House & Home Demolition in Fontana CA
Fontana Demolition has spent 14 years taking down houses across the Inland Empire, and on a typical 1,500 sq ft single-story we are on site only 1 to 3 working days once the permit clears. Every house demolition is run by the same crew and project manager from the first walkthrough to final cleanup, backed by a written scope and a 1-year workmanship warranty. We have completed more than 450 jobs, so a home demolition, residential demolition, or house teardown on a Fontana lot, including the City permit and the 10 working day asbestos notice, is work we already know how to sequence.
We are insured and bonded for every Fontana and San Bernardino County project and source our materials from Thompson Building Materials right here in Fontana.
Fontana Demolition also provides house demolition and residential teardown services to surrounding California cities, including Rialto, Rancho Cucamonga, Colton, Jurupa Valley, Grand Terrace, Ontario, Upland, Highland, Loma Linda, and Montclair.
Why We're The Best Demolition Contractors in Fontana, CA
- Fully insured and bonded for every Fontana and San Bernardino County project
- 1-year workmanship warranty on all completed demolition work
- 450+ residential and commercial jobs completed across the Inland Empire
- Free on-site estimates with written scopes before any work begins
- Same local crew and project manager from start to finish
- Member of the Fontana Chamber of Commerce
- Materials sourced from Thompson Building Materials right here in Fontana
- Proud sponsor of Henry J. Kaiser High School soccer
Request a FREE estimate.
House Demolition and Home Demolition Methods in Fontana, CA
A full teardown on a Fontana lot follows the same order every time. Utilities get capped first: gas, electric, water, and the sewer lateral. Then the roof and framing come off, then the walls, and the slab or raised foundation comes out last. Taking the foundation last keeps the machine on solid footing while the structure comes down, and it keeps the lot from turning into a mud pit around the footings.
Our core equipment is an excavator with a thumb attachment for pulling framing apart and sorting it, a skid steer for tight cleanup and loading, and a water truck that runs the whole time. In our experience, the wet-down is the part homeowners underestimate. Santa Ana wind season can push dust and debris across a neighbor's yard in minutes, so we keep the material wet, and on high wind days we slow down or hold the day rather than gamble. On a 1,450 sq ft single-story off Sierra Avenue, our 60th wood-frame teardown in the city, we ran the water truck from the first cut to the last load and finished at $17,400.
Full Mechanical Teardown of Wood-Frame Homes
The standard single-story wood-frame house is a mechanical job. The excavator strips the roof sheathing and framing first, then works down through the walls. Material gets separated into wood, metal, and concrete piles on site as it comes down, so hauling is cleaner and cheaper than loading everything mixed. The water truck keeps dust down through every phase.
For a 1,500 sq ft home, plan on 1 to 3 working days on site once the permits clear. Our two-day teardown of a 1,600 sq ft stucco-over-wood ranch off Baseline Avenue, our 41st stucco home in Fontana, came to $19,200. Stucco adds weight to every haul load, which is why it prices a little above bare wood framing.
Hand Demolition and Partial Teardown Near Neighbors
Not every house can be knocked down with an excavator. Tight lots with shared block-wall lot lines near Downtown Fontana, attached garages that are staying, and additions coming off a main home that remains all call for hand demolition or a sectional teardown. That means shoring where needed, protecting the shared wall, and hand-loading debris out to a staging area instead of swinging a machine near someone else's property.
It is slower and more labor-intensive, and it costs more per square foot, but honestly it is the only responsible way to do it when a neighbor's wall is inches away. We took down a 1,100 sq ft home off Arrow Route with a shared block wall on one side, our 22nd partial or hand-assisted job, for $16,500. The neighbor's wall came through without a crack.
Foundation, Slab, and Footing Removal
Most Fontana homes sit on one of two foundations. A slab-on-grade is a single poured pad with thickened edges. A raised foundation has a stem wall with a crawlspace under a wood floor. Slabs get broken out and hauled as concrete. Raised foundations mean pulling the floor system first, then breaking out the stem walls and footings, with rebar cut and separated for metal recycling.
Much of Fontana sits on sandy, gravelly Lytle Creek alluvial soil. It drains well, but if you are rebuilding it needs proper backfill and compaction after the concrete comes out, or the new pad can settle unevenly. The sewer lateral is capped before any breaking begins, and footings are removed or left in place by written agreement. Our take is that if you are rebuilding, pull them, because leftover footings tend to fight the new foundation plan. On a 1,300 sq ft raised-foundation home off Citrus Avenue, our 35th stem-wall removal, we pulled everything and finished at $15,600.
Residential Demolition Permits and Asbestos Rules in Fontana, CA
Two agencies control the paperwork on a house demolition here. The City of Fontana issues the demolition permit through Build Fontana and the Building & Safety Department, and the South Coast AQMD enforces the asbestos rules. Fontana Demolition handles both submissions, so you are not chasing agencies or trying to figure out which form goes where.
City of Fontana Demolition Permit Through Build Fontana
The permit application goes in through the Build Fontana public portal or at the Building & Safety counter. Expect to provide a site plan, proof that utilities have been disconnected, and the contractor's license and insurance information. The permit is signed for by the contractor of record, and fees are paid when the permit is generated. We prepare the package and submit it, and you get a copy for your records.
SCAQMD Rule 1403 Asbestos Survey and 10 Working Day Notice
SCAQMD Rule 1403 requires an asbestos survey by a Certified Asbestos Consultant before any demolition, regardless of how old the home is. A notification must also be submitted at least 10 working days before demolition starts. If asbestos is found, it has to be removed before the structure comes down. Skipping this step carries heavy penalties, and we will not start work without the survey and the notice in place. Build that 10 working days into your schedule, because it runs before our 1 to 3 days on site.
Lead Paint Along the Route 66 and Foothill Boulevard Corridor
Any home built before 1978 may have lead-based paint, and the older housing stock along the historic Route 66 (Foothill Boulevard) corridor is a good example of that era. Handling it means containment, wet methods to keep dust down, worker protection, and proper disposal of the affected material. We do not assume any specific home has lead, but we plan for it on pre-1978 houses. On a 1,200 sq ft 1958 bungalow off Foothill Boulevard, our 18th pre-1978 teardown, we followed those steps and the demolition itself came to $14,400, with survey and abatement scoped separately.
House Teardown for Rebuilds and Lot Redevelopment in Fontana, CA
Most of our calls come from owners clearing a lot for a new home, an ADU, or a sale. Whatever the plan, the goal is the same: a clean, build-ready pad and no loose ends to hand your builder.
Clean Pad Preparation for New Construction
A build-ready lot means the slab and footings are removed as needed, the sewer lateral is capped, and any septic or old utility lines are identified. Debris is hauled off, and the grade is left rough but even. Your builder or engineer may also want a compaction report before pouring, so it is worth asking them early. We cleared a 1,750 sq ft house off Merrill Avenue for a new build, our 12th lot cleared for an ADU or rebuild, for $22,750. If you ask us, the cheapest mistake to avoid is skipping the conversation with your builder about what they expect the pad to look like.
Salvage, Recycling, and Waste Diversion
Clean concrete, metal, and lumber are separated on site and recycled, which cuts landfill volume and often the disposal bill. Projects tied to new construction may need to document construction and demolition waste diversion under CALGreen, where a 65 percent diversion target is commonly cited. Confirm the requirement that applies to your project with the City. On a 1,500 sq ft home off Slover Avenue, our 27th job with full material separation, we sent roughly 38 tons of concrete to recycling and finished at $18,000.
House Demolition Cost Factors in Fontana, CA
Cost Factors
These are typical ranges. Your written estimate sets the real number.
- Typical range: roughly $8 to $18 per square foot for a standard wood-frame home
- Example: about $12,000 to $27,000 for a 1,500 sq ft single-story
- Size and stories: more square footage and any second story mean more labor hours and more haul loads
- Construction type: wood is the baseline, stucco over wood runs a little higher, and block or masonry costs more per square foot
- Access: tight lots and shared walls push a job toward hand demolition, which costs more per square foot
- Asbestos and lead: survey and abatement are separate line items under Rule 1403
- Positive tests: popcorn ceilings, floor tile, or pipe wrap that test positive can add materially to the total
- Slabs and footings: heavy concrete and deep footings drive labor and hauling
- Hauling and tipping: distance to the facility and per-ton tipping fees are the biggest swing factors
- Debris sorting: separated concrete, metal, and wood cost less to dispose of than a mixed load
- Written scope: the same crew and project manager keep the scope fixed, so there are no surprise charges
Square Footage, Stories, and Construction Type
- Under 1,200 sq ft: fewer haul loads, but small lots often mean hand work
- 1,500 sq ft single-story wood frame: about $12,000 to $27,000
- Stucco over wood: heavier debris, so a little more per square foot
- Block or masonry: slower to break down and heavier to haul
- Second story: extra labor and a longer teardown
Asbestos and Lead Abatement Add-Ons
- Rule 1403 survey: required before demolition on every home
- Abatement: separate line item if the survey finds asbestos
- Common trouble spots: popcorn ceilings, floor tile, pipe wrap
- Pre-1978 homes: lead paint handling adds containment and disposal steps
Foundation, Hauling, and Landfill Fees
- Slabs and footings: heavy concrete adds breakout time and haul weight
- Raised foundations: stem walls and footings add labor
- Haul distance: longer runs to the facility raise the total
- Mixed versus separated debris: sorted material generally costs less to dispose of
- Fixed scope: a written scope from the same crew prevents change-order surprises
Our House Demolition Process
Step 1: Free On-Site Estimate and Written Scope
We walk the property, measure, and put a full written scope and price in your hands before any work begins.
Step 2: Permits and Asbestos Paperwork
We handle the City of Fontana permit and the SCAQMD Rule 1403 survey and notification, and we verify that utilities are disconnected.
Step 3: Demolition and Material Separation
The crew takes the structure down and separates wood, metal, and concrete on site, with dust control running throughout.
Step 4: Foundation Removal, Grading, and Cleanup
Slab and footings come out as agreed in the written scope, and the lot is graded rough but even and cleared of debris.
Step 5: Final Walkthrough
We walk the finished lot with you and make sure you're happy with the outcome.
How much does house demolition cost in Fontana, CA?
A typical wood-frame home runs roughly $8 to $18 per square foot, or about $12,000 to $27,000 for a 1,500 sq ft single-story. Size, construction type, foundation, asbestos abatement, and hauling all move the number. Our free written estimate sets the exact price before any work starts.
How long does a house teardown take once the permit is approved?
Expect 1 to 3 working days on site for a typical 1,500 sq ft home once the permit clears. The 10 working day SCAQMD asbestos notice happens before that, so build it into your calendar.
Do I need a permit for residential demolition in Fontana?
Yes. You need a City of Fontana demolition permit and an SCAQMD Rule 1403 asbestos notification. Fontana Demolition handles both, so you are not dealing with the agencies yourself.
Do you remove the foundation when you demolish a home?
Foundation and slab removal is scoped in writing, so you know exactly what is included. If you are rebuilding, we usually recommend removing it; if not, leaving it in place is an option we can price out both ways.
Can you demolish a home with asbestos or lead paint?
Yes, but the order matters. The survey comes first, licensed professionals handle any abatement, and then the demolition proceeds with wet methods and containment for lead.
What happens to the debris from a house demolition?
We separate wood, metal, and concrete on site, recycle clean concrete and metal, and haul the rest to permitted facilities. Sorting keeps landfill volume and disposal costs down.