Permitting Authorities / Bessemer Township - Building Department
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Township of Bessemer, MI?
Adopted code
Bessemer Township - Building Department
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Bessemer, MI, issued by Bessemer Township - Building Department. In Bessemer Township a reroof has its own line on the township's Building Permit Fees sheet: "Re-Roofing Permit" at "$40.00", and "Window Replacement" and "Siding Replacement" are priced the same way at "$30.00" each. The fee sheet is page 2 of the Building Permit Application packet that the township posts under Building Department documents, dated April 14, 2020 on the township site, so ask the township office for the current fee. The packet says "THIS APPLICATION MUST BE APPROVED BY THE BUILDING OFFICIAL AND FEES PAID BEFORE ANY CONSTRUCTION CAN COMMENCE", "BUILDING INSPECTOR MUST BE GIVEN 24 HOUR NOTICE FOR ALL REQUIRED BUILDING INSPECTIONS" and "The builder is responsible for obtaining the permit in almost all cases." Its list of inspections (footing, foundation, rough in, insulation and final) is written for new buildings and names no roof inspection. The township's contact page lists a Building Inspector with the work phone 906-364-9645, and the township office telephone is 906.667.0423. The township's List of Ordinances includes No. 111, "Designation of Building Official-State Constructions Act", adopted November 6, 1974.
Roof code checklist: Township of Bessemer, MI
Each row comes from the sourced record on this page; full wording is in the table below. "Not published" means no official source for that item was found when the record was last verified.
Jurisdiction
Township of Bessemer, Michigan
Address
N10338 Mill Street, Ramsay, MI 49959
Contact
- url: http://bessemertownship.com/document-category/building-department/
- phone: 906-667-0423
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Permit process note
In Bessemer Township a reroof has its own line on the township's Building Permit Fees sheet: "Re-Roofing Permit" at "$40.00", and "Window Replacement" and "Siding Replacement" are priced the same way at "$30.00" each. The fee sheet is page 2 of the Building Permit Application packet that the township posts under Building Department documents, dated April 14, 2020 on the township site, so ask the township office for the current fee. The packet says "THIS APPLICATION MUST BE APPROVED BY THE BUILDING OFFICIAL AND FEES PAID BEFORE ANY CONSTRUCTION CAN COMMENCE", "BUILDING INSPECTOR MUST BE GIVEN 24 HOUR NOTICE FOR ALL REQUIRED BUILDING INSPECTIONS" and "The builder is responsible for obtaining the permit in almost all cases." Its list of inspections (footing, foundation, rough in, insulation and final) is written for new buildings and names no roof inspection. The township's contact page lists a Building Inspector with the work phone 906-364-9645, and the township office telephone is 906.667.0423. The township's List of Ordinances includes No. 111, "Designation of Building Official-State Constructions Act", adopted November 6, 1974.
Adopted code
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 Bessemer as its own building code enforcer, and the township's List of Ordinances includes No. 111, "Designation of Building Official-State Constructions Act" (November 6, 1974). The township has published no statement naming the code edition it enforces, and its permit packet, contact page and ordinance list name no residential code edition.
Drip edge
Required — 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 township's Building Permit Application packet, its contact page and its List of Ordinances were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge.
About drip edgeIce & water shield
Required — 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 township's Building Permit Application packet, its contact page and its List of Ordinances were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier.
About ice & water barrierImpact-resistant roofing
Not required — No impact-resistance requirement under state law. The 2015 Michigan Residential Code was searched in full and has no hail or impact rating rule for roof coverings: the words hail, impact and UL 2218 do not appear in it, and none of them appears in the roof assemblies chapter of the base 2015 International Residential Code either. Michigan applies one code statewide ("This act and the code apply throughout the state."), and the act gives the power to amend it to the state director, who adopts the model codes "with amendments, additions, or deletions as the director determines appropriate." The township's Building Permit Application packet, its contact page and its List of Ordinances were read for a local rule and state nothing further on impact resistance.
Repair permit threshold
Bessemer Township's Building Permit Fees sheet, part of its Building Permit Application packet, has a dedicated "Re-Roofing Permit" line at "$40.00", separate from "Remodeling Permits: Based on work to be done, enlarging door openings, changing bearing walls, changing roof structure, etc." at "$30.00 per inspection." The township's pages state no size, cost or layer point below which roof work needs no permit. Under state law, "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure." (MCL 125.1510), without a definition of ordinary repairs.
Roof layer limit / recover
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 posts a list of its ordinances and not their text, and the list says "COPIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST"; only the zoning ordinance is posted, so no township building ordinance was read for this record and no classification is set. The township's Building Permit Application packet states no layer rule.
Deck & sheathing requirements
State law, from the base code. Michigan makes no amendment to the roof sheathing section of the 2015 International Residential Code, Section R803, which does not appear in the Michigan rule set, so it applies as published. Lumber roof sheathing follows Table R803.1: over rafters or beams 24 inches apart it must be at least 5/8 inch net thick. Wood structural panels must be identified "for grade, bond classification and performance category by a grade mark or certificate of inspection issued by an approved agency," and their spans may not exceed "the values set forth in Table R503.2.1.1(1), or APA E30." For a shingle roof the base code adds that "Asphalt shingles shall be fastened to solidly sheathed decks" (R905.2.1), and on any reroof "The structural roof components shall be capable of supporting the roof covering system" (R908.2). The township's Building Permit Application packet, its contact page and its List of Ordinances were read for a local rule and state nothing further on roof sheathing.
Sales & use tax
6%, statewide, with no local add-on. This is state law: the General Sales Tax Act sets the tax "equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the business," the Use Tax Act sets "a total combined rate equal to 6%," and the Michigan Department of Treasury says "Michigan does not allow city or local units to impose sales tax." On a roofing job the roofer is the taxpayer on materials, because the Use Tax Act counts as a consumer "A person acquiring tangible personal property if engaged in the business of constructing, altering, repairing, or improving the real estate of others." Nothing in Bessemer Township's Building Permit Application packet changes this.
Local roofing hub
More roof permit pages in Michigan
Related guides
Bessemer Township's Building Department takes building permit applications through the township office at N10338 Mill Street in Ramsay, and the township's contact page lists a Building Inspector. The township's building permit fee sheet has a separate "Re-Roofing Permit" line. LARA's Statewide Jurisdiction List names the Township of Bessemer as its own building code enforcer, and the City of Bessemer is a separate enforcing agency. Michigan applies one residential code statewide, so the roofing rules below are state law.
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Roofing questions: Township of Bessemer, MI
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Township of Bessemer, MI?
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Bessemer, MI. Bessemer Township's Building Permit Fees sheet, part of its Building Permit Application packet, has a dedicated "Re-Roofing Permit" line at "$40.00", separate from "Remodeling Permits: Based on work to be done, enlarging door openings, changing bearing walls, changing roof structure, etc." at "$30.00 per inspection." The township's pages state no size, cost or layer point below which roof work needs no permit. Under state law, "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure." (MCL 125.1510), without a definition of ordinary repairs.
Is ice & water shield required in Township of Bessemer, 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 township's Building Permit Application packet, its contact page and its List of Ordinances were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier.
Is drip edge required in Township of Bessemer, 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 township's Building Permit Application packet, its contact page and its List of Ordinances were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge.
Can you roof over an existing roof in Township of Bessemer, 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 posts a list of its ordinances and not their text, and the list says "COPIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST"; only the zoning ordinance is posted, so no township building ordinance was read for this record and no classification is set. The township's Building Permit Application packet states no layer rule.
Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Township of Bessemer, MI?
Yes.
What building code does Township of Bessemer, 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 Bessemer as its own building code enforcer, and the township's List of Ordinances includes No. 111, "Designation of Building Official-State Constructions Act" (November 6, 1974). The township has published no statement naming the code edition it enforces, and its permit packet, contact page and ordinance list name no residential code edition.