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Permitting Authorities / City of Linden - Building Department

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

Adopted code

City of Linden - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Linden, MI, issued by City of Linden - Building Department. In the City of Linden a reroof starts with the Building Department's permit application: the page says "Download the Building Permit Application and return completed with plans to City Offices via mail, drop box or e-mail" and "The completed application with plans will be reviewed and you will be contacted by the Building Official with permit details, required inspections and associated fees." It adds "Once application fees are paid and the permit is issued, the proposed work may begin. Contact City Offices to schedule building inspections." City Hall is at 132 East Broad Street, Linden, MI 48451 (PO Box 507), phone 810-735-7980, open Monday to Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with a lunch closing from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, and Friday 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The city's fee schedule for fiscal year 2026-2027 says the permit fee "includes one (1) inspection only", charges $75.00 for each additional inspection and lists an "Unpermitted work permit" at $100 plus the permit fee; "The first $75.00 of an application fee is non-refundable." The city's Point of Sale Housing Inspection, required before a home sale, checks "Open/Expired Permits" among its items. Inside the historic district the Historic District Commission reviews a building permit application and issues a certificate of appropriateness, which the fee schedule prices at $50.

Roof code checklist: Linden, MI

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYeslindenmi.us2026-10-12
Repair permit thresholdPublishedlindenmi.us2026-10-12
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-12
Deck & sheathingPublishedR905.2.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-12
Drip edgeYesR905.2.8.5codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-12
Ice & water shieldYesR905.1.2ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-12
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNoars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-12
Wind design criteriaNot published
Adopted codePublishedSec. 15.04ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-12
Contractor license / registrationYeslegislature.mi.gov2026-10-12
Sales & use taxPublishedlegislature.mi.gov2026-10-12

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
City of Linden, Michigan
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
132 East Broad Street, Linden, MI 48451
Contact
  • url: https://www.lindenmi.us/building-and-code-enforcement
  • phone: 810-735-7980
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • state_level: Michigan licenses residential maintenance and alteration contractors under the Occupational Code, and that licence "includes the following crafts and trades" among which it names roofing (MCL 339.2404(3)); "A person shall not engage in or attempt to engage in the practice of an occupation regulated under this act" without the licence (MCL 339.601(1)). MCL 339.2403 lists who may work without one, including a project whose "aggregate contract price for the labor, material, and any other items for the undertaking or project is less than $600.00". This record does not decide whether a given roofer falls inside an exemption.
  • city_level: The city's Municipal Code and Building & Code Enforcement page show no separate contractor registration. The city's Building Permit and Plan Examination Application asks the contractor for a license number and expiration date, a "Federal Employer ID Number or Reason for Exemption", a "Workers Comp Insurance Carrier or Reason for Exemption" and an "MESC Employer Number or Reason for Exemption"; the city publishes no registration of its own.
Permit process note
In the City of Linden a reroof starts with the Building Department's permit application: the page says "Download the Building Permit Application and return completed with plans to City Offices via mail, drop box or e-mail" and "The completed application with plans will be reviewed and you will be contacted by the Building Official with permit details, required inspections and associated fees." It adds "Once application fees are paid and the permit is issued, the proposed work may begin. Contact City Offices to schedule building inspections." City Hall is at 132 East Broad Street, Linden, MI 48451 (PO Box 507), phone 810-735-7980, open Monday to Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with a lunch closing from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, and Friday 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The city's fee schedule for fiscal year 2026-2027 says the permit fee "includes one (1) inspection only", charges $75.00 for each additional inspection and lists an "Unpermitted work permit" at $100 plus the permit fee; "The first $75.00 of an application fee is non-refundable." The city's Point of Sale Housing Inspection, required before a home sale, checks "Open/Expired Permits" among its items. Inside the historic district the Historic District Commission reviews a building permit application and issues a certificate of appropriateness, which the fee schedule prices at $50.
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 City of Linden as its own building code enforcer. Linden's codified Municipal Code Sec. 15.04.010 (Ord 199, 1994; Ord 236, 1998; Ord 290, 2004; Ord 329, 2011), as the city posts its code on its Building & Code Enforcement page, adopts "2009 Michigan Building Code" including the 2009 Michigan Residential Code and the 2009 Michigan Rehabilitation Code for Existing Buildings; this directory has not read that text, 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. Linden's Ordinance No. 378, enacted March 27, 2017, which the city posts as an update to its code, amends Title 15, Section 15.04 "to adopt the 2015 Michigan Building Code including the 2015 Michigan Residential Code" and "shall become effective on April 20, 2017".
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). Title 15 of the Linden Municipal Code and the Building & Code Enforcement page, building permit application and fee schedule were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge. Linden's codified Sec. 15.04.010 adopts the 2009 Michigan Building Code; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state and which Linden's Ordinance No. 378, enacted March 27, 2017, says the city adopts; the 2009 Michigan Building Code text was not read (see adopted_code). About drip edge
Ice & 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). Title 15 of the Linden Municipal Code and the Building & Code Enforcement page, building permit application and fee schedule were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier. Linden's codified Sec. 15.04.010 adopts the 2009 Michigan Building Code; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state and which Linden's Ordinance No. 378, enacted March 27, 2017, says the city adopts; the 2009 Michigan Building Code text was not read (see adopted_code). About ice & water barrier
Impact-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." Title 15 of the Linden Municipal Code and the Building & Code Enforcement page, building permit application and fee schedule were read for a local rule and state nothing further on impact resistance. Linden's codified Sec. 15.04.010 adopts the 2009 Michigan Building Code; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state and which Linden's Ordinance No. 378, enacted March 27, 2017, says the city adopts; the 2009 Michigan Building Code text was not read (see adopted_code).
Repair permit threshold
No size or cost point is published below which roof work needs no permit in the City of Linden. The Building & Code Enforcement page says "The Department is responsible for issuing building permits and the provision of inspection services related to these permits." and the city's Building Permit and Plan Examination Application lists "Alteration" and "Repair" among its types of improvement, with no roof type; the city's 2026-2027 fee schedule starts the permit fee at $75.00 for work up to $1,000 and has no roofing line. In the city's historic district, Sec. 15.12.040(A) says "application for a building permit to construct, alter, repair, move or demolish any structure must be made to the building inspector" and Sec. 15.12.080(A) says "Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to prevent ordinary maintenance or repair of any structure within the Historic District". Under state law, "before construction of a building or structure, the owner, or the owner's builder, architect, engineer, or agent, shall submit an application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit" and "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure," (MCL 125.1510), without a definition of ordinary repairs, and the city has published nothing applying that relief to roof work. For a small patch, ask the Building Department at 810-735-7980 before starting.
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, Title 15 (Building and Construction) of the Linden Municipal Code was read: Chapter 15.04 (Building Code Adopted), Chapter 15.06 (Fire Code Adopted), Chapter 15.08 (Housing and Rental Rules and Regulations), Chapter 15.12 (Historic Sites and Structures) and Chapter 15.24 (Dangerous Building), with Ordinance Nos. 378 and 379. Chapter 15.04 revises only Sections 101.1, 112.3.1, 116.4 and 117.2 of the adopted code, and no chapter has a reroofing provision or amends Section R908; the housing standard requires only that "The roof shall be tight and have no defects which will admit water." The Building & Code Enforcement page and permit application state no layer rule. Linden's codified Sec. 15.04.010 adopts the 2009 Michigan Building Code; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state and which Linden's Ordinance No. 378, enacted March 27, 2017, says the city adopts; the 2009 Michigan Building Code text was not read (see adopted_code).
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). Title 15 of the Linden Municipal Code and the Building & Code Enforcement page, building permit application and fee schedule were read for a local rule and state nothing further on roof decks or sheathing. Linden's codified Sec. 15.04.010 adopts the 2009 Michigan Building Code; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state and which Linden's Ordinance No. 378, enacted March 27, 2017, says the city adopts; the 2009 Michigan Building Code text was not read (see adopted_code).
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 on the City of Linden's Building & Code Enforcement page or fee schedule changes this.

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The City of Linden's Building Department, at city hall, 132 East Broad Street, is responsible for "issuing building permits and the provision of inspection services related to these permits". Section 15.04.050 of the city's Municipal Code designates the city's building official as the enforcing agency under the state construction code act, and the State of Michigan's jurisdiction list names the City as its own building code enforcer. Michigan applies one residential code statewide, and for houses that is the 2015 Michigan Residential Code.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Linden, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Linden, MI. No size or cost point is published below which roof work needs no permit in the City of Linden. The Building & Code Enforcement page says "The Department is responsible for issuing building permits and the provision of inspection services related to these permits." and the city's Building Permit and Plan Examination Application lists "Alteration" and "Repair" among its types of improvement, with no roof type; the city's 2026-2027 fee schedule starts the permit fee at $75.00 for work up to $1,000 and has no roofing line. In the city's historic district, Sec. 15.12.040(A) says "application for a building permit to construct, alter, repair, move or demolish any structure must be made to the building inspector" and Sec. 15.12.080(A) says "Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to prevent ordinary maintenance or repair of any structure within the Historic District". Under state law, "before construction of a building or structure, the owner, or the owner's builder, architect, engineer, or agent, shall submit an application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit" and "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure," (MCL 125.1510), without a definition of ordinary repairs, and the city has published nothing applying that relief to roof work. For a small patch, ask the Building Department at 810-735-7980 before starting.

Is ice & water shield required in Linden, 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). Title 15 of the Linden Municipal Code and the Building & Code Enforcement page, building permit application and fee schedule were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier. Linden's codified Sec. 15.04.010 adopts the 2009 Michigan Building Code; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state and which Linden's Ordinance No. 378, enacted March 27, 2017, says the city adopts; the 2009 Michigan Building Code text was not read (see adopted_code).

Is drip edge required in Linden, 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). Title 15 of the Linden Municipal Code and the Building & Code Enforcement page, building permit application and fee schedule were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge. Linden's codified Sec. 15.04.010 adopts the 2009 Michigan Building Code; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state and which Linden's Ordinance No. 378, enacted March 27, 2017, says the city adopts; the 2009 Michigan Building Code text was not read (see adopted_code).

Can you roof over an existing roof in Linden, 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, Title 15 (Building and Construction) of the Linden Municipal Code was read: Chapter 15.04 (Building Code Adopted), Chapter 15.06 (Fire Code Adopted), Chapter 15.08 (Housing and Rental Rules and Regulations), Chapter 15.12 (Historic Sites and Structures) and Chapter 15.24 (Dangerous Building), with Ordinance Nos. 378 and 379. Chapter 15.04 revises only Sections 101.1, 112.3.1, 116.4 and 117.2 of the adopted code, and no chapter has a reroofing provision or amends Section R908; the housing standard requires only that "The roof shall be tight and have no defects which will admit water." The Building & Code Enforcement page and permit application state no layer rule. Linden's codified Sec. 15.04.010 adopts the 2009 Michigan Building Code; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state and which Linden's Ordinance No. 378, enacted March 27, 2017, says the city adopts; the 2009 Michigan Building Code text was not read (see adopted_code).

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

Yes.

What building code does Linden, 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 Linden as its own building code enforcer. Linden's codified Municipal Code Sec. 15.04.010 (Ord 199, 1994; Ord 236, 1998; Ord 290, 2004; Ord 329, 2011), as the city posts its code on its Building & Code Enforcement page, adopts "2009 Michigan Building Code" including the 2009 Michigan Residential Code and the 2009 Michigan Rehabilitation Code for Existing Buildings; this directory has not read that text, 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. Linden's Ordinance No. 378, enacted March 27, 2017, which the city posts as an update to its code, amends Title 15, Section 15.04 "to adopt the 2015 Michigan Building Code including the 2015 Michigan Residential Code" and "shall become effective on April 20, 2017".