Money
What does a backyard pickleball court cost here?
$22,000 to $34,000 for slab, surface and net. $36,000 to $60,000 with fence and lights. On an existing slab, $4,500 to $13,000. Four courts from one tennis court, $18,000 to $30,000. Every line is on the cost page.
Why are two bids $12,000 apart?
Usually one has fill, base and hurricane footings in it and the other does not. Or one is 30 by 60 and the other 34 by 64. Line them up item by item.
Space
How much yard does a court take?
A flat 30 by 60 foot rectangle after easements and setbacks, 34 by 64 if you can. The size guide shows how to measure.
Can it go in the front yard?
Zoning usually says no to a slab in front, and the HOA will say no louder. Driveway lines are the exception some boards allow.
Ground and water
Does the sand cause problems?
Not if the court is raised 4 to 6 inches above grade on a compacted crushed base. Lakefront lots get a probe for muck first. The drainage guide has the layers.
What about the rainy season?
A sloped court sheds a storm in minutes. Building goes on through summer with morning starts for concrete and coatings; the dry season from October to May is simply easier.
Do sinkholes matter?
Most of the metro is in the state's sand covered zone where sinkholes are small and rare. A court does not change your risk and a builder cannot test for it. What we test for is organic soil near lakes.
Rules
Who issues the permit?
Depends on the parcel: City of Orlando (including Lake Nona), unincorporated Orange County (Dr. Phillips, Bay Hill, most Windermere addresses), Seminole County, or the city or town. The permits guide sorts it out.
Will my HOA approve a court?
Most do with a complete packet: site plan, fence and pole elevations, colors, fixture cut sheets, a noise note. Submit to the board before the permit.
Is the contractor licensed?
Florida requires it. Every builder in our network is state licensed through DBPR, the number is on the estimate, and you can check it at myfloridalicense.com.
Building
How long does it take?
Eight to ten weeks for a new court, four of them concrete cure. Two to four days for a resurfacing. One to three weeks for a conversion. The full sequence is on the construction page.
Concrete, asphalt or tile?
Reinforced concrete with acrylic for most backyards. Tile if heat or noise is the problem. Asphalt and post tension at tennis scale. The surface guide compares them.
Which colors stay coolest?
Light gray, sand, pale blue. Navy and charcoal are too hot to stand on in July. See the color guide.
Living with it
Will the neighbors hear it?
Pickleball is loud at 50 feet. Cushioned acrylic or tile, acoustic panels on the facing fence, and reasonable hours handle most situations. Distance handles the rest.
How often does it need resurfacing?
Every four to six years in full sun. Wash it yearly, keep sprinklers off it, and take the windscreen down in June. The resurfacing page has costs.
Can I add lights later?
Yes, but run the conduit during the build; trenching a finished yard later costs more than the conduit ever did. The lighting guide explains the poles and the permit.
Straight answers
Can you build a court in Winter Park with all the trees?
Yes, with planning. Winter Park protects large trees and the court has to stay off their roots, so the footprint is often decided by the oaks. Tree removal needs a City permit and sometimes a replacement.
Do you build in Seminole County?
Yes: Lake Mary, Heathrow, Longwood, Oviedo and Winter Springs. Seminole County and the cities inside it issue their own permits.
What is the first step?
A site visit. The builder measures the usable rectangle, pulls the plat for easements, looks at drainage and truck access, and writes an itemized estimate. Free, and it takes about an hour.