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

Roofing questions: Township of Freeman, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Freeman, MI. Freeman Township's Permits page says "BUILDING PERMITS ARE RUN THROUGH THE CLARE COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THEY CAN BE REACHED AT 989-539-2741." and says nothing about roofs. Clare County Building Development has published nothing on reroofs: its Inspections & Permits page and Building Permit Application name no roofing line, no size or cost point and no reroof exemption. The application offers "Alteration/Renovation/Repairs" among its work types and says "Separate applications may need to be completed for soil erosion, zoning, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits." 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. For a small repair, ask the county department at 989-539-2741 before starting.

Is ice & water shield required in Township of Freeman, 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). Freeman Township's Permits page and Ordinance No. 2, and Clare County's Inspections & Permits page and Building Permit Application, were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier. Freeman Township's Ordinance No. 2 says the building inspector representative "shall use all current applicable Michigan and BOCA building codes, subject to amendments as necessities require"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Freeman Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the BOCA building codes text was not read (see adopted_code).

Is drip edge required in Township of Freeman, 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). Freeman Township's Permits page and Ordinance No. 2, and Clare County's Inspections & Permits page and Building Permit Application, were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge. Freeman Township's Ordinance No. 2 says the building inspector representative "shall use all current applicable Michigan and BOCA building codes, subject to amendments as necessities require"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Freeman Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the BOCA building codes text was not read (see adopted_code).

Can you roof over an existing roof in Township of Freeman, 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, Ordinance No. 2 (Building Permits and Fees) was read in full and has no reroofing or layer provision; the township's other ordinances on its list were not read, and no classification is set because the BOCA building codes text was not read. The township's Permits page and the Clare County pages state no layer rule. Freeman Township's Ordinance No. 2 says the building inspector representative "shall use all current applicable Michigan and BOCA building codes, subject to amendments as necessities require"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Freeman Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the BOCA building codes text was not read (see adopted_code).

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

Yes.

What building code does Township of Freeman, 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 Freeman as its own building code enforcer, but the township's Permits page says building permits are run through the Clare County Building Department, and its Ordinance No. 38 (March 12, 2020) repealed the ordinance that designated a township enforcing agency, saying "the Freeman Township Board has secured the Code Enforcement Services from Clare County Building Department". Freeman Township's Ordinance No. 2, Building Permits and Fees (effective January 21, 2013), says the building inspector representative "shall use all current applicable Michigan and BOCA building codes, subject to amendments as necessities require"; the ordinance names no edition, this record has not read the BOCA building codes text, and whether the 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. Freeman Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces.