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Service Area · Scottsdale, Arizona

Custom Pool Builder
in Scottsdale, AZ

Lake-lot remodels in McCormick Ranch, estate pools against the McDowell Mountains and everything in between.

  • City of ScottsdaleIssues pool permits
  • ESL overlayNorth and east of the CAP canal
  • Two tracksCity permit and HOA review

Pictured: The Hidden Jewel, Gilbert

Pools & Landscapes in Scottsdale

Building a Pool in Scottsdale

Scottsdale asks more of a pool project than most Valley cities, and it rewards careful planning. Every new pool needs a City of Scottsdale permit, which calls for a construction plan and a site plan showing the pool's location and required setbacks. Most homes here also sit in an association, so an architectural approval runs alongside the city review.

North and east of the Central Arizona Project canal, about 134 square miles of desert and mountain land fall under the city's Environmentally Sensitive Lands overlay. There the ordinance shapes where you can build and how much desert you can disturb, and site plans carry more detail, topography included. We plan the pool, terraces and walls inside those limits from the first concept.

We are based in San Tan Valley, and one team carries your project from design through construction with weekly updates. Our guide to pool permits and HOA approval in Scottsdale covers the full sequence.

Design Notes

What Scottsdale Yards Ask For

Central Scottsdale and north Scottsdale call for different playbooks.

Refresh the Classics

McCormick Ranch and Gainey Ranch have mature yards and pools that predate today's finishes and controls. New tile, a reworked entry, sheer descents and Pentair automation can make a dated yard feel current while the old trees stay put.

Let the Desert Lead

In DC Ranch, Silverleaf and Troon North, the mountains and the native desert are the design. We work around boulders and plants worth keeping, keep disturbance tight where ESL applies and choose stone and plaster colors that sit quietly in the landscape.

Plan for Caliche and Slope

Caliche, soil cemented by calcium carbonate, turns up in many Valley excavations and can run several feet thick. Sloped northern lots add retaining walls and drainage. Our site assessment catches both before pricing is final.

Where We Work

Scottsdale Neighborhoods We Serve

From Scottsdale's first master plan to the canyons of the McDowells.

McCormick Ranch

Scottsdale's first master-planned community, laid out with lakes, golf and miles of trails. Established yards here often call for a remodel that keeps the mature trees.

Gainey Ranch

A guard-gated central Scottsdale community on what was once an Arabian horse ranch. Resort-style homes pair well with formal pools, fountains and lush plantings.

DC Ranch

A 4,400-acre community at the base of the McDowell Mountains, next to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Each of its villages has an architectural character to design toward.

Silverleaf

One of DC Ranch's four villages, with Spanish and Mediterranean Revival estates and real elevation change. Terraced pools and stone walls suit its canyon lots.

Troon North

Wrapped around the northern foothills of Pinnacle Peak among giant granite boulders. We often nest pools among existing boulders instead of clearing them away.

The Arise Method

From First Call to First Swim

Scottsdale projects follow our usual method, with the approvals pulled forward.

Discovery Call

Thirty minutes on the phone about your vision, timeline and budget.

Design & 3D Proposal

A complimentary on-site visit, then custom 3D renderings and a detailed proposal within a week.

Permits & Approvals

We prepare the engineering, file with the City of Scottsdale and package your HOA submittal.

Build & Reveal

Eight to fourteen weeks of construction with weekly owner updates, then your first swim.

See All Seven Steps

Featured Project

The Nearest Featured Project

The Hidden Jewel is in Gilbert. It is a remodel, and its glowing edges and covered bar show the kind of update many central Scottsdale yards are ready for.

Good Questions

Questions From Scottsdale Homeowners

Do I need a permit and HOA approval for a pool in Scottsdale?

Usually both. The city requires a pool permit with a construction plan and a site plan showing setbacks, and most homes sit in an HOA that reviews exterior work. We run both tracks in parallel to keep the calendar short.

What is the ESL overlay and does it affect my pool?

The Environmentally Sensitive Lands overlay covers about 134 square miles north and east of the CAP canal. Inside it, the ordinance limits disturbance and adds detail, such as topography, to the site plan. We check your parcel early.

Can you build an infinity edge pool on a north Scottsdale hillside?

Often, when the slope, structure and approvals line up. A vanishing edge needs a catch basin, careful engineering and a view worth framing; our infinity edge design guide covers what to expect.

Do you remodel older pools in McCormick Ranch and Gainey Ranch?

Yes. Remodels are a core service, from new finishes and tile to reshaped steps, water features and Pentair automation. We assess the shell and plumbing first, then tell you whether to remodel or build new.

How long do Scottsdale approvals take?

It depends on your HOA's calendar and the city review. Our Scottsdale guide puts typical approvals at roughly two to six weeks before excavation, and starting the HOA package during design keeps that window short.

Start Your Project

Four Questions to Your Design Call

Tell us what you want to build, your budget and timing, then pick a time for a free 30-minute call with our design manager.