HDB Painting Rules: What You Can and Can’t Paint (and When)
You don’t need an HDB permit to repaint the inside of your flat. You can repaint your own main door and gate. You can’t paint corridor walls, the outside of the block or other common property, which are maintained by your Town Council. Painting should follow HDB’s renovation hours, generally 9am to 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays, with no works on Sundays and public holidays.
This guide is a summary for homeowners, not legal advice. HDB updates its rules from time to time, so check the latest renovation guidelines on the official HDB website before you start.
Do you need a permit to paint an HDB flat?
No. Painting walls and ceilings inside your flat is considered minor work and doesn’t need a renovation permit. The same goes for feature walls and painting built-in carpentry.
Works that change the structure or layout are different. Hacking walls, some partition works, and changes to floors or bathrooms may need HDB approval and a contractor from HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors. If your painter is also doing partition walls or repairs, ask them to confirm whether a permit applies.
When can painting be done?
| Day | General renovation works | Noisy works (e.g. drilling, hacking) |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | 9am – 6pm | Tighter hours, check HDB |
| Saturdays | 9am – 6pm | Generally not allowed |
| Sundays & public holidays | Not allowed | Not allowed |
Painting itself is quiet, but jobs often include drilling, sanding and scraping. A considerate painter will put up a notice for neighbours, keep corridors clear and avoid noisy prep early in the morning.
What you can paint
- All interior walls and ceilings in any colour you like
- Your main door, inside and outside
- Your metal gate, as long as it’s your own and stays within your unit’s boundary
- Window grilles installed by you
- Household shelter walls, without drilling or hacking into them
- Built-in carpentry and furniture, see furniture spray painting
What you can’t paint
- Common corridor walls, including the wall around your door
- The external walls of the block, including the outside face of your flat
- Staircases, lift lobbies and void decks
- Common pipes, meter boxes and service ducts outside your flat
Town Councils repaint blocks on a cycle as part of their maintenance programme, and the colour scheme is decided at estate level. If your corridor looks tired or stained, contact your Town Council.
Household shelter rules
You can paint the inside of your household shelter, but you shouldn’t hack, drill or fix anything into its walls, ceiling or blast door, because it’s designed to protect your family in an emergency. Don’t remove or alter the shelter door either.
Practical tips for painting in an HDB flat
- Tell your neighbours a day or two before, especially if your flat shares a corridor
- Don’t block the corridor with paint tins, ladders or furniture, as it’s a fire escape route
- Don’t wash brushes in common drains, and dispose of paint waste properly
- Ventilate well and pick low-odour paint, especially if neighbours have young children
- Protect the lift when bringing up materials if it’s a long job
Thinking about colours?
Inside your flat, there are no colour rules. Bold colours do usually need an extra coat, so budget a little more. See our HDB painting cost guide for prices, or get HDB painting quotes from painters who know these rules.
FAQ
Do I need HDB approval to paint my flat?
No. Interior painting doesn’t need a permit, but works should follow HDB’s renovation hours.
Can I paint the corridor wall outside my HDB flat?
No. Corridor walls are common property maintained by the Town Council and shouldn’t be painted by residents.
Can I paint my HDB main door a different colour?
Yes, you can repaint your own main door and gate.
Can painting be done on Sunday in an HDB flat?
No. Renovation works, including painting, aren’t allowed on Sundays and public holidays.
