Hardscape Contractor in Pebble Beach, CA

Who permits hardscape work in Pebble Beach

There is no city hall here. Monterey County permits building work in the unincorporated Del Monte Forest, through its Housing and Community Development department. Nearly all of the forest is in the coastal zone, so a coastal permit step can apply. County coastal permit decisions inside the forest can be appealed to the California Coastal Commission.

Design gets a second look from the Del Monte Forest Architectural Review Board. The Pebble Beach Company runs that board, and it reviews construction plans inside the forest. Its standards say board approval does not assure county or Coastal Commission approval. They also point owners to preliminary board approval before applying to the county.

Work hours in the forest are set as well. The current standards allow work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. No work is permitted on Sundays or holidays, so we book pours and deliveries inside that window. The standards are marked subject to revision, so we check the current version first.

Driveways, gates and walls under the forest standards

Driveways get close attention in the forest standards. Pervious paving is preferred where it can be used, such as interlocking pavers, gravel and turf block. Concrete and asphalt are allowed for short driveways. One driveway entrance per property is permitted, and anything steeper than 25 percent is not allowed.

Where a driveway meets the road, asphalt goes in between the property line and the road paving. That tie-in is built to Pebble Beach Company road standards. Trench work or pavement cuts in the company road right of way need written approval first. An encroachment permit and advance notice come with it, so we build that into the schedule.

Fences, freestanding walls and retaining walls are capped at six feet, measured from existing grade. Solid walls are discouraged, and approved walls may be natural stone, brick or adobe type block. Standard block with a stone, brick or stucco veneer is acceptable, which is how we finish most walls here. Preferred fence materials include stained redwood and dark painted wrought iron, so redwood fencing and iron gates fit right in.

Driveway gates are set back at least 20 feet from the front property line where possible. Fences, walls and landscaping between 17-Mile Drive and the ocean can draw added county review. Taller retaining walls and walls carrying a load above them get built to the engineer's plans.

Building around Monterey pines, sand and granite

The Del Monte Forest holds the largest of only five native Monterey pine forests in the world. No tree may be removed here without a permit from the Pebble Beach Company and the county. Monterey pine, Bishop pine, coast live oak, Monterey cypress and Gowen cypress get special protection. Tree work is a separate trade, so we lay patios and walls out around the trees that stay.

The forest standards keep continuous footings outside the drip line of trees that remain. When a foundation has to sit inside a drip line, a pier and grade beam foundation is called for. Cutting roots is to be avoided, which changes how a wall or patio cover footing gets dug near a pine. We hand dig close to roots and keep the machine work back.

The ground is not the same across the forest. The shoreline runs through large dune areas, and the chaparral ground is well drained sandy soil. Under the Monterey Peninsula the bedrock is granite, and it crops out at the surface in places. Sand needs a compacted base and a firm edge restraint, while rock slows a footing trench.

Drainage, slopes and outdoor living in the Del Monte Forest

Runoff gets attention in the forest standards. A drainage plan shows how water off roofs and paved areas is handled so it does not cut the ground. Holding water on the property with drywells and basins is encouraged. Surface water is not to be pushed onto the roads, so we slope patios away and drain behind every wall.

Grading stays light here. The standards ask that cut and fill be kept to a minimum, to protect the land form and tree roots. On a sloping lot that points to lower walls with steps between levels rather than one tall wall.

Lot coverage comes from the Monterey County Zoning Ordinance and varies by subdivision. Owners are told to confirm that limit before plans get drawn. We size the patio around the number that comes back. When paving is limited, a tighter patio with a built-in outdoor kitchen and a fire feature gives more use.

Wind and fog come off the water most of the year. We set fire features and seating where the house or a wall blocks the wind. Iron gets coated for the coast, and stone and concrete get sealed on the schedule the material needs.