Hiring a Pool and Landscape Contractor

Start by verifying the contractor's license directly on the California Contractors State License Board website (cslb.ca.gov). Confirm the license is active, that it carries the right classifications (C-53 for pools, C-27 for landscaping), and that bond and workers' compensation information is current. Then review relevant project experience, ask for references on projects similar to yours, and read the written scope carefully. Richard Lusk Landscape and Design is CSLB License #950714 (C-27 and C-53), and we welcome that review.

Ask: Is your license active, and does it include the C-53 Swimming Pool classification? Do you carry general liability and workers' compensation insurance? How long have you been building pools? Who designs the project and who manages construction? Who pulls the permits? What is included and excluded in the price? How are changes handled? What warranties do you provide, and where are they written? How long will construction take after the permit is issued? Richard Lusk Landscape and Design answers all of these in writing before you sign.

Ask whether the contractor holds an active C-27 Landscaping license, carries general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and has built projects similar to yours. Ask who designs the landscape, how drainage and irrigation will be handled, which areas are included, how plant selections are made, and what warranties apply. Ask how the project will be scheduled and how changes are documented. A clear written scope protects you more than any verbal promise.

Hiring one licensed company for both gives you a single design, a single schedule and a single point of accountability. When a pool builder and a separate landscaper work on the same yard, details such as deck elevations, drainage, irrigation sleeves, lighting conduit and equipment locations often fall between the two contracts. Richard Lusk Landscape and Design holds both the C-53 Swimming Pool and C-27 Landscaping licenses, so we coordinate all of it from the start.

Put the bids side by side and compare scope line by line: quantities, materials, equipment models, exclusions and who is responsible for permits, engineering and HOA submissions. Check supporting work such as demolition, haul-off, grading, drainage, base preparation and restoration of access routes, not just the visible finishes. Where a bid is silent on an item, ask. The lowest price often describes a smaller or different project. We provide detailed written proposals so you can see exactly what you are buying.

Bids vary because contractors include different scopes, materials, assumptions and levels of supporting work. One bid may include drainage, engineering, permits and high-quality base preparation; another may leave them out or treat them as extras later. Our complimentary detailed scope of work and budget lists what is included and excluded, so you can compare scope against scope and understand where differences come from.

Be cautious of a contractor who cannot give you a license number, asks for a large down payment, pressures you to sign immediately, offers only a verbal estimate, suggests skipping permits, or gives a price far below other bids without explaining why. Also be wary of anyone who will not provide proof of insurance or references. California law limits the down payment on home improvement and swimming pool contracts, so a demand for a large deposit before work begins is a red flag.

California generally requires a contractor’s license when the project needs a building permit, uses employee labor, or costs $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials. The small-job exemption applies only when all its conditions are met; a larger job cannot be divided into small contracts to avoid licensing. Pool construction and substantial landscape work should be performed by properly licensed contractors. Verify the license, classification, bond and workers’ compensation information through CSLB; our license is #950714.

References: CSLB contractor licensing requirements ↗

A landscape designer focuses on the design of outdoor spaces. A landscape architect is a state-licensed design professional whose services may include site planning and landscape documentation. A design-build contractor, such as Richard Lusk Landscape and Design, coordinates design and construction under the agreed project scope. The roles and licensing requirements depend on the work. Where your project needs structural, civil or geotechnical engineering or another licensed professional, those responsibilities are identified in the proposal.

Swimming pool work must be performed under an appropriate California contractor license. The C-53 classification specifically covers swimming pool construction; the authority of another classification depends on its scope and the project. Richard Lusk Landscape and Design holds both C-53 Swimming Pool and C-27 Landscaping classifications under CSLB License #950714. Verify classifications directly with CSLB when comparing contractors.

Contact us as early as possible, ideally several months before you would like construction to start. Design, budgeting, engineering, HOA review and city or county permits all take time before construction begins, and coastal or hillside properties may need additional approvals. Starting early also gives you time to make decisions without pressure. Discuss your target season early so we can plan around the location, approvals and construction conditions.

You should expect a valid license and insurance, a clear design you understand, a written proposal that describes the work, materials and exclusions, a written contract that complies with California law, permits pulled for the work that requires them, a clean and safe job site, regular communication, written change orders, and a final walkthrough with operating instructions and warranty information. We bring Richard Lusk’s 50 years of experience to those responsibilities.

The best builder for your project is properly licensed and insured, experienced with comparable sites and clear about the written scope, budget and schedule. Richard Lusk brings 50 years of experience and more than 3,000 completed projects across his career. Our Newport Beach-based team serves Orange County, selected Los Angeles cities and neighborhoods, and La Quinta, with C-53 Swimming Pool and C-27 Landscaping classifications under CSLB License #950714. Review our portfolio and ask about work that relates to your property.

Look for an active C-27 license, insurance, relevant construction experience, a clear design process and a detailed written scope. Compare how each contractor addresses drainage, walls, access, planting and maintenance requirements, not just the finished appearance. Richard Lusk Landscape and Design brings 50 years of experience to complete residential projects across Orange County, selected Los Angeles cities and neighborhoods, and La Quinta. We also hold a C-53 Swimming Pool classification, so the pool and landscape can be planned together.

Go to the Contractors State License Board website at cslb.ca.gov and use the "Check a License" search. Enter the license number, business name or personal name. The record shows whether the license is active, its classifications, the contractor's bond, workers' compensation insurance status and any disciplinary actions. To verify Richard Lusk Landscape and Design, search License #950714.

Not automatically. The lowest bid often leaves out work another contractor included, uses lower-grade materials or base preparation, or relies on change orders later. Compare scope, quality, experience and communication, not just the total. Our complimentary detailed scope of work and budget spells out what is included, so you can see exactly what you are buying and avoid unforeseen change orders down the road.

Like most full-service pool and landscape builders, we combine our own team with trusted, qualified specialty trades where a project calls for them. Regardless of who performs a particular task, Richard Lusk Landscape and Design is responsible for the entire project under our contract, schedule and quality standards, and you have one point of accountability from start to finish.

Three things set us apart: experience, integration and a detailed budget-first process. Richard Lusk has built pools and landscapes since 1976, with more than 3,000 completed projects. We hold both pool (C-53) and landscape (C-27) licenses, so we design and build your entire property as one project. And we prepare a complimentary detailed scope of work and budget before any plans are drawn, then design to that approved budget, which reduces the likelihood of unforeseen change orders during construction.