Dual-licensed GC + pool contractor. 200+ completed projects. Built for the Scottsdale slopes other builders walk away from.
Lots on Silverleaf’s ridgelines, DC Ranch’s graded terraces, McDowell Mountain slopes, and Mummy Mountain’s rocky faces all require more than a pool license. They require a licensed General Contractor who understands hillside structural engineering, NAOS compliance, and Scottsdale’s Hillside Ordinance before the first shovel hits the ground. ICP holds both — ROC #333187 KA-5 (pool) and ROC #247627 KB-2 (general contractor). One team. One contract. No subcontractor juggling when the soils report comes back complicated. Want to talk through your lot? Call Jerrod: 480-388-4173
Negative-Edge Pools on Scottsdale Ridgelines The panoramic views from Silverleaf and DC Ranch deserve a pool that disappears into the skyline. We engineer negative-edge basins on steep slope lots — structural wall thickness, catch basin geometry, and water-level calibration that makes the vanishing edge perform year after year. No compromises for the terrain. Bedrock & Caliche Excavation McDowell Mountain and Mummy Mountain lots frequently hit granite bedrock or caliche within the first few feet of excavation. We deploy air hammer equipment, specialty formwork, and topographic surveys ahead of any dig — no surprise change orders when the soil tells a different story than the original survey. Engineered Retaining Wall Systems On slopes over 15%, the retaining structure is more engineering-intensive than the pool shell. We build PE-designed shotcrete walls anchored into stable soil or bedrock, sized for the full load of a filled pool basin — some pushing 500+ tons — with integrated drainage to manage hydrostatic pressure over the life of the structure. Monsoon-Rated Drainage Systems Scottsdale’s summer storms hit fast and hard on hillside lots. We engineer subsurface drainage, surface grading, and pump systems to redirect water away from your pool and home foundation — including filing revised Grading & Drainage Reports with the city when the original plan doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
Tell us about your lot and we’ll take it from there. Site walk, survey review, and a straight answer on what your slope requires — no commitment needed.
Scottsdale’s Hillside Ordinance adds required review layers that flat-lot builds skip entirely. Here’s what a slope build actually looks like on the permit clock — specific to Scottsdale. Weeks 1–3: Pre-Application Engineering Geotechnical report commissioned. Soils analysis and slope stability study completed by a licensed PE. Scottsdale Development Services requires this documentation before accepting a permit package on any site with grades over 10%. Weeks 4–6: Permit Package Submission Full structural drawings, Grading & Drainage Report, NAOS overlay compliance map, and PE-stamped plans submitted to Scottsdale. HOA architectural committee review — Silverleaf, DC Ranch, WM Ranch — runs concurrently. We prepare elevation renderings and full material specs for every committee. Weeks 7–12: City Review Cycle Scottsdale hillside permits average 4–6 weeks in plan check versus 2–3 weeks for a standard residential pool. We anticipate comment rounds and respond within 5 business days to keep the project moving. Weeks 12–14: Permit Issued → Construction Starts With permit in hand, we schedule excavation and special inspections — footing, rebar, shotcrete, final. Our dual GC license means we pull every permit under a single contractor. No separate subs filing separately, no gaps in coverage or liability on your lot.
One License. One Contract. One Accountable Team. Most pool builders are pool-licensed only. The moment your hillside project requires retaining walls, structural grading, or drainage infrastructure, they sub it out — and that’s where projects unravel. ICP carries both a pool contractor license (ROC #333187 KA-5) and a general contractor license (ROC #247627 KB-2). Everything on your lot — pool shell, retaining systems, drainage, hardscape, outdoor environments — is built under a single contract by one team that owns the result. For the full technical breakdown of our engineering approach, see our Hillside Pool Engineering Guide →
Where We Build: ICP’s hillside portfolio spans Silverleaf, DC Ranch, McDowell Mountain Preserve frontage, Mummy Mountain estates, WM Ranch, Desert Mountain, Troon, and Clearwater Hills. If your address has elevation, we’ve likely built nearby — and we know what your site requires before you commit to a design.
Start with a site assessment. We walk your lot, review your survey, and give you a straight answer on what’s possible — before you’re committed to anything.
Technical resources and related pages for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley hillside pool builds.