Concrete Companyin El Segundo, CA
A concrete company in El Segundo works inside rules on alley access, front yard planting and street work: a lot backing onto an alley must take vehicle access from it, 25 to 35 percent of a front setback stays planted, and any work in the public right of way needs a City permit.
The land under El Segundo's concrete was an industrial town's before it was anyone's front yard. The City's Housing Element, adopted in January 2022, says less than 25 percent of the land has ever been used for housing and heavy manufacturing covers about 30 percent, and its Downtown Specific Plan district, roughly two blocks by five blocks, held about 83 homes in September 2021. Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 count 3,029 detached houses among 7,889 homes (38.4 percent), and 62.1 percent of all homes went up before 1970, so a drive or walk poured with the house is more than 55 years old for most of them.
MDG Builders, CSLB #1040337, is a Tarzana general contractor. We pin down the scope, ask the City's Building and Safety Division the permit and zoning questions and book a licensed concrete subcontractor to form, pour and finish. Finishes and materials are covered on the concrete page, and the El Segundo overview shows the other trades we run in town.
What El Segundo's Municipal Code and Building and Safety Division say about concrete work
Where concrete permits come from in El Segundo: City of El Segundo Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division.
- The state list of permit-exempt work (Albany's copy of Residential Code R105.2) exempts sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade, but zoning, front yard landscaping and right of way rules still apply, and work in the public right of way, such as a driveway approach, needs a city permit under Municipal Code 9-2-1.
- El Segundo does not require a grading permit for an excavation of 50 cubic yards or less that is under two feet deep, or that creates a cut slope no taller than five feet and no steeper than 2:1, and excavation within the volume of a permitted structure is exempt (Building Code appendix J103.2 as amended).
- When an R-1 lot abuts an alley, vehicular access must come from the alley (15-4B-7). In the front yard, at least 35 percent of the setback on lots 50 feet or wider and 25 percent on narrower lots must stay permanent landscaping without hardscape, which limits how much of a front yard can be paved (15-4B-4).
- CSLB defines the C-8 Concrete classification as forming, pouring, placing, finishing and installing mass, pavement, flat and other concrete work, and setting screeds for pavements and flatwork.
Can an El Segundo driveway come off the street when the lot backs onto an alley?
Check the alley first. When an R-1 lot abuts an alley, Municipal Code 15-4B-7 says vehicle access must come from the alley, so a new curb cut on the street side of such a lot is not a safe assumption. We did not read any driveway width minimum or maximum, and we found no rule on slab thickness, so ask the counter what paved width your lot allows.
Sight lines apply too. Corner lots must keep a triangle with 15-foot sides along the front and street-side property lines clear of anything taller than 30 inches (15-2-6), alley intersections keep a five-foot triangle, and 15-2-11 adds a visibility triangle beside each driveway. A raised planter or block pillar beside a new apron can fail on that alone, which is why we put the sketch in front of the City before the forms go in.
- Does the lot touch an alley, and where does the code want the drive?
- Is the corner triangle clear at 30 inches or lower?
- Does the apron or curb change?
How much of an El Segundo front yard can be paved?
Planting sets the cap. At least 35 percent of the front setback on lots 50 feet wide or wider, and 25 percent on narrower lots, must be permanent landscaping rather than hardscape (15-4B-4). The R-1 front yard is 22 feet deep (15-4B-3), so on a lot exactly 50 feet wide the setback covers about 1,100 square feet and at least 385 of them stay planted, if the setback runs the full lot width.
The code allows artificial turf when it is non-hazardous, pervious and part of a landscape plan, and a new primary dwelling needs a 24-inch box tree in the front yard. How turf counts toward the percentage is a question for Planning, and so is any widening of a driveway into the planted share.
Do you need a City permit to replace a driveway apron or sidewalk in El Segundo?
Work in the public right of way needs one, and a driveway approach is the usual example. Municipal Code 9-2-1 requires a permit for any work or encroachment there. Starting early is charged a special investigation fee equal to double the normal permit fee, a cash deposit is required for inspection, and under 9-2-2 the Street Superintendent issues the permit only after the applicant posts a bond the City approves.
The state permit-exempt list, as the City of Albany reproduces it from the 2025 code, passes sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade. That exemption speaks to building permits only. Zoning, front yard planting and right-of-way rules still apply, so a private-side pour can be exempt while the apron beside it is not.
Where your property line falls, and who owns the strip between curb and walk, comes from a survey rather than from how the concrete looks. We found no El Segundo rule on who pays to fix a lifted sidewalk, so ask the City before assuming.
Can you pour a concrete patio in El Segundo without a permit?
We cannot say yes from a City source. The state exempt list names sidewalks and driveways, not a ground-level patio slab. The R-1 floor area count names habitable attics, accessory buildings, balconies, decks, verandas and porches and does not mention a slab at grade, so ask whether a poured patio counts. A roofed cover over it is a different structure and a different conversation.
Digging has its own line. Under Building Code appendix J103.2 as amended, a grading permit is not required for an excavation of 50 cubic yards or less that is under two feet deep or leaves a cut slope no taller than five feet and no steeper than 2:1. A 20 by 20 foot patio dug six inches deep moves about 7.4 cubic yards. The City's site and the code hosts blocked our automated reading, so these section numbers come from the GoCodebook mirror and should be confirmed with the City.
West of Vista Del Mar, a coastal development permit is required for development in the Coastal Zone unless state law exempts the work (Municipal Code 15-26-1). We cannot say whether a slab is exempt, so ask Planning with the address.
How tall can a wall or retaining wall be in an El Segundo yard?
Zoning comes first. In residential zones a wall or fence up to 42 inches may stand on any part of a lot, and on an interior or corner lot one up to six feet may stand anywhere behind the required front yard (15-2-4(A)). The Director can approve an adjustment up to eight feet, and anything taller needs a variance. A retaining wall in a required setback may hold back at most three feet of fill, and a cut-slope wall in a front or street-side setback is limited to three feet.
The permit lines are harder to read. The state list exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet from footing bottom to top unless they carry a surcharge, and fences up to 7 feet. El Segundo adds block and concrete fences not over 3 feet 6 inches to its own exempt list, and we found nothing that removes the state item, so we cannot reconcile the two. Ask the building division about any masonry above 3 feet 6 inches or any wall that holds soil.
Pour and block may go to different trades. CSLB's C-29 masonry class covers block for walls and fences, and C-13 fencing excludes masonry, so the wall type decides who bids.
Where can a concrete truck wash out, and when can it pour in El Segundo?
Washout water has a rule. Municipal Code 5-4-7(F) makes it unlawful to put washout water in a solid waste container, and 5-4-9(F) asks anyone getting a grading or building permit not covered by the state construction general permit to submit and carry out a runoff control program that keeps sediment, materials, wastes and spills on the site. Ask the crew where the washout pit goes and who hauls the residue.
The clock matters too. Remodeling and construction noise is exempt from the noise chapter only outside 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, never on a Sunday or federal holiday, and under 65 dBA plus the limits in 7-2-4(C) at the neighbor's line (7-2-10(D)). For a morning pour, confirm the first truck time and where it will stand.
Weather is gentle. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for the Los Angeles airport gauge show 4.8 days a year above 90 F and none at or below freezing, with 9.81 of the year's 12.23 inches of rain falling from December through March. A pour ahead of a winter storm still needs cover.
What does concrete work cost in El Segundo, and which license should a concrete company hold?
We found no El Segundo price study, so the anchor is Angi's 2026 Los Angeles pages, which cite customer surveys and pro data. A patio runs $4 to $13 per square foot and averages $5,248, a driveway $8 to $20 per square foot (average $7,270, and 200 square feet about $2,500) and stamped work $15 to $30. A general slab averages $6,134 across a range of $4,090 to $8,179, and retaining walls average $7,140 across $2,674 to $11,842, with no per-foot figure here because the spread is wide. Small jobs cost more per foot because of minimum charges. For typical flatwork of 300 square feet or more we plan on $8 to $14 per square foot, a planning figure from overlapping sources and not a quote.
Federal wage data for May 2025 show cement masons in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area at a mean of $33.67 an hour and construction laborers at $30.39, which are wages and not billing rates. CSLB's C-8 class covers forming, pouring, placing and finishing concrete, and rebar-only placement is a separate class. Put demolition, haul-off, base, rebar and street permits on their own lines. Our subcontractor guide explains how a general contractor books the pour, and the license check guide shows how to verify a number.
Concrete photos from El Segundo and nearby communities
Forms, flatwork, walls and finished walks from El Segundo and neighboring South Bay towns, shown at the stages that matter. Tap any photo to enlarge it.
What concrete costs around El Segundo
These dollar figures are Los Angeles planning ranges, not an El Segundo bid, and the proposal should break out demolition, base, street permits and any coastal review. For the same property, see flooring in El Segundo and decks in El Segundo. Nearby comparisons: concrete work in Manhattan Beach, concrete in Redondo Beach, concrete in Hawthorne, concrete in Inglewood and concrete in Los Angeles, plus the Redondo Beach overview.
| 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 |
Other work we manage in El Segundo
El Segundo concrete questions, answered
Can I pour a concrete patio without a permit?
We cannot confirm that for El Segundo from a City source. The state permit-exempt list names sidewalks and driveways under 30 inches above grade, not a ground-level patio slab, and zoning, front yard planting and right-of-way rules still apply. West of Vista Del Mar a coastal development permit may also come up. Call Building and Safety with the slab size and lot lines first.
Can I expand my driveway without a permit?
Do not assume so in El Segundo. Driveways under 30 inches are on the state exempt list, but zoning requires 25 to 35 percent of the front setback to stay landscaped, a lot that backs onto an alley must take vehicle access from it, and the apron lies in the public right of way, which needs a City permit under Municipal Code 9-2-1.
How much should a 20x20 concrete patio cost?
For a 20 by 20 foot patio of 400 square feet, Angi's 2026 Los Angeles page shows $1,600 to $5,200 within a general $4 to $13 per square foot, and we found no El Segundo study. Demolition, base work and minimum charges move that figure, so the site visit sets the price.
How much do contractors charge for concrete?
Angi's 2026 Los Angeles figures run $4 to $13 per square foot for a patio, $8 to $20 for a driveway and $15 to $30 for stamped work, and we rate plain flatwork medium and decorative finishes lower in confidence. Small jobs cost more per foot, and demolition, rebar and street permits belong on separate lines.
What is the maximum height of a retaining wall without a permit in California?
The state exempt list passes retaining walls up to 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top, unless they support a surcharge. El Segundo zoning is stricter on setbacks: a retaining wall in a required setback may hold back at most three feet of fill. Confirm any wall that holds soil with the building division.
Is 4 inches of concrete thick enough for a driveway?
Four inches is the common thickness for patios and walks, and many contractors go thicker where cars drive, but we found no El Segundo or state code citation that sets a thickness. Ask the crew about the base, the joint layout and any reinforcement, and have each written on the proposal.
How much would a 20x20 stamped concrete patio cost?
Stamped work runs $15 to $30 per square foot on Angi's 2026 Los Angeles page, so a 20 by 20 foot patio of 400 square feet comes to $6,000 to $12,000, a figure we rate lower in confidence than plain flatwork. Pattern, color and sealer should appear on the proposal so bids compare line by line.
Do I need a City permit to replace a driveway apron or sidewalk in El Segundo?
Yes, work in the public right of way needs a permit under Municipal Code 9-2-1, with a cash inspection deposit and a City-approved bond before the Street Superintendent issues it. Starting early is charged double the permit fee. A private-side driveway slab under 30 inches may be exempt, but the apron is not covered by that.
Where can concrete washout go in El Segundo?
Not into a trash container. Municipal Code 5-4-7(F) makes it unlawful to place washout water in a solid waste container, and 5-4-9(F) asks permit applicants to run a runoff control program that keeps sediment, wastes and spills on the site. Ask the crew where the washout pit will sit and who hauls the residue.
What license does a concrete company need in El Segundo?
A concrete company should hold CSLB's C-8 class, and block walls fall under C-29. A job that needs any permit cannot use the $1,000 unlicensed work exception. Look the license number up on the CSLB site and ask for a certificate of insurance before you sign.
Describe the pour and what is there now
Tell us what you want poured, the rough size, whether the lot touches an alley and what stands there today, such as a cracked drive or a bare side yard. The alley, planting and street-permit questions come with us to the first visit.