Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Township of Berlin, MI?

Roofing questions: Township of Berlin, MI

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Township of Berlin, MI?

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Berlin, MI. Berlin Township, in St. Clair County, has published nothing on reroofs. Its Building page says "Permits are required for a variety of projects which include but not limited to commercial buildings, residential buildings, demolitions, additions, garages, pole barns, sheds over 200 square feet, decks, ponds, pools and solar panels." and names no roofing. The township's Building Permit Fees & Requirements sheet lists fees for houses, additions, pole buildings, garages, sheds, decks, ponds, pools, solar panels, demolition and commercial work and has no roofing line, and its Building Permit Application has no roofing box. The state part: Michigan's construction code act says "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure" and does not define ordinary repairs. The township has published nothing applying that relief to roof work, so call the township office at 810-395-4518 before a reroof or a small roof repair.

Is ice & water shield required in Township of Berlin, MI?

Yes. Required everywhere in Michigan by state law. Michigan fills in the climatic design table of the 2015 code once for the whole state (Rule 516, Table R301.2(1)), and its ice barrier underlayment column reads Yes. The state footnote calls for Yes "for areas where the average daily temperature in January is 25 degrees Fahrenheit" or less, or where ice damming has caused damage. The base code then requires an ice barrier "for asphalt shingles, metal roof shingles, mineral-surfaced roll roofing, slate and slate-type shingles, wood shingles and wood shakes," running "from the lowest edges of all roof surfaces to a point not less than 24 inches (610 mm) inside the exterior wall line of the building" (R905.1.2). Detached accessory structures without conditioned floor area are exempt. On a tear-off, an existing ice barrier that is adhered to the deck may stay and be covered with an additional layer (R908.3, Exception). The Berlin Township Building page, fee sheet and permit application were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier.

Is drip edge required in Township of Berlin, MI?

Yes. Required on asphalt shingle roofs by state law. Michigan makes no amendment to the drip edge rule of the 2015 International Residential Code, Section R905.2.8.5, which applies as published: "A drip edge shall be provided at eaves and rake edges of shingle roofs." Segments overlap by at least 2 inches, the drip edge extends at least 1/4 inch below the roof sheathing and at least 2 inches back onto the deck, it is fastened at no more than 12 inches on center, and underlayment goes over it at the eaves and under it at the rakes. A reroof is held to the same rule, because "Materials and methods of application used for re-covering or replacing an existing roof covering shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 9" (R908.1). The Berlin Township Building page, fee sheet and permit application were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Township of Berlin, MI?

Two layers at most, under state law. Michigan builds one- and two-family homes to the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which adopts the 2015 International Residential Code and makes no amendment to its reroofing section, Section R908; the Michigan rule set was searched in full and R908 does not appear in it. The base section therefore applies as the International Code Council publishes it. Section R908.3.1.1 lists the conditions under which a new roof may not be laid over an existing one, and the third is "Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering." One existing layer may be covered once; a roof that already carries two layers is torn off to the deck. The same section also bars covering a roof that is water soaked or too deteriorated to serve as a base, and covering "slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile." Locally, the township's Ordinances page posts only a Cemetery Ordinance, and the township posts no building code or building ordinance, so no Berlin Township ordinance was found to read for a local reroofing rule. The Building page, fee sheet and permit application state no layer rule.

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Township of Berlin, MI?

Yes.

What building code does Township of Berlin, MI use?

2015 Michigan Residential Code. This is state law and it is the same in every Michigan city, village, township and county: the state construction code act says "This act and the code apply throughout the state," and the Michigan Residential Code rule adopts "the international residential code, 2015 edition" with the state amendments in R 408.30500 to R 408.30547g. A 2021 edition was filed with the secretary of state in 2025 but has not taken effect. On July 7, 2025 the Michigan Court of Claims entered a stipulated order in Home Builders Assoc et al. v LARA et al., and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) says that while that order remains in place "the 2015 versions of the IRC and residential provisions of the IECC standards currently adopted, in part, by each rule set will remain valid and in effect." LARA's Statewide Jurisdiction List names the Township of Berlin in St. Clair County as its own building code enforcer. Locally, the township's Building Permit Fees & Requirements sheet says "ALL BUILDING PLANS SHALL COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT MICHIGAN BUILDING CODES." and names no edition; its Ordinances page posts only a Cemetery Ordinance and no building code ordinance, so this record states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code for the reasons above.