meets compaction standards, and drainage won’t cause problems for your property or neighbors.
Contact your local building department — many now allow online permit applications. Budget $150–$500 for the permit fee and 1–3 weeks for approval. Some experienced pool removal contractors will handle permit applications on your behalf, which is worth asking about when you compare bids. The team at Pool Removal Orlando manages permitting as part of their full-service removal process throughout Florida.
Never let a contractor start work without a permit in hand. If they suggest skipping it “to save money,” that’s a red flag, not a courtesy. Unpermitted removals can void homeowner’s insurance claims, trigger municipal fines, and become costly problems at closing when you go to sell. The permit protects you — not the contractor.
Step 3 Get Three Contractor Quotes
Three quotes minimum. Not one, not two. Three separate bids from licensed, insured contractors with verifiable reviews and completed pool removal jobs they can reference. Understanding what each cost line covers is essential — if you haven’t yet read our breakdown of what drives pool demolition costs, do that before you evaluate your bids. When reviewing quotes, make sure each one itemizes:
Step 4 The Removal Process — Day by Day
Pool Draining
Water is removed in compliance with local environmental regulations. Depending on your municipality, this may require pumping to a sewer cleanout — not a storm drain. Your contractor manages this, but confirm it’s handled correctly to avoid fines.
Utility Disconnection
Gas lines (if applicable), electrical panels, pump power, and plumbing connections are all disconnected and capped by licensed professionals. This cannot be skipped and is not a DIY step under any circumstances.
Demo Day
The excavator arrives. For partial fills, drainage holes are punched in the shell bottom and walls are crushed down. For full removal, the entire structure is systematically broken apart and loaded onto trucks. To understand what this phase costs in detail — including how soil type and pool material affect excavation time — see our guide on the real cost to dig out a pool.
Fill and Compaction
Clean fill — typically a combination of gravel base material, clean soil, and sometimes crushed concrete from the demolition — is layered into the cavity in lifts of 12–18 inches, each mechanically compacted before the next is added. Proper compaction prevents the ground from settling unevenly over the coming years.
Final Grading
The surface is graded to match your yard’s natural drainage pattern and slope. Topsoil is spread, and the area is prepared for sod, seed, or whatever landscaping vision you’ve planned for this newly reclaimed space.
Inspection and Sign-Off
Your local building inspector visits to verify the work meets permit requirements — primarily confirming proper fill compaction and utility disconnection. Once cleared, you receive your permit sign-off and the project is officially, permanently complete.
Step 5 Plan the Space Before the Concrete Breaks
This is the part most homeowners forget to do until after the pool is gone — and then they’re left staring at a patchy dirt rectangle with no clear vision. Before demolition begins, know what you’re putting in its place.
The Green Dream
A lush lawn or garden where the pool once stood. Simple, universal, and broadly appealing to future buyers. Sod installation typically costs $1,500–$4,000 for the area a standard pool occupied. Seeding is less expensive but takes longer to establish fully.
The Outdoor Living Room
A patio, pergola, outdoor kitchen, or entertainment space. This is an increasingly popular transformation in Florida’s year-round outdoor climate — particularly in markets like Tampa where outdoor living is a premium feature. A quality outdoor living installation can add real resale value that offsets much of the pool removal cost.
The Edible Garden
Raised beds, a greenhouse, or a full kitchen garden. For homeowners who love to grow food, this transformation turns a high-cost liability into a living, producing asset. Budget $2,000–$8,000 depending on scale and materials.
The Additional Structure
A garage, ADU (accessory dwelling unit), workshop, or studio. This requires full pool removal (not partial fill) and appropriate structural soil testing. In dense South Florida markets near Miami, this kind of land use transformation can add significant square footage and rental income potential.
A Word Before You Begin
Getting rid of a swimming pool is not a defeat. It is not giving up. It is the quiet, clear-eyed act of someone who knows what they want their life to look like — and loves themselves enough to make it happen. That takes heart. That takes a sound mind. And that takes the courage to make a move that might not look obvious to everyone else but makes perfect sense to you.
Your pool served its season. Now the land is yours again — blank, open, full of possibility. The team at Pool Removal Orlando is ready to help you build what comes next.
Start with a permit. End with a vision. Everything in between is just the work.
