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

Roofing questions: Township of Chesaning, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Chesaning, MI. Chesaning Township has published nothing that applies a permit or an exemption to roof work: its Permit Fees & Guidelines sheet (updated 7/8/2013), its building permit application, its Building Permit Waiver form and its FY 2026-2027 fee schedule (amended 5-7-26) name no roofing line, no reroof exemption and no size or dollar point below which a repair needs no permit, and the application offers "Alteration" and "Repair" among its types of improvement without defining either. 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. The township's guidelines end "If you have further questions, please contact" the Building Official, so for any roof work, large or small, call the township office at 989-845-2341 before starting.

Is ice & water shield required in Township of Chesaning, 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 Services and Forms page, the Permit Fees & Guidelines sheet, the building permit application and the FY 2026-2027 fee schedule, and the township's zoning ordinance, were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier. The township's zoning ordinance defines its Building Code as "The Uniform Building Code as adopted by the Chesaning Township Board"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; the township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the text of the code the township adopted was not read (see adopted_code).

Is drip edge required in Township of Chesaning, 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 Services and Forms page, the Permit Fees & Guidelines sheet, the building permit application and the FY 2026-2027 fee schedule, and the township's zoning ordinance, were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge. The township's zoning ordinance defines its Building Code as "The Uniform Building Code as adopted by the Chesaning Township Board"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; the township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the text of the code the township adopted was not read (see adopted_code).

Can you roof over an existing roof in Township of Chesaning, 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 list (zoning ordinance, solar, data center moratorium, anti-blight, animal control and weed ordinances) does not include the building code the zoning ordinance refers to, so no township building ordinance was read and no classification is declared here; the zoning ordinance was searched in full and has no reroofing provision, and the permit guidelines, application and fee schedule state no layer rule. The township's zoning ordinance defines its Building Code as "The Uniform Building Code as adopted by the Chesaning Township Board"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; the township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the text of the code the township adopted was not read (see adopted_code).

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

Yes.

What building code does Township of Chesaning, 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 Chesaning as its own building code enforcer, separately from the Village of Chesaning. The township's zoning ordinance defines "BUILDING CODE" as "The Uniform Building Code as adopted by the Chesaning Township Board" and names no edition; the ordinance adopting that code is not among the township ordinances posted on its website, so that text was not read, and whether the codified reference has any effect today is not decided here. This record states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state construction code act applies throughout the state ("This act and the code apply throughout the state," MCL 125.1508a) and which LARA says remains in effect while the Court of Claims order of July 7, 2025 stands. The township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; its Permit Fees & Guidelines sheet, updated 7/8/2013, refers to the "Current Michigan Residential Code" without an edition.