Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Greenville, MI?

Roofing questions: Greenville, MI

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Greenville, MI?

No, Greenville, MI does not require a permit to replace a roof. Imperial Municipal Services (IMS), the office the City of Greenville names for its building permits and inspections, answers in its FAQ, read October 11, 2026: "Do I need a building permit for a re-roof or exterior re-siding?" "You do not need a building permit for re-roofs or re-siding; HOWEVER, you will need a permit if you intend to make structural changes to the boards underneath the siding or roofing." The city's enacted text names no roof work either way: Section 8-81 of its Code of Ordinances (Ord. No. 24-12, 8-6-2024) adopts the state construction code by reference and makes the city the enforcing agency, Chapter 8 (read in full) amends no permit section or relief, and the city's building permit application and fee schedule list no roofing permit or fee. State law requires a building permit before construction of a building or structure, defines construction to include repair, and also says "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure" (MCL 125.1510) without defining ordinary repairs or capping them by size or cost; Michigan's list of work exempt from permit (Section R105.2 of the residential code, as Michigan amends it) names no roof work. The no-permit line is the department's stated practice, and this record does not decide whether it is the department's reading of that relief. The city's application warns "Work started without permit may be subject to double permit fees." To learn whether your job is a structural change to the boards underneath, call IMS at 616-863-9294 before starting.

Is ice & water shield required in Greenville, 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 8 of the Greenville Code of Ordinances, the city's building permit application and the Building Department page were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier. The City of Greenville's Building Department page refers to "Building Officials and Code Association (BOCA)" codes without an edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state, and the BOCA reference was not read (see adopted_code).

Is drip edge required in Greenville, 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 8 of the Greenville Code of Ordinances, the city's building permit application and the Building Department page were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge. The City of Greenville's Building Department page refers to "Building Officials and Code Association (BOCA)" codes without an edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state, and the BOCA reference was not read (see adopted_code).

Can you roof over an existing roof in Greenville, 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 city's own building ordinance, Chapter 8 of the Greenville Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations, Secs. 8-1 through 8-83), was read in full: it adopts the International Property Maintenance Code, 2024 edition, regulates demolition, private swimming pools and dangerous buildings, and adopts the state construction code by reference; it has no reroofing provision and amends nothing in Section R908. The Building Department page and the building permit application state no layer rule. The City of Greenville's Building Department page refers to "Building Officials and Code Association (BOCA)" codes without an edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state, and the BOCA reference was not read (see adopted_code).

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Greenville, MI?

Yes.

What building code does Greenville, 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 City of Greenville as its own building code enforcer. Section 8-81 of the city's Code of Ordinances (Ord. No. 24-12, 8-6-2024) provides that "the city hereby adopts by reference the construction code," defined as "the state construction code promulgated from time to time by the director of the department of consumer and industry services," and names no edition. The Building Department page says the department "is responsible for administering and enforcing all Building Officials and Code Association (BOCA) and city building codes" and names no BOCA edition; this directory has not read any BOCA code text, and whether that 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 city's building permit application (dated 1/18/18) says "All work shall be in conformance with the Michigan Building Code" and calls for energy calculations under "the 2015 residential energy code".