Exterior
Stucco Repair: Cost, Permits & Timeline
Patching or re-coating cracked, delaminated or water-damaged stucco. Small cosmetic patches are usually exempt; anything that exposes lath or covers a large wall area generally needs a permit.
Model reviewed August 2026
Typical cost
$4,200
$900 – $16,000
per sq ft repaired
$7 – $22
Permit
Depends
$90 – $320
Timeline
2-6 days of work plus cure time
2-6 days of work plus cure time, 1-4 weeks with permitting
Do you need a permit for stucco repair?
It depends on scope
Cosmetic, like-for-like stucco repair work is often exempt. A permit is required as soon as you change structure, plumbing, electrical or the building envelope.
What drives the cost
- Extent of delamination behind the visible crack
- Whether lath and weather barrier need replacement
- Two-story access and scaffolding
- Color matching versus full re-coat
- Underlying water intrusion repairs
Permit, inspections and documents
| Permit status | conditional |
|---|---|
| Typical permit fee | $90 – $320 |
| Licensed contractor required | Not always |
| Owner-builder allowed | Yes, on owner-occupied homes |
| Inspections | Lath / wire inspection when re-lathing, Final inspection |
| Timeline | 2-6 days of work plus cure time, 1-4 weeks with permitting |
| DIY difficulty | 4/5 difficulty |
Documents typically required
- • Permit application when the repair exceeds a patch
- • Contractor license
Stucco Repair cost by city
Local labor and material pricing applied to the national baseline.
| City | Typical range | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $1,400 – $25,600 | +60% |
| Los Angeles | $1,200 – $21,800 | +36% |
| Miami | $1,100 – $19,600 | +23% |
| Chicago | $1,100 – $19,600 | +23% |
| Phoenix | $900 – $16,400 | +3% |
| Dallas | $900 – $15,900 | -1% |
| Houston | $900 – $15,900 | -1% |
| Tampa | $1,000 – $17,000 | +6% |
| Denver | $1,000 – $18,100 | +13% |
| Orlando | $900 – $16,400 | +3% |
| Atlanta | $900 – $16,000 | 0% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $1,100 – $18,900 | +18% |
Stucco Repair across the country
National pricing, state-by-state pricing, and the tools behind both.
Frequently asked questions
How long does stucco repair take?
2-6 days of work plus cure time, 1-4 weeks with permitting. Permit review and inspection scheduling are usually the largest source of variation.
What changes the price the most?
The largest cost drivers are extent of delamination behind the visible crack; whether lath and weather barrier need replacement; two-story access and scaffolding.
Sources
Sources & verification
Model vintage August 2026. The links above are the issuing agencies' own pages — we publish them so you can confirm the current rule yourself, not as evidence that each fact on this page was re-checked with them today. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing, not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.