Most of the time, repainting a house in NSW does not need council approval, because it’s treated as low-impact work (often classed as “exempt development”) as long as you’re repainting and not turning it into a bigger building change. NSW Planning
The catch is this: a few common situations change the answer fast, especially around heritage and strata.
1) When repainting is usually “exempt” in NSW
In plain terms, repainting is usually treated like routine upkeep, so you can often go ahead without lodging a DA. NSW planning guidance even lists “painting a house” as an example of work that can be exempt development. NSW Planning
This is the typical “no approval” zone:
Repainting previously painted surfaces
No structural changes
No signage
No new cladding or major façade alterations bundled into the job
2) When you should slow down: heritage and conservation areas
If your home is heritage-listed or in a heritage conservation area, repainting can still be straightforward, but you need to treat it differently.
The Hills Shire (Kellyville)
Kellyville sits in The Hills Shire, and Council guidance commonly treats painting previously painted surfaces as routine maintenance that would not normally need consent. The Hills Shire Council
That said, heritage controls can come with conditions around finishes and original materials.
Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains Council guidance has been clear for a long time: routine maintenance or repainting in the same colour scheme usually doesn’t require an application, but it’s still smart to check with Council if you’re unsure. BMCC
If you want a new colour scheme in a heritage conservation area, they note it may be handled as minor works by contacting Council with the details. BMCC
State Heritage Register items
For State Heritage Register items, NSW Heritage publishes “standard exemptions” that include paint removal, surface prep, and repainting of already painted fabric in certain circumstances. Environment and Heritage
Practical rule: if anything about your property is heritage-controlled, treat colour changes and finishes as a “check first” item, not a “guess and go”.
3) Colour changes: usually fine, sometimes not
A simple repaint and a colour change aren’t the same in how councils and heritage advisors may look at it.
Same colour scheme, same surface: usually the simplest path. BMCC
Big colour shift (especially in heritage contexts): may need a quick sign-off as minor works, or guidance from Council. BMCC
If you’re in a modern estate area of Kellyville with no heritage controls, colour changes are usually just a design decision. If your home has heritage constraints, colour can be part of the “character” councils try to protect. City of Sydney
4) Strata: the approval question is often “not council”, it’s the Owners Corporation
If your place is a townhouse/villa/apartment under strata, your first approval question is often the Owners Corporation, not council.
NSW strata guidance explains that major works require Owners Corporation approval by special resolution. NSW Government
In practice, external painting and colour scheme changes can be treated as changes to common property appearance, so it’s common to need formal approval before you start. Strata Choice+1
Practical rule: inside your lot is one thing; anything visible on the outside often becomes a strata approval conversation.
5) The material matters: “previously unpainted” surfaces can trigger issues
This catches people out in suburbs like Kellyville where you see a mix of finishes.
Repainting an already painted wall is usually routine. Painting previously unpainted face brick, stone, or heritage materials can be treated very differently, especially for heritage items. The Hills Shire heritage controls, for example, include guidance that face brick shouldn’t be painted in heritage contexts. The Hills Shire Council
Even outside heritage, once you paint something that was never meant to be painted, reversing it later can be messy and expensive.
6) Licensing and insurance: what it means in NSW (and why homeowners ask)
In NSW, painting work over a certain value needs the right licence/certificate. NSW Government guidance states a contractor licence is needed for residential painting work valued over $5,000 (labour + materials, incl GST). NSW Government
On my side, Decor8 is positioned as fully licensed and insured, and I’m the one doing the work.
That matters for homeowners because it’s tied to basic risk: site safety, liability, and accountability if something goes wrong.
A quick “Kellyville repaint check” before you start
Use this as a fast filter:
Is it a strata property? If yes, check Owners Corporation rules before exterior changes. NSW Government
Is it heritage-listed or in a heritage conservation area? If yes, check council guidance first. The Hills Shire Council
Same colour scheme or a major change? Major change can trigger a “minor works” step in heritage areas. BMCC
Previously painted surface or raw material like face brick? Raw heritage materials can have clear limits. The Hills Shire Council
My take after 30+ years painting around Sydney
I’ve painted plenty of homes across Sydney, including Kellyville and up through the Mountains, and most repaint jobs are simple from an approvals point of view. Where people get stuck is when they assume “paint is paint” and skip the two big checks: heritage controls and strata rules. Decor8 Painting & Decorating
If you want, send me the suburb and a couple of photos (front elevation plus any special finishes like brick/stone), and I’ll tell you what I’d check first before a brush even comes out.
