Exterior painting in Los Angeles typically costs $7,500 to $12,000 for a 1,500 sq ft one-story home, $9,000 to $14,000 for a 2,000 sq ft one-story home and $11,000 to $17,000 for a 2,500 sq ft one-story home. Two-story homes typically run $9,000 to $14,000 at 1,500 sq ft, $11,000 to $17,000 at 2,000 sq ft and $13,000 to $21,000 at 2,500 sq ft.
Extensive stucco repair, wood replacement, lead remediation, major prep and specialty coatings are usually extra.
| Home size | One story | Two story |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 sq ft | $7,500 to $12,000 | $9,000 to $14,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $9,000 to $14,000 | $11,000 to $17,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $11,000 to $17,000 | $13,000 to $21,000 |
Typical Los Angeles pricing. Final pricing depends on project size, site conditions, materials, permits, engineering requirements and scope of work.
How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Exterior of a 2,000 Sq Ft House?
Painting the exterior of a 2,000 sq ft house in Los Angeles typically costs $9,000 to $14,000 for one story and $11,000 to $17,000 for two stories.
Typical Los Angeles pricing. Final pricing depends on project size, site conditions, materials, permits, engineering requirements and scope of work. The price for a specific house is set in its written estimate.
How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Outside of a 1,500 Sq Ft House?
Painting the outside of a 1,500 sq ft house in Los Angeles typically costs $7,500 to $12,000 for one story and $9,000 to $14,000 for two stories.
Typical Los Angeles pricing. Final pricing depends on project size, site conditions, materials, permits, engineering requirements and scope of work. A 1,000 sq ft house is not among the home sizes priced here, so its price is set in its written estimate.
How Much More Does a Two-Story House Cost to Paint?
In Los Angeles, a two-story house typically costs more to paint than a one-story house of the same size: at 2,500 sq ft, $13,000 to $21,000 for two stories against $11,000 to $17,000 for one.
At 1,500 sq ft it is $9,000 to $14,000 against $7,500 to $12,000, and at 2,000 sq ft it is $11,000 to $17,000 against $9,000 to $14,000. Typical Los Angeles pricing. Final pricing depends on project size, site conditions, materials, permits, engineering requirements and scope of work.
What Costs Extra on an Exterior Paint Job?
Extensive stucco repair, wood replacement, lead remediation, major prep and specialty coatings are usually extra on an exterior paint job in Los Angeles.
Crack repair is handled differently. On a Wise Choice Remodeling exterior painting project, stucco cracks are repaired as part of surface preparation, because paint over an open crack lets moisture keep getting behind the new finish.
| Item | How it is handled |
|---|---|
| Stucco crack repair during surface preparation | Part of the Wise Choice painting scope |
| Extensive stucco repair | Usually extra |
| Wood replacement | Usually extra |
| Lead remediation | Usually extra |
| Major prep | Usually extra |
| Specialty coatings | Usually extra |
Do You Need a Permit to Paint the Exterior of a House in Los Angeles?
No. In the City of Los Angeles, painting is on the list of work exempt from a building permit.
Section 91.106.2 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code exempts “painting, papering and similar work”. The same item carves out an exception: liquid washing, compressed air cleaning and steam cleaning on exterior surfaces within 20 feet of a pedestrian walkway in a dedicated street, where the work extends above the first story. Stucco repair or replacement that affects the weather-resistant barrier behind the wall may need a permit for that portion of the work, and Wise Choice Remodeling assesses this at the initial consultation. Unincorporated Los Angeles County keeps its own list of work exempt from a permit.
How Long Does Exterior Paint Last in Southern California?
Wise Choice Remodeling’s guidance is that quality paint on properly prepared surfaces typically lasts 7 to 10 years in Southern California.
The company treats surface preparation as the primary factor in how long exterior paint lasts. For stucco surfaces it uses elastomeric products that bridge hairline cracks, and it recommends elastomeric paint as the upgrade over standard acrylic on most Southern California stucco homes.
What Should an Exterior Painting Estimate Include?
An exterior painting estimate from Wise Choice Remodeling is detailed and written, and it specifies the surface preparation, the crack repair, the primer, the paint product and the number of coats.
On an exterior painting project, HOA color requirements are confirmed at the estimate, and financing with $0 down options is available for qualified homeowners. For stucco walls, see stucco surface painting.
The ranges above are a starting point for comparing quotes. The scope and price for a specific house are set in its written estimate.
