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

Roofing questions: Township of Fabius, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Fabius, MI. Fabius Township's Zoning and Building page names a zoning administrator and a building official and links the township's permit forms, fee schedule and zoning ordinance, and says nothing about roof work. Section 46-129(3) of the township's Zoning Ordinance (2025-1) says "No building or structure, or part thereof, shall be hereafter erected, altered, moved, or repaired unless a building permit shall have been first issued for such work. The terms "altered" and "repaired" shall be limited to only such changes which will affect the provisions contained in this article." Its fee schedule (effective 06-08-2016) lists "Zoning Application (No building permit required)" and "Zoning Application (Building Permit Required)" and has no building permit or roofing line. The department has published nothing on reroofs and states no size, square or dollar point below which roof work needs no permit. 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. Call the Building Official at 269-816-4951 before a reroof or a small roof repair.

Is ice & water shield required in Township of Fabius, 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). Chapter 6 of the Fabius Township Code of Ordinances, the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning and Building page were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier. Fabius Township's Building Code Ordinance No. 48 adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Fabius Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the BOCA National Building Code text was not read (see adopted_code).

Is drip edge required in Township of Fabius, 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). Chapter 6 of the Fabius Township Code of Ordinances, the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning and Building page were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge. Fabius Township's Building Code Ordinance No. 48 adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Fabius Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the BOCA National Building Code text was not read (see adopted_code).

Can you roof over an existing roof in Township of Fabius, 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, Chapter 6 (Buildings and Building Regulations) of the township's Code of Ordinances, published in 2013, was read in full, and the Zoning Ordinance (2025-1) was searched for roofing text; neither has a reroofing provision. The township's ordinance archive also lists earlier building code ordinances, and Ordinance No. 48 was not read beyond its adoption sections, so this record declares no layer classification. Fabius Township's Building Code Ordinance No. 48 adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Fabius Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the BOCA National Building Code text was not read (see adopted_code).

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

Yes.

What building code does Township of Fabius, 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 Fabius as its own building code enforcer. Locally, Section 6-19 of the township's Code of Ordinances (published 2013) designates "the Township building official" as the enforcing agency under Public Act No. 230 of 1972, and the Zoning Ordinance (2025-1) refers to "the Township building code" and "the building code currently in effect in the Township" without naming an edition. The township's ordinance archive lists Building Code Ordinance No. 48, adopted November 10, 1993 and effective February 17, 1994, whose Section III adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993"; this directory has not read that text beyond its adoption sections, and whether the codified reference has any effect today is not decided here. The archive also lists earlier building code ordinances (Nos. 1 and 2 of 1960, No. 11 of 1974, Nos. 30, 42 and 48), which were not read. 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. Fabius Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces.