Yes, and it's worth asking before you pick any pool builder near me. Epic Watershapes' page says most backyard projects end up as three companies pointing at each other, while Epic holds the licence that covers engineering, permit, shell, finish and warranty.
Below is what that looks like in practice, using only the facts on Epic's own page. Where the page says nothing, I'll say that too, and you can ask the question yourself at the site visit.
What does the licence actually cover?
Epic's page lists licensed pool contractor CPC1460900 and says that licence covers the whole job. That means the engineering, the permit, the shell, the interior finish and the warranty all sit under one company. There's no general contractor in the middle, and no crew passing blame to the next crew.
Before hiring any pool contractor near me, look the number up yourself with the licensing authority. The page doesn't tell you how, and I won't guess at the steps, but a quick check before signing takes little time. A licence number on a website is where the checking starts.
Where does a local builder need to be local?
Many people probably type pool builder near me and expect the closest name on the map. A better test is whether the builder knows your town's rules. Epic says there are thirty six municipalities in Palm Beach and Broward County, and that it researched all of them.
Some towns review plans in house, others use an outside firm that adds a step and time. Country clubs and gated communities add their own architectural review. Epic says it tells you at the survey which situation you're in, and it builds HOA or club approval into the schedule.
Why does one contract matter?
The page puts it plainly: if a tile lifts in year two, there's no one else for Epic to blame. One contract, one number to call. That number is open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, per the page, and Epic carries the warranty itself.
Compare that with a split job. The builder handles the shell, another company does the deck, a third does the plumbing, and when something leaks everybody has a different story. Epic's page describes exactly that pattern as the norm, and its answer is to keep it all in house.
What else should you check on a builder?
Insurance, accreditation and memberships
Epic's page shows a BBB A+ rating, full insurance, and membership in the Florida Swimming Pool Association. It also lists an Elite Builder badge from Pebble Technology International and an Angi Super Service Award from 2024. Each of those can be checked with the group that issued it.
Reviews and awards
The page counts 125 five star reviews out of 126, across Google, Thumbtack and Angi, and a Sun Sentinel South Florida Favorites win for 2026 in the pool builder and outdoor living categories. Epic has served Palm Beach and Broward County since 2019.
How does the process look before you sign anything?
It starts with a site visit that measures the lot, the access, the setbacks and the equipment run. Within 72 hours of that visit you get a 3D design and an itemised price that holds. It's free, there's no deposit, and nobody has to build afterwards.
After that come approvals, which the page puts at 4 to 12 weeks for design, engineering, HOA or club approval and municipal permitting. Then construction takes 8 to 12 weeks. The approval window varies most, by town, so ask which one applies to your address.
What can the same builder take on?
Epic's menu covers new pool and spa construction, remodeling, resurfacing and repair, plus pool decks, outdoor kitchens and pergolas. There's also a commercial department for condominium and homeowner associations, clubs and hotels.
That raises a fair question to ask: does the warranty cover the deck, pergola or kitchen too? The page doesn't give warranty terms, so get the answer in writing. One Jupiter reviewer said Epic also handled water features and landscaping, though that's one customer's view.
What do recent projects show?
The page shows three recent jobs. A geometric gunite pool with a raised spa, sun shelf and full deck in Parkland. A gunite lap pool with a travertine deck and covered patio in Wellington. A freeform pool with a round spa, travertine deck and covered pergola in Jupiter.
Parkland sits in Broward County, and Wellington and Jupiter in Palm Beach County. When you ask any builder for references, ask for jobs in your own town or one close by. Rules differ from town to town, so a nearby project tells you more than a showpiece.
What should you ask on the first call?
Ask who holds the licence, who submits the permit, and who answers the phone after the build. Ask whether the price is itemised, and what the access survey found. Epic's page gives answers to all of those, which makes it easy to hold other builders to the same standard.
Epic replies Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, and its form lets you pick new pool construction, remodeling, resurfacing or not sure yet. The office is at 1120 Holland Drive, Suite 13, in Boca Raton. Using the form is a cheap way to test how a company responds.
Is there a separate route for shared pools?
Epic runs a separate commercial department for condominium and homeowner associations, clubs and hotels. It works on a bid against your spec, with one point of contact, and covers code compliance, inspection coordination and ongoing service and resurfacing contracts. If you manage a shared pool, ask for that team.
What if you need a remodel instead?
Not every job is a new pool. Anyone typing pool contractor near me because the plaster is tired should know Epic lists remodeling and resurfacing, covering new plaster and finish, tile and coping, equipment, structural repair or a full redesign of the shell and deck.
Every job it lists runs under Epic's own licence, remodeling included, according to the page. A full remodel or resurfacing project starts around $20,000, and an aging pool gets more expensive every season it waits. Ask whichever pool contractor near me you shortlist to confirm the same thing in writing.
So how do you choose?
Check the licence, the reviews and the town knowledge, then ask for the itemised price. Epic's page gives a licence number, a 72 hour design and a one contract promise to measure against. That's a fair yardstick for any pool builder near me or pool contractor near me you shortlist.