Pavers Pasadena – Installation, Repair & Retaining Walls

Pasadena hardscape has to suit old houses. Craftsman bungalows, Spanish Colonial homes and period revival estates set the tone, and a driveway or front walk is one of the first things people see. Pasadena also protects its trees and its historic districts more actively than most cities, which affects what you can build and where.

The houses and their driveways

Many 1910s and 1920s Pasadena bungalows were built with narrow driveways running along the side of the lot to a detached garage at the back. Some still have two concrete strips with grass between them, the so-called Hollywood driveway. Clinker brick, river rock and brick borders show up on porches, walls and steps. In Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights and the neighborhoods around the Arroyo, owners often want new paving that looks like it belongs to the house rather than to a new subdivision.

That usually means tumbled or antiqued concrete pavers in muted colors, brick, or a ribbon driveway rebuilt in pavers with a planted center. Large-format modern porcelain can look out of place in front of a 1915 bungalow, though it can work well in a back garden.

Historic districts

Pasadena has many designated landmark districts, Bungalow Heaven among them. In those districts, exterior changes visible from the street generally need a Certificate of Appropriateness before work starts. A new front driveway, walk or wall can count. Backyard patios are usually not visible and are simpler. If your house is in a district, check with Pasadena’s historic preservation staff before you settle on materials.

Tree protection

Pasadena’s tree protection ordinance covers native trees such as coast live oaks, along with certain other protected trees, and work near them can require a tree protection plan before permits are issued. Paving over the root zone of a mature oak can also kill it slowly. If there’s a large tree near the planned paving, find out early whether it’s protected, and plan the base excavation and edges to stay clear of major roots.

Soil, slope and drainage

Flat parts of Pasadena generally have workable soils, but the hillside lots in Linda Vista, San Rafael and the upper Arroyo bring grade changes, retaining walls and drainage that has to be planned. On a narrow side driveway, water often runs toward the garage or the house. The paving needs a slope that sends it to the street or a drain, not to the foundation.

Permits

Paving on private property at grade usually doesn’t need a building permit under the California Residential Code, but retaining walls over 4 feet from the bottom of the footing, or walls holding back a slope or driveway, do. Work on the driveway approach or parkway at the street is in the public right-of-way and needs a permit from Pasadena Public Works. Historic and tree reviews, where they apply, come first.

Pasadena paver questions

Can I rebuild my ribbon driveway in pavers?

Yes. Two paver strips on a proper base with a planted or gravel center keep the look and add drainage. The strips need a vehicle-rated base and edge restraints.

Will a new front driveway need historic approval?

If the house is in a landmark district or is individually designated, and the driveway is visible from the street, plan on it. Ask the city before you design.

Brick or concrete pavers for a Craftsman?

Either can work. Brick suits clinker-brick details; tumbled concrete pavers cost less and are easier to match later. See brick pavers and concrete pavers.

What does a driveway cost?

Our cost guide gives current per-square-foot ranges and what adds to them.

For an estimate in Pasadena, call (213) 577-0727 or send photos through the form.