Painting the outside of an older Aurora home typically runs about $5,000 to $10,000 for a two-storey house, and painting itself needs no heritage permit. Mature trees, old lead paint and masonry rules are what change the job.
Aurora's older core has the things people move there for: big maples and spruces, deep lots and houses that have been repainted many times. Those same features are why an exterior paint job here is rarely a simple "roll it on" quote. Shade, falling branches, damp siding and decades of old paint all show up in the price. This guide covers what the Town of Aurora actually says, what the published cost ranges look like, and the questions that sort a careful painter from a quick one.
Painting is exempt, but a lot around it isn't
The Town of Aurora's January 2024 Heritage Permit Application Form lists the classes of alteration that Council has determined to be minor, under Section 41.1(5)(e) of the Ontario Heritage Act. "Painting" is on that list, so repainting a home in the Northeast Old Aurora Heritage Conservation District doesn't need a heritage permit. (If your home is individually designated, or you're unsure which category it falls in, confirm with the Town first.)
The same form lists small projects that do need a heritage permit even without a building permit, and several sit very close to a paint job:
- Cleaning or re-pointing masonry — so pressure-washing or chemically cleaning brick or stone is not the same as washing vinyl.
- Replacement siding — swapping clapboard for something else is a permit question; repainting it is not.
- Removal of architectural elements such as shutters, doors and trim — taking trim off to paint behind it and then not putting it back is the risky version.
The form doesn't spell out painting previously unpainted brick or stone. If that's what you have in mind, ask the Town's Heritage Planning section (905-726-4700, planning@aurora.ca) before anyone opens a can. Paint on historic brick can trap moisture and is close to impossible to undo.
The trees: what the Town's bylaw means for your painter
Aurora's Private Tree Protection Bylaw (No. 5850-16) regulates cutting and injuring trees on private property. Under the Town's published rules, a tree of 20 cm (8 in) diameter or less is exempt, and an owner can remove up to two larger trees in a 12-month period without a permit. But a permit is required to remove a single heritage tree or a single tree in any heritage district. Applications go through the Town's Parks Division (365-500-3134), involve a posted notice and a Council decision, and typically take about 30 days from a complete application.
The practical point: don't let a painter solve a tight ladder spot by hacking a limb or taking out a small tree. Cutting back branches that touch the siding is a job for an arborist who knows the bylaw, and it should happen before painting, not during. The Town's page doesn't define "injure", so for anything more than light pruning, call the Parks Division first.
Why shade and mature trees raise the price
Published cost guides don't price tree cover separately, so treat the following as practical reasoning, not a statistic. A lot with mature trees tends to add work in four places:
- Cleaning. Shaded walls stay damp, so green algae, moss and mildew are more likely and need to be washed off and given time to dry before painting.
- Drying time. Shade slows drying between wash, prime and coats. Check the paint can for the minimum application temperature; it varies by product.
- Access. Branches near walls make ladders and lifts harder to set up and slow the work.
- Debris. Sap, leaves and pollen landing on wet paint are a real finish problem. Ask how the painter plans to deal with them.
What it typically costs
These are general market estimates from public price guides, not Rhodex prices or quotes. HomeStars' Canadian guide puts exterior painting of a two-storey home at about $5,000 to $10,000, and a large home at about $8,000 to $15,000, noting that Toronto-area costs sit toward the higher end. Per-square-foot figures in public guides range widely, roughly $1.50 to $6 per square foot of wall, depending on the source and the amount of prep.
Your own number moves with: wall area (not floor area), number of storeys, condition of the existing paint, how much scraping and priming is needed, trim detail (older homes have a lot), and how hard the house is to reach. Get at least two written quotes, and make each one say what is included for prep, how many coats, and which paint product.
Lead paint on older siding and trim
Health Canada says a home built before 1960 probably contains lead-based paint, and one built between 1960 and 1990 may have it on the exterior. Intact lead paint is less of a worry than disturbed paint, and Health Canada notes that leaving it alone is sometimes safer than removing it. For scraping, its guidance is direct: don't use sanders, heat guns or blowlamps on lead paint, since this creates toxic dust and fumes. Keep children and pregnant women away from the work area, and seal scrapings in a labelled container for disposal under local rules.
So if your house is from the old core, ask the painter how they handle prep on pre-1960 paint, and where the scrapings go. A vague answer is a reason to keep looking.
Quick answers
Do I need a heritage permit to paint my house in Aurora?
No, painting is on the Town of Aurora's list of minor alterations that don't need a heritage permit. Cleaning masonry, replacing siding, and removing trim or shutters still do.
Can I trim or remove a tree to paint my Aurora house?
Not freely. Aurora's Private Tree Protection Bylaw regulates cutting and injuring trees, and removing a single tree in a heritage district needs a permit. Call the Town's Parks Division before cutting.
How much does it cost to paint a house exterior in Aurora?
Published Ontario price guides put a two-storey home at roughly $5,000 to $10,000, and a large home at $8,000 to $15,000. Prep work and access move the number most. Get a fixed price from Rhodex.
Does an old Aurora house have lead paint?
Probably, if it was built before 1960, according to Health Canada. Homes from 1960 to 1990 may have it on the exterior. Don't dry-sand, burn or heat-gun it.
Do trees make exterior painting cost more?
Often, yes. Shade and branches mean more cleaning, slower drying and harder access for ladders. Ask the painter to itemize prep so you can compare quotes fairly.
Before you book anyone
In short: paint doesn't need heritage sign-off, but masonry cleaning, siding changes and trim removal do; trees are protected more than you might expect; and an old house needs lead-aware prep. A painter who brings those up before you do is the one to keep.
Related reading
- More home repair guides for Aurora
- Exterior Repairs in Aurora's Heritage District: What Needs a Permit and What Doesn't
- Exterior Painting Cost in Richmond Hill (2026)
- How Rhodex Vets a Craftsman Before They Reach Your Door
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