The short answer first: there is no reliable flat rate per square metre for painting a facade — buildings, scaffolding and substrates differ too much. That is why we give you the price after the site visit. Whether a permit is needed depends on location and scope: in the City of Zurich, a building permit (Baubewilligung) is required in core zones (Kernzonen) as soon as the colour or material of the facade is changed; small renovation measures on the facade need none. This article explains what determines the price, what the canton of Zurich's Planning and Building Act (Planungs- und Baugesetz, PBG) and Building Procedure Ordinance (Bauverfahrensverordnung, BVV) say, when painting is possible and what belongs in a good quote.
What determines the price
Painting a facade involves more than paint. The price is determined mainly by six factors:
- Area and articulation. The work is priced per square metre of facade. Many windows, reveals, balconies, cornices and corners mean more covering and edge work than a smooth, continuous wall.
- Scaffolding. The height of the building, how long the scaffold stays up and access determine its price. If it stands on the pavement or another part of public ground, a permit from the city is also required — more on this below.
- Substrate. The biggest difference arises before the first coat: is the old coating still adhering? Are there cracks, spalling or areas of render that sound hollow? Do dirt or algae need to be removed?
- Paint system and number of coats. The product must suit the substrate and the existing coating. How many coats are needed depends on the product and the substrate.
- Change of colour. A marked change of colour can make an extra coat necessary — and, in a core zone, a building permit.
- Access and surroundings. Windows, blinds, entrances and planting must be protected. Tight spaces, a slope or a busy road make scaffolding and logistics more demanding.
For the preparatory work we charge unit rates from our 2026 price list (lower price segment, labour only, excluding VAT): render repairs from CHF 25 per m², crack reinforcement from CHF 18 per m², primer from CHF 7 per m². There is no price from a plan for scaffolding and painting; we quote both after the site visit. Materials and any permit fees are extra.
Is a permit needed?
The starting point is § 309 PBG: a building permit is required, among other things, for ‘the construction of new or the structural alteration of existing buildings and equivalent structures’. The projects that are expressly exempt from a permit are listed in § 1 BVV; painting a facade is not one of the cases listed. Whether it needs a permit therefore depends on location and scope.
In its overview of projects requiring a permit, the City of Zurich names two cases. In core zones, a building permit is required for ‘facade renovations if the colour or material is changed’. Otherwise, for repair work the scope is decisive: small renovation measures on the facade need no permit. The city recommends checking in advance with the district architects (Kreisarchitekt*innen) of the Office for Building Permits (Amt für Baubewilligungen). If the facade is altered, the city applies the fast-track ordinary procedure (ordentliches Schnellverfahren), which usually takes about three months.
In the other municipalities of the canton, the building and zoning regulations (Bau- und Zonenordnung) set what applies in the core zone: they may ‘contain special rules on the dimensions and appearance of buildings’ (§ 50(3) PBG). Whether your property lies in a core zone or is subject to heritage protection rules is shown in the cadastral information (Katasterauskunft).
Rules apply even without a permit. Under § 238(1) PBG, buildings must be designed so that ‘a satisfactory overall effect is achieved; this requirement also applies to materials and colours’. Paragraph 2 requires special consideration for protected natural and heritage properties: they must not be impaired ‘even by changes of use and maintenance work that do not require a building permit’. For a protected building, the choice of colour should therefore be settled before the contract is awarded.
And if the facade is insulated?
If the facade is not only painted but also insulated, this is an energy-efficiency renovation of the building envelope. In the canton of Zurich, such renovations are assessed in the notification procedure (Anzeigeverfahren) (§ 325a PBG) — a simplified procedure without staking out or public announcement, with a processing period of 30 days (§ 13 BVV). On existing buildings, external insulation up to 35 cm thick may be added ‘irrespective of statutory distance rules, length and height limits’ (§ 253a PBG). If the insulation projects into public ground in the City of Zurich, a concession is also required; the city expressly cites facade insulation as an example.
Scaffolding on public ground
If the building stands directly on the pavement, the scaffolding often needs public ground. In the City of Zurich, this requires traffic clearance from the traffic department (Dienstabteilung Verkehr) before work starts; use of public ground for building sites is applied for through the city police (Stadtpolizei). This takes lead time — we include it in the schedule before the scaffold goes up.
When painting is possible
Facade paints need dry weather. No painting is done in rain, on a wet substrate or in frost; the minimum temperature for air and substrate is given by the manufacturer in the paint's technical data sheet. Strong heat and direct sun on the facade are also unfavourable, because the paint then dries too quickly. Freshly repaired render needs a curing time before painting, which likewise depends on the product. Facade painting therefore usually takes place in the warmer, drier part of the year. Because the weather can interrupt the work, we agree with you before signing the contract how weather-related interruptions are reflected in the schedule.
What a good quote contains
Quotes can only be compared if they contain the same items. Look out for these points:
- Facade area in m², measured in a traceable way, and how windows and other openings are taken into account
- Scaffolding as a separate item: height, how long it stays up, erection and dismantling, any permit for public ground
- Cleaning the facade and removing loose material
- Render repairs and crack treatment or crack reinforcement, with quantity and unit rate
- Primer and number of coats, with the product or paint system
- Colour, sample area and who approves the colour
- Covering windows, blinds, entrances and surroundings, final clean
- Permits: who clarifies them and who pays the fees
- Labour and materials shown separately, VAT stated, dates and warranty
If one of these items is missing, ask whether it is included or will be added later.
How we proceed
During the site visit, our chief engineer records the area, substrate, cracks and access, and checks whether your project needs a permit and whether the scaffolding will occupy public ground. Within 48 hours you receive the fixed-price quote — item by item, labour and materials shown separately, scaffolding and fees as separate items. If a permit is needed, we coordinate the application and schedule the start accordingly. On site, we clean the facade, repair render and cracks, prime, agree the colour with you on a sample area and paint. Acceptance takes place jointly while the scaffold is still standing; we give a 5-year warranty on our work from acceptance.
More on the Facade renovation Zurich page. You will find interior painting under Painters Zurich, and general questions about permit requirements in the article Building permits in Zurich.
This article is not a substitute for legal advice. It reflects the PBG and BVV of the canton of Zurich and the information published by the City of Zurich as of October 2026; quotations from the German legal texts are our own translations. The binding decision is always made by the building authority where your property is located.