diff --git a/django/utils/_os.py b/django/utils/_os.py
index 7ec5ce114b0..706268a74d2 100644
--- a/django/utils/_os.py
+++ b/django/utils/_os.py
@@ -44,3 +44,23 @@ def safe_join(base, *paths):
         raise ValueError('The joined path (%s) is located outside of the base '
                          'path component (%s)' % (final_path, base_path))
     return final_path
+
+def rmtree_errorhandler(func, path, exc_info):
+    """
+    On Windows, some files are read-only (e.g. in in .svn dirs), so when
+    rmtree() tries to remove them, an exception is thrown.
+    We catch that here, remove the read-only attribute, and hopefully
+    continue without problems.
+    """
+    exctype, value = exc_info[:2]
+    # lookin for a windows error
+    if exctype is not WindowsError or 'Access is denied' not in str(value):
+        raise
+    # file type should currently be read only
+    if ((os.stat(path).st_mode & stat.S_IREAD) != stat.S_IREAD):
+        raise
+    # convert to read/write
+    os.chmod(path, stat.S_IWRITE)
+    # use the original function to repeat the operation
+    func(path)
+
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/staticfiles_tests/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/staticfiles_tests/tests.py
index 35ee74393ba..cf532bb414d 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/staticfiles_tests/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/staticfiles_tests/tests.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from django.core.management import call_command
 from django.db.models.loading import load_app
 from django.template import Template, Context
 from django.test import TestCase
+from django.utils._os import rmtree_errorhandler
 
 
 TEST_ROOT = os.path.normcase(os.path.dirname(__file__))
@@ -97,7 +98,9 @@ class BuildStaticTestCase(StaticFilesTestCase):
         self.run_collectstatic()
 
     def tearDown(self):
-        shutil.rmtree(settings.STATIC_ROOT)
+        # Use our own error handler that can handle .svn dirs on Windows
+        shutil.rmtree(settings.STATIC_ROOT, ignore_errors=True,
+                      onerror=rmtree_errorhandler)
         settings.STATIC_ROOT = self.old_root
         super(BuildStaticTestCase, self).tearDown()