Pool Removal and Replacement — Maryland, DC & Northern Virginia

Need your old pool removed? Calm Water Pools offers pool removal and replacement services across Maryland, Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and nearby West Virginia. Whether you want your old pool taken out and replaced with a beautiful new fiberglass pool — or simply removed without replacement — we can help.

Jump to: Which removal path fits | Rules by area | Check your contractor | Pool removal FAQ

We Coordinate Removal for All Pool Types

  • Concrete and gunite pools — full removal of aging, cracked, or structurally compromised concrete pools
  • Vinyl-liner pools — removal of inground vinyl-liner pools and their structures
  • Damaged fiberglass pools — removal and replacement of fiberglass shells that have shifted, cracked, or deteriorated

Replacement Options

Once the old pool is out, you have options:

  • Full fiberglass pool installation — we manage every step of installing a brand-new Latham or Viking fiberglass pool, from shell selection through a finished, ready-to-swim pool, coordinating licensed independent contractors for the construction. Learn about full installation.
  • Shell only — prefer to manage your own build? We supply and deliver a premium fiberglass shell from our 60+ model lineup. Browse fiberglass pool shells.
  • Removal only — not ready for a new pool? We can coordinate removal of your existing pool without replacement.

Which removal path fits your yard?

Taking out an inground pool is not one job. The three common approaches leave different things in your yard, and your local permit office decides which one is allowed. Our guide to partial vs full pool removal compares them in detail.

Full removal

The shell or concrete, the equipment and the plumbing come out, the debris is hauled away, and the hole is filled. It leaves the least of the old pool in the ground, which is why it is the usual fit when a building, an addition or a new pool is planned on or near the site.

Partial removal (fill-in)

The upper part of the structure is broken out, the floor is opened or broken so water does not collect, and the cavity is filled. The lower walls and floor remnants stay below the fill. It can suit an area that will stay lawn or garden, where the office allows it.

Abandoning in place

Most of the structure stays. Where an office allows it, it can still require the floor to be opened, the drains to be capped, an inspection before filling and a building restriction on the property.

If you want a new fiberglass pool in the same spot

A fiberglass shell cannot sit inside an intact old pool, so expect the old structure to come out first. Our guide to replacing a concrete, gunite or vinyl pool with fiberglass walks through the order of work, and the backfill and compaction guide explains why the quality of the fill matters.

Removal and Replacement Guides

Pool removal rules by area

Permit offices and local rules differ. What follows is a snapshot of what the official pages we read say, not legal advice, so confirm with your own office before any work starts. Jump to: Northern Virginia | Maryland | Washington, DC | West Virginia

Northern Virginia

Fairfax County says a residential demolition permit covers demolition of a residential pool, and that a plumbing permit is needed to cap off the sewer line when the home is on public sewer. Prince William County’s building official has written that the code requires a permit before a structure is demolished. For Arlington and Loudoun, ask the permit office which permit your project needs. On draining, Fairfax, Arlington and Prince William ask owners to remove the chlorine first and favor the sanitary sewer or a slow release onto your own vegetated ground, and Loudoun Water asks owners to coordinate before discharging to the sewer. See pool draining rules before removal. Local guides: Fairfax County, Arlington County, Prince William County and Loudoun County.

Maryland

We found no Maryland state page that sets one removal method for every pool, so call your county permit office before work begins. On draining, Maryland’s state rules say owners of pools serving individual residences do not have to file a notice of intent or pay a fee for the general pool-discharge permit. That is about paperwork and does not mean the water may go anywhere, so ask your local office where it can be discharged. Local guides: Bethesda, Potomac, Silver Spring and Kensington.

Washington, DC

The D.C. demolition permit pages we read do not mention pools, so ask the Department of Buildings which permit your project needs. On draining, D.C. asks for chlorine below 0.1 mg/L and sends the water to the sanitary or combined sewer, and it lists a fine of up to $1,000 for a first offense. See our Washington, DC guide and the draining rules guide.

West Virginia

We found no state or county page on draining a residential pool, and we have not confirmed removal rules for Jefferson or Berkeley County on an official page, so call the local permit office and the stormwater or sewer authority first. Local guides: Jefferson County, Berkeley County and Martinsburg.

How to check a pool removal contractor

Pool removal is demolition, excavation and fill work, and nearby states do not license it the same way. Calm Water Pools coordinates removal and replacement. Whoever does the work, check the license with the state agency before you sign.

  • Virginia: look the company up with the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) at dpor.virginia.gov. Confirm the license is active, the class fits the job, and the classification covers pool removal. The state’s POL specialty includes removal of in-ground pools.
  • Maryland: the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) has a license status lookup. Ask MHIC whether your removal falls under its rules, because a contractor hired only for demolition and cleanup may not need an MHIC license.
  • Washington, DC: the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) licenses home improvement contractors and points homeowners to its SCOUT system to verify one.
  • West Virginia: the WV Contractor Licensing Board has a public license search.

Then ask for proof of insurance, an itemized written contract, and the permit number. The full checklist, including red flags, is in how to verify a pool removal contractor.

Service Area

We serve homeowners throughout Maryland, Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and nearby West Virginia. Call us at 240-372-4440 or request a free quote.

Permit offices and local rules differ by area. Our local guides cover the details for each:

Pool removal FAQ

Do I need a permit to remove an inground pool?

Usually, but your local permit office decides. Fairfax County, for example, says a residential demolition permit covers demolition of a residential pool, and Latham says removing an existing pool will likely need a building permit. Call your permit office before any work starts. See partial vs full pool removal.

What is the difference between full and partial pool removal?

Full removal takes the old structure out and fills the hole. Partial removal opens the floor so water does not collect, removes the top of the structure and fills the rest in place. Abandoning in place leaves the most behind. Which of these is allowed depends on your local permit office.

What affects the cost of removing a pool?

The cost depends on how much of the pool comes out, what it is made of, how easily equipment reaches it, what is hauled away and brought in, which permits and inspections apply, and how the yard is restored. Ask for itemized written quotes that cover the same scope. See what affects the cost of removing an inground pool.

Can I drain my pool into the street?

Not untreated. Chlorinated pool water should never run into the street or a storm drain as it is. The official pages we read ask for chlorine to be removed first and favor the sanitary sewer or a slow release onto your own vegetated ground. Standards differ by locality. See pool draining rules before removal.

How long does pool removal take?

We found no government or manufacturer page that gives one number, so we do not either. The schedule is set by stages: permit review, utility cap-off, draining and dechlorination, removal and fill, inspections and restoration. Ask your contractor to put a date on each stage in writing. See how long pool removal takes.

Can a fiberglass pool go where the old pool was?

A fiberglass pool can be installed once the old one is out, but a shell cannot sit inside an intact old pool, so expect the old structure to come out first. The new pool is set in a new excavation sized close to the shell. See replacing a concrete, gunite or vinyl pool with fiberglass and our full installation page.

How do I check a pool removal contractor?

Look the contractor up with the state licensing agency before you sign, then check insurance, a written contract and who holds the permit. The checklist is in how to verify a pool removal contractor.

Get a Free Quote

Ready to remove your old pool or start a replacement project? Contact us for a free quote — we’ll discuss your timeline, existing pool type, and replacement options.