Concrete Companyin Compton, CA
A concrete company in Compton can usually pour a patio or walk on a flat lot, but the City publishes no permit page for slabs, so ask Building and Safety first. Residential driveways must be at least four inches of Portland cement concrete, and any work in the street right-of-way needs a separate City permit.
Most of the concrete in Compton is old. The City's Housing Element says half of all homes went up between 1940 and 1959, and the Census Bureau's 2024 estimates put 61.1 percent of about 23,647 homes before 1960. Their driveways, walks and patio slabs were poured when the city was filling in around the 1867 settlement of Griffith Compton's party on Rancho San Pedro, and many now show cracks, heaved panels and drainage that no longer works.
MDG Builders, CSLB #1040337, is a general contractor in Tarzana. We measure the yard, put the permit questions below to Compton Building and Safety and Public Works, and schedule the pour, and a licensed concrete subcontractor forms and places the slab. Ask for that firm's license number and proof of insurance. Prices and materials are on the concrete page, and the Compton overview shows the other trades we manage here.
What Compton's code says about driveways, slabs and walls
Where concrete permits come from in Compton: City of Compton Building and Safety Department.
- The Zoning Code's parking standards require all residential driveways and parking and maneuvering areas to be paved with at least four inches of Portland cement concrete, and a residential driveway must lead to a garage, carport or approved parking space. The allowance is one 18-foot-wide driveway per street frontage with no more than two driveways, and circular driveways need 100 feet of street frontage. Driveways serving up to four units must be at least 10 feet wide.
- Section 20-2.1 requires a written permit from the Street Superintendent, with lines and grades from the City Engineer, to lay, construct or repair a curb, sidewalk, gutter or driveway in a street or City right-of-way. Section 20-2.2 requires driveways between the curb and the property line to be paved with Portland cement concrete, and a driveway must allow a vehicle to park fully on private property.
- The Chapter 15 exemption list covers sidewalks and driveways up to 30 inches above adjacent grade (if not over a basement or part of an accessible route) and retaining walls up to four feet from the bottom of the footing unless they support a surcharge or impound Class I, II or IIIA liquids.
Sources for these rules
How wide can a driveway be in Compton, and how thick must the concrete be?
The Zoning Code answers both. Every residential driveway, along with parking and maneuvering areas, must be paved with at least four inches of Portland cement concrete, and a driveway must lead to a garage, carport or approved parking space. The allowance is one driveway up to 18 feet wide per street frontage, no more than two driveways on a lot, and a circular driveway needs 100 feet of frontage. A driveway serving up to four units must be at least 10 feet wide.
Four inches is the floor the code sets, not a design for your soil or your truck. Ask the bidder what thickness, base and reinforcement they propose and why, and have it written into the proposal. Widening an existing driveway past 18 feet runs into the width rule before it runs into cost, so measure the frontage first.
Concrete trucks are limited by noise rules as well. Section 7-12.22 bars construction work, including excavation, outside 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except where noise stays inside a building, and lists no Sunday hours.
Who permits a driveway apron, sidewalk or curb repair in Compton?
The City does, through a different door than the building permit. Municipal Code Section 20-2.1 requires a written permit from the Street Superintendent, with lines and grades from the City Engineer, before anyone lays, builds or repairs a curb, sidewalk, gutter or driveway in a street or City right-of-way. Section 20-2.2 says the part of a driveway between the curb and the property line must be Portland cement concrete, and that a vehicle has to be able to park fully on private property.
In practice that means the apron and sidewalk panel in front of your house are not yours to patch on a Saturday. Ask whether the work is listed on your proposal as a separate permit line, and who stands at the counter to pull it. Permit applications run through the Citizen Serve portal, which Form B-016 says only a contractor or broker with an active City business license can use, so check that your bidder has one.
Compare how neighbors handle it in concrete work in Long Beach and concrete work in Downey.
How tall can a block wall, front yard fence or retaining wall be in Compton?
It depends on the yard. Table 30-44.A caps a fence in a front yard on a residential street at 3 1/2 feet and requires it to be open or a combination, while a front yard on a non-residential street or a major or secondary highway may reach 5 feet. A rear or side yard against another residential zone needs a solid fence of 5 to 6 feet, and one against a right-of-way, school, commercial or manufacturing zone needs 5 to 8 feet. Section 30-44.4 requires masonry on lines between commercial or manufacturing and residential zones, and on rear and side lines next to major or secondary highways.
On permits, the Chapter 15 exemption list covers masonry fences under five feet and retaining walls up to four feet measured from the bottom of the footing. The retaining wall exemption stops when the wall holds back a surcharge, meaning a load such as a driveway or building above it, or impounds certain flammable liquids. Section 30-44.2 also requires a fence to be rebuilt to the current standard once 25 percent of it needs repair or replacement, so a repair can turn into a full replacement.
Do you need a permit to pour a concrete patio or backyard slab in Compton?
The City does not say, so ask. Compton has no do-I-need-a-permit page. The amended exemption list in Chapter 15 names sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, as long as they are not over a basement or part of an accessible route. A patio slab on the ground is not named, and the list adds that an exemption never authorizes work that violates any code. Our practice is to send Building and Safety a sketch and square footage at (310) 605-5509 and keep the reply.
Zoning is a second question. Section 30-45.2 lists fences, landscaping, parking lots and trash enclosures among exterior yard improvements that go to design review, and we found no page that says whether a plain residential patio is caught. Planning answers at (310) 605-5532.
A third reason to ask is the presale report. The inspector covers exterior space, sheds included, so an old slab, pad or storage shed with no permit history can come up when the house is sold.
Does liquefaction or flooding change how a slab is built in Compton?
It changes the questions, not a fixed rule. At 30 of 42 sample points across the city, the County's layer for the State's liquefaction hazard zone returned a zone, and the Housing Element names the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone running through the southwest corner. The City's plan check form lists Seismic Zone D, and says additions and remodels normally do not need a soil report while new buildings do. A patio or driveway is not a building, so whether a footing or wall triggers soil work is a plan-check question.
Water is the other half. Municipal Code Section 14-10 requires a Development Permit before construction in an area FEMA designates as a Flood Control Restoration zone, and the Housing Element describes Compton Creek flooding and dam-failure flooding from Whittier Narrows. Our sample found 13 of 42 points in the shaded 0.2 percent annual chance layer. Check the address, then ask the bidder where runoff goes, how the slab is sloped away from the house and how far the footing sits below finished grade.
Should a cracked 1950s driveway or walk in Compton be patched, resurfaced or replaced?
Look at why it cracked before choosing. Hairline cracks in a slab that is otherwise flat are common and can be sealed. Panels that have heaved, tilted toward the house or pooled water point to soil movement, roots or poor drainage, and a patch will not cure that. Surface resurfacing hides wear but does not fix movement underneath, so ask the bidder which one they see.
Repairs are also a matter of appearance, since a new panel beside a weathered walk shows, so ask how color and finish will be matched. Demolition, haul-off and a compacted base are separate lines in a good proposal. For a sale, a seller whose report flags an unpermitted slab or pad can legalize it or sign an AS-IS release, which is easier to plan before a buyer is waiting.
What does concrete work cost in Compton, and who is licensed to pour it?
Angi's 2026 Los Angeles pages put a plain patio at $4 to $13 per square foot, a driveway at $8 to $20 and a stamped patio at $15 to $30. HomeGuide shows $4 to $12 for plain concrete. Angi does not say how it gathers its figures, so we rate them medium confidence for flatwork and lower for decorative work and driveways with grading. Our working range for a typical patio, walk or slab of 300 square feet or more is about $8 to $14 a square foot, with decorative finishes from $15 to $30 and driveway replacement from $9 to $20 including demolition.
Small jobs cost more per foot because crews charge minimums. For labor, the Bureau of Labor Statistics put Los Angeles area cement masons at a mean of $33.67 an hour in May 2025.
On licensing, CSLB's C-8 concrete class covers forming, pouring, placing and finishing concrete, while block walls fall under masonry. Contracts over $500 must follow Business and Professions Code 7159.
Concrete photos from Compton and nearby communities
Seven photos of concrete work around Compton and its neighbors, from forms and footings to driveways, walls, walks and finished patios. Tap a photo to enlarge it.
What concrete costs around Compton
These are Los Angeles ranges from Angi, HomeGuide and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not a Compton quote, and we print no per-foot price for retaining walls because we found no independent source. Permits, demolition, haul-off, drainage and rebar are separate lines. A slab often goes with other work, so see flooring in Compton, decks in Compton, the flooring cost guide, concrete work in Los Angeles and concrete work in Pasadena.
| What it covers | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Patio, walkway or slab, broom finish, 300 sq ft or more | $8 to $14 per square foot |
| Decorative: stained, stamped or exposed aggregate | $15 to $30 per square foot |
| Driveway replacement, with demolition of the old slab | $9 to $20 per square foot |
| 20 by 20 foot plain patio (400 sq ft) | About $3,200 to $5,600 |
| 20 by 20 foot decorative patio (400 sq ft) | About $6,000 to $12,000 |
| Small jobs under 300 sq ft | Usually above the per-foot range |
| Retaining walls | Set by the written proposal |
Compton concrete questions, answered
Can I pour a concrete patio without a permit in Compton?
The City does not say plainly. Its Chapter 15 exemption list names sidewalks and driveways up to 30 inches above grade but not a backyard patio slab, and exemptions never authorize a code violation. Send Building and Safety a sketch and the square footage at (310) 605-5509 and keep the answer, and ask Planning at (310) 605-5532 about design review.
Can I expand my driveway without a permit in Compton?
Probably not, for two reasons. The Zoning Code allows one driveway up to 18 feet wide per street frontage and no more than two, and any change at the curb or sidewalk needs a written permit from the Street Superintendent under Section 20-2.1. Measure your frontage, then ask Planning and Public Works before you hire.
Is 4 inches of concrete thick enough for a driveway in Compton?
Four inches is the minimum the Zoning Code sets for residential driveways, which must use Portland cement concrete. It is a floor, not a recommendation for your soil or vehicles. Ask the bidder what thickness, base and reinforcement they propose, and why, and have those details written into the proposal before you sign.
What is the maximum height of a retaining wall without a permit in Compton?
Compton's Chapter 15 exemption covers retaining walls up to four feet, measured from the bottom of the footing, unless the wall carries a surcharge or impounds certain flammable liquids. We would treat anything taller, or any wall holding up a driveway or building, as permit-required until Building and Safety says otherwise.
How tall can a front yard fence or wall be in Compton?
On a residential street, a front yard fence is capped at 3 1/2 feet and must be open or a combination. A front yard on a non-residential street or a major or secondary highway may go up to 5 feet. Rear yards need solid fences of 5 to 8 feet depending on what they abut, so check the lot line type.
How much should a 20x20 concrete patio cost in Compton?
About $3,200 to $5,600 at our $8 to $14 per square foot working range for a 400 square foot slab. Angi's 2026 Los Angeles page shows a wider $1,600 to $5,200 for a 20x20 patio, and Angi does not publish its method. Demolition, drainage and a permit question would be extra lines in a written proposal.
How much does a concrete driveway replacement cost in Compton?
Our working range is $9 to $20 a square foot including demolition, so a 600 square foot driveway runs about $5,400 to $12,000. Angi's 2026 Los Angeles page shows an average of $7,270 within a $3,067 to $16,472 spread. Curb or apron work in the right-of-way needs its own City permit and is priced separately.
How much would a 20x20 stamped concrete patio cost in Compton?
Roughly $6,000 to $12,000 for 400 square feet, found by applying Angi's 2026 Los Angeles decorative range of $15 to $30 a square foot. Angi's own average for a stamped patio there is $5,948. Pattern, color, sealer and finish quality drive the spread, so ask to see finished work.
What license does a concrete company need for concrete work in Compton?
A concrete company should hold CSLB's C-8 classification for forming, pouring and finishing concrete, and block walls fall under masonry. To pull City permits the contractor also needs a current City of Compton business license. Ask for both numbers, check the CSLB one on its website yourself, and confirm the contract meets Business and Professions Code 7159.
Can you pour concrete in the rain in Compton?
It is a poor idea, and good crews reschedule. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for Hawthorne Municipal Airport show 11.77 inches of rain a year, about 81 percent of it between December and March, so winter forecasts drive scheduling. Ask who decides on the day, how fresh concrete is covered and what happens to the price if rain moves the pour.
Send the address, a sketch and the finish you want
Tell us what is there now, how big the new slab or wall should be and whether it touches the curb. We check the driveway width rule and the curb permit before we call.