Brett Ryan, C-53 License #1089432, has designed and built over 500 resort-caliber pools across Orange County since 1999. Specializing in the equestrian estates, golf course communities, and hillside ranches of San Juan Capistrano, Brett brings deep familiarity with this historic city's HOA landscape, Spanish Colonial architecture, and the sweeping Saddleback Valley views that define its finest properties. Call (949) 555-0190 for a free on-site design consultation.
About San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano is unlike any other city in Orange County. Known as California's most historic landmark city and home to the famous Mission San Juan Capistrano, SJC blends Spanish Colonial heritage with expansive estate living. The city hosts equestrian estates, hillside ranches, and prestigious golf communities including Marbella Country Club, making it one of the most distinct luxury markets in South OC.
Building a pool in San Juan Capistrano demands more than construction competence. Many properties sit on graded hillsides with panoramic views of the Ortega Mountains, the Saddleback Valley, or the historic mission corridor below. These lots call for hillside engineering, retaining wall integration, and pool designs that work with the natural contour of the land. Our infinity-edge pools on SJC hillsides are engineered to the slope and built to capture views that exist nowhere else in Orange County.
For properties within Marbella, The Hunt Club, The Oaks, or other association-governed communities, all construction requires HOA architectural committee approval in addition to permits from the City of San Juan Capistrano Building Division. Brett Ryan manages both processes from initial submission through final sign-off. Learn more about city building requirements at sanjuancapistrano.org.
What We Build
Every project is designed around your SJC property's unique topography, architectural character, and community standards.
$80,000 to $350,000 is the range for custom pool projects across San Juan Capistrano's estate landscape. We design every pool around the lot's topography, architectural vernacular, and HOA guidelines. Spanish Colonial properties benefit from warm, artisan designs: flagstone or travertine coping, carved stone water features, and Saltillo-accented pool decks that honor the mission-era character of the city. Brett Ryan has built over 500 custom pools across Orange County since 1999, including projects in SJC's equestrian and golf communities. Every project includes 3D rendering, a fixed-price contract, and complete permit management.
$150,000 to $350,000+ is the typical investment for a hillside infinity pool on a San Juan Capistrano estate. SJC's elevated lots overlooking the Ortega Mountains, Saddleback Valley, and mission corridor are among the most compelling pool sites in Southern California. We engineer the structural bond beam and vanishing-edge trough to capture the specific view angle from your lot, aligning the water plane with the distant ridgeline or valley floor. Glass tile spillways, precision-leveled deck planes, and zero-horizon water lines create a resort experience that few locations in OC can match. All hillside designs include full retaining wall engineering and geotechnical review.
89% of our luxury pool projects include an integrated spa, and San Juan Capistrano is no exception. SJC's inland location means cooler evenings than coastal communities, making a heated spa an essential component of outdoor living. We design raised overflow spas that cascade into the main pool, side-by-side spa and pool combinations with shared equipment, and freestanding grotto spas framed by natural boulders. All spas are integrated with Pentair IntelliConnect or Jandy iAquaLink smart automation and maintain 104 to 106 degrees year-round. Integrated spa and pool systems cost 15 to 20% less to operate than separate units, per APSP benchmarks.
$8,000 to $60,000 covers the range from a simple sheet waterfall to an elaborately carved stone grotto with interior lighting. Water features are particularly popular in San Juan Capistrano, where the Spanish Colonial and ranch aesthetic invites natural stone fountains, tiered Talavera tile waterfalls, and boulder grottos that evoke the historic landscape. We build deck jets, raised beam waterfalls, classical scupper walls, and fire-and-water bowl combinations. All water features are engineered as part of the pool hydraulic system and permitted by the City of SJC. Gas fire features are designed and permitted as standalone elements with full city inspections.
$50,000 to $130,000 encompasses outdoor kitchens from a premium BBQ island to a fully equipped alfresco cooking environment with Wolf or Fire Magic grills, stainless undercounter refrigeration, granite countertops, and stone veneer bases. San Juan Capistrano's ranch and estate culture is built around outdoor entertaining, and our kitchens are designed to extend that tradition with covered pergolas, ceiling fans, infrared heaters, and integrated outdoor audio. All structures are engineered and permitted through the City of SJC Building Division. Pergola and pavilion structures use Douglas fir or cedar framing with tile or slate roofing that complements the Spanish Colonial character of the neighborhood.
$40,000 to $100,000 in hardscaping transforms the area surrounding your pool into an integrated outdoor living environment. San Juan Capistrano's estate lots benefit from large deck areas that create distinct zones for lounging, dining, and entertaining. We install limestone, travertine, sandstone, and tumbled flagstone that suit the historic and ranch character of SJC properties. For equestrian lots, we design permeable decomposed granite transition areas between pool decks and paddock zones. All hardscaping is designed to CPSC slip-resistance standards. We handle all grading, drainage, and city permit filings as part of the hardscape scope.
One app controls every pool and spa function from anywhere in the world. We install Pentair IntelliConnect, Jandy iAquaLink, or Hayward OmniLogic systems that manage variable-speed pumps, heater and spa temperature, LED lighting color programs, water feature timers, and chemical dosing alerts from a single interface. Integration with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home is standard. Variable-speed pump automation reduces pool energy costs by up to 90% versus single-speed operation, satisfying California Title 20 energy standards per the California Energy Commission. LED lighting saves 75% versus incandescent, per Energy Star data.
Full-service permit and HOA management means you never deal with bureaucracy directly. We prepare the complete HOA application package for Marbella, The Hunt Club, The Oaks, and other SJC associations: site plans, pool design drawings, elevation renderings, material finish boards, equipment specs, and construction timeline. For the City of San Juan Capistrano Building Division, we prepare structural and hydraulic engineering drawings, Title 24 energy compliance documentation, and pool barrier specifications per CPSC Pool Safely guidelines. Our first-submission approval rate across all OC projects exceeds 94%.
By the Numbers
Client Reviews
Five-star reviews from SJC estate, equestrian, and golf community property owners.
"Brett Ryan designed a hillside infinity pool for our San Juan Capistrano ranch that captures a perfect view of the Ortega Mountains. The water plane aligns exactly with the ridgeline. Brett navigated Marbella's HOA and the city permit process without a single delay. We have entertained every important person in our lives here and everyone asks who built it."
"We wanted a pool that felt rooted in San Juan Capistrano's Spanish Colonial character rather than looking like a Newport Beach import. Brett proposed tumbled travertine, a carved stone waterfall, and Saltillo-accented coping. The result is absolutely beautiful and belongs here. Project came in on time and on budget at $195,000 including an outdoor kitchen and spa."
"Our equestrian property in SJC needed a pool that worked around our corrals and paddocks. Brett came out personally to plan the placement so that construction caused zero disruption to our horses. The finished pool with spa and full outdoor kitchen is exactly what we wanted. The Pentair automation system is outstanding. Total was $218,000 and worth every dollar."
Common Questions
Specific answers for SJC estate, equestrian, and golf community homeowners.
How much does a custom pool cost in San Juan Capistrano?
Custom pools in San Juan Capistrano range from $80,000 to $350,000+. Most full outdoor living environments with spa, decking, and water features fall between $120,000 and $250,000. Hillside infinity pools with retaining wall engineering and valley-view alignment typically run $150,000 to $350,000.
Do I need a permit to build a pool in San Juan Capistrano?
Yes. The City of San Juan Capistrano Building Division requires a permit for all residential pool and spa construction. We handle the full permit application including structural engineering, hydraulic plans, Title 24 energy compliance, and barrier fence specifications. Plan check typically takes 3-4 weeks. Visit sanjuancapistrano.org for city building information.
Do San Juan Capistrano HOAs require pool approval?
Yes. Most luxury communities in SJC, including Marbella Country Club, The Hunt Club, The Oaks, and Rancho San Juan, require written HOA architectural committee approval before any construction begins. We prepare the complete submission package. Review typically takes 3 to 6 weeks depending on the association's meeting schedule.
How long does pool construction take in San Juan Capistrano?
From signed contract to first swim: HOA review 3-6 weeks, city permit processing 3-4 weeks, construction 8-12 weeks. Total timeline ranges from 12 to 20 weeks. Hillside projects with extensive retaining walls or large outdoor kitchen structures may run longer.
Can you build a pool on an equestrian property in SJC?
Yes. We assess every equestrian lot for underground utilities, irrigation systems, paddock placement, and corral locations before design begins. Pool placement is coordinated with your equestrian infrastructure so construction causes zero disruption to horses or livestock. We have completed multiple equestrian estate pools across San Juan Capistrano.
Can you build a hillside infinity pool in San Juan Capistrano?
Hillside infinity pools are one of our specialties in SJC. We engineer the retaining walls, sloped excavation, and vanishing-edge trough to capture specific views, whether that is the Ortega Mountains, the Saddleback Valley, or the mission corridor. All hillside designs include geotechnical review and full structural engineering to City of SJC standards.
What pool styles work best in San Juan Capistrano?
SJC's Spanish Colonial heritage and ranch character favor warm, artisan designs: freeform pools with flagstone or travertine coping, Mediterranean rectangular pools with carved stone water features, and infinity edges on hillside lots. Saltillo tile accents, natural boulders, and Talavera tile details honor the historic character of the city. Contemporary geometric designs also work well for newer Marbella estate homes.
What are the water conservation requirements for new pools in SJC?
California Title 20 requires variable-speed pumps on all new pools built after January 2014 (energy.ca.gov). These pumps use up to 90% less energy than single-speed models. We also install automated pool covers that reduce evaporation by up to 95%, smart fill valves, and water-smart landscaping. Every pool we build meets or exceeds MWDOC water-efficiency standards.
Do pool safety barriers require special permits in San Juan Capistrano?
Yes. California law and CPSC Pool Safely guidelines require barrier fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates on all new residential pools. SJC building permits include a barrier review as part of plan check. Popular options for estate properties include frameless glass panels, powder-coated aluminum, and ornamental wrought iron that meets both safety codes and HOA architectural standards.
Service Area
Brett Ryan builds in OC's most prestigious communities, from coastal estates to inland golf and equestrian properties.
Start Your Project
Brett Ryan visits your SJC property in person, at no charge, to assess your site and begin designing the pool your estate deserves.
Call (949) 555-0190