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Permitting Authorities / Charter Township of Lowell - Building Department

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

Adopted code

Charter Township of Lowell - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Charter Township of Lowell, MI, issued by Charter Township of Lowell - Building Department. In Lowell Charter Township a reroof starts with the township's zoning compliance form, which has a "Roof/Reroof" box among its project types and is headed "MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED FOR ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION", and goes on to a building permit from Cascade Inspection Services: the Building Department page says "Lowell Charter Township contracts with Cascade Township Building department for Building, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing permits and necessary inspections." and "Building Permits are issued by Cascade Inspections Services once Zoning Compliance has been approved." Cascade's Building Inspections page answers "Is a building permit required for roofing or siding?" with "Yes. You will need to fill out a roofing/siding worksheet and a Building Permit application." Its Roofing/Siding Worksheet asks for the type of covering, the number of squares, roof pitch, underlayment, ice barrier, the "# of layers currently on roof" and "Will you be tearing off?", and says "Please call for inspection when the job is complete." and "Any structural changes or replacing sheathing will require additional drawings detailing location and specifications." Cascade's undated training handout "Building Permit Process" lists "Small normal repairs" among the "Work exempt from permit" and defines no repairs. The township offers three ways to submit: an online upload, an in-person drop-off at the township hall, or through Cascade Township. Cascade Inspection Services is at 5920 Tahoe Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, open Monday to Thursday 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, on 616-949-3765, and the township hall line is 616-897-7600. Lowell Charter Township's fee schedule (revised 03.11.2026) lists no building permit fee and Cascade's application form leaves the fee blocks blank, so ask the office for the current fee. The township's Zoning Ordinance Section 4.10 requires a building permit for "all new construction and all major improvements to existing structures" and names no roofing.

Roof code checklist: Charter Township of Lowell, MI

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYeslowelltwp.org2026-10-12
Repair permit thresholdPublishedlowelltwp.org2026-10-12
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 codePublishedars.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
Charter Township of Lowell, Michigan
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
2910 Alden Nash SE, Lowell, MI 49331
Contact
  • url: https://www.lowelltwp.org/departments/building_department.php
  • phone: 616-949-3765
Permit portal
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • city_level: Cascade Inspection Services' Contractor Registration form says "This form must be completed by all contractors before applying for a permit.", states that the registration covers the jurisdictions it services including Lowell Township, asks for a copy of the contractor's license, and lists an "Included $15.00 FEE". Lowell Charter Township's own pages name no separate township contractor registration. This record does not decide whether a given roofer falls inside a state exemption.
  • 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.
Permit process note
In Lowell Charter Township a reroof starts with the township's zoning compliance form, which has a "Roof/Reroof" box among its project types and is headed "MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED FOR ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION", and goes on to a building permit from Cascade Inspection Services: the Building Department page says "Lowell Charter Township contracts with Cascade Township Building department for Building, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing permits and necessary inspections." and "Building Permits are issued by Cascade Inspections Services once Zoning Compliance has been approved." Cascade's Building Inspections page answers "Is a building permit required for roofing or siding?" with "Yes. You will need to fill out a roofing/siding worksheet and a Building Permit application." Its Roofing/Siding Worksheet asks for the type of covering, the number of squares, roof pitch, underlayment, ice barrier, the "# of layers currently on roof" and "Will you be tearing off?", and says "Please call for inspection when the job is complete." and "Any structural changes or replacing sheathing will require additional drawings detailing location and specifications." Cascade's undated training handout "Building Permit Process" lists "Small normal repairs" among the "Work exempt from permit" and defines no repairs. The township offers three ways to submit: an online upload, an in-person drop-off at the township hall, or through Cascade Township. Cascade Inspection Services is at 5920 Tahoe Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, open Monday to Thursday 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, on 616-949-3765, and the township hall line is 616-897-7600. Lowell Charter Township's fee schedule (revised 03.11.2026) lists no building permit fee and Cascade's application form leaves the fee blocks blank, so ask the office for the current fee. The township's Zoning Ordinance Section 4.10 requires a building permit for "all new construction and all major improvements to existing structures" and names no roofing.
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." Lowell Charter Township contracts with Cascade Charter Township's Cascade Inspection Services for building permits and inspections, and Cascade's "Currently Adopted Codes -- State of Michigan" list (file dated 031224) names the "2015 Michigan Residential Code" with its 2/8/16 effective date. Cascade's undated training handouts "Building Permit Process" and "Common Residential Code Violations" carry the heading "2009 Michigan Residential Code"; this directory has not read the 2009 text, and whether that heading 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. Lowell Charter Township's website posts a Zoning Ordinance and a recently adopted solar ordinance and no building ordinance, and its zoning compliance form names no code edition.
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). The Lowell Charter Township Building Department page, its zoning compliance form and Cascade Inspection Services' roofing and permit documents were read for a local rule on drip edge and found none. Cascade Inspection Services' undated training handouts "Building Permit Process" and "Common Residential Code Violations" carry the heading "2009 Michigan Residential Code"; that text was not read for this field, and this record states the 2015 base. 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). The Lowell Charter Township Building Department page, its zoning compliance form and Cascade Inspection Services' roofing and permit documents were read for a local rule on ice barrier. Cascade's Roofing/Siding Worksheet asks for the "Ice barrier" the roofer will use and states no further rule. Cascade Inspection Services' undated training handouts "Building Permit Process" and "Common Residential Code Violations" carry the heading "2009 Michigan Residential Code"; that text was not read for this field, and this record states the 2015 base. 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." The Lowell Charter Township Building Department page, its zoning compliance form and Cascade Inspection Services' roofing and permit documents were read for a local rule on impact resistance and state nothing on it. Cascade Inspection Services' undated training handouts "Building Permit Process" and "Common Residential Code Violations" carry the heading "2009 Michigan Residential Code"; that text was not read for this field, and this record states the 2015 base.
Repair permit threshold
No size or cost threshold is published. Lowell Charter Township's zoning compliance form lists "Roof/Reroof" among its project types, and Cascade Inspection Services, which issues Lowell Township's building permits, answers its question "Is a building permit required for roofing or siding?" with "Yes. You will need to fill out a roofing/siding worksheet and a Building Permit application." (read October 12, 2026), and lists "Roofing / Siding Form (replacement only)" in its Building Permit Application Requirements. The same office's undated training handout "Building Permit Process" lists "Small normal repairs" among the "Work exempt from permit" and defines no repairs. 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.
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." Lowell Charter Township's website posts no building ordinance or codified code, so no local building instrument was available to read, and this record states the state rule and does not classify the township's own text. The township's Zoning Ordinance was searched for a roofing or layer rule and has none. Cascade Inspection Services' Roofing/Siding Worksheet asks for the "# of layers currently on roof" and "Will you be tearing off?" and states no limit, and its Commercial Roofing Permit Worksheet says "will not exceed a total of two (2) layers" for commercial roofs, which agrees with the base rule. Cascade Inspection Services' undated training handouts "Building Permit Process" and "Common Residential Code Violations" carry the heading "2009 Michigan Residential Code"; that text was not read for this field, and this record states the 2015 base.
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). The Lowell Charter Township Building Department page, its zoning compliance form and Cascade Inspection Services' roofing and permit documents were read for a local rule on roof sheathing. Cascade's Roofing/Siding Worksheet says "Any structural changes or replacing sheathing will require additional drawings detailing location and specifications." and states no sheathing thickness or grade. Cascade Inspection Services' undated training handouts "Building Permit Process" and "Common Residential Code Violations" carry the heading "2009 Michigan Residential Code"; that text was not read for this field, and this record states the 2015 base.
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 Lowell Charter Township Building Department page or in Cascade Inspection Services' permit documents changes this.

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Lowell Charter Township, at the township hall at 2910 Alden Nash SE in Lowell, takes building permit applications and zoning compliance for the township and contracts with Cascade Charter Township's Cascade Inspection Services for building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits and inspections. Its zoning compliance form lists a "Roof/Reroof" project type, and Cascade Inspection Services answers that a building permit is required for roofing. The City of Lowell is a separate jurisdiction. Michigan's single state construction code applies, and for houses that is the 2015 Michigan Residential Code.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Charter Township of Lowell, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Charter Township of Lowell, MI. No size or cost threshold is published. Lowell Charter Township's zoning compliance form lists "Roof/Reroof" among its project types, and Cascade Inspection Services, which issues Lowell Township's building permits, answers its question "Is a building permit required for roofing or siding?" with "Yes. You will need to fill out a roofing/siding worksheet and a Building Permit application." (read October 12, 2026), and lists "Roofing / Siding Form (replacement only)" in its Building Permit Application Requirements. The same office's undated training handout "Building Permit Process" lists "Small normal repairs" among the "Work exempt from permit" and defines no repairs. 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.

Is ice & water shield required in Charter Township of Lowell, 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 Lowell Charter Township Building Department page, its zoning compliance form and Cascade Inspection Services' roofing and permit documents were read for a local rule on ice barrier. Cascade's Roofing/Siding Worksheet asks for the "Ice barrier" the roofer will use and states no further rule. Cascade Inspection Services' undated training handouts "Building Permit Process" and "Common Residential Code Violations" carry the heading "2009 Michigan Residential Code"; that text was not read for this field, and this record states the 2015 base.

Is drip edge required in Charter Township of Lowell, 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 Lowell Charter Township Building Department page, its zoning compliance form and Cascade Inspection Services' roofing and permit documents were read for a local rule on drip edge and found none. Cascade Inspection Services' undated training handouts "Building Permit Process" and "Common Residential Code Violations" carry the heading "2009 Michigan Residential Code"; that text was not read for this field, and this record states the 2015 base.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Charter Township of Lowell, 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." Lowell Charter Township's website posts no building ordinance or codified code, so no local building instrument was available to read, and this record states the state rule and does not classify the township's own text. The township's Zoning Ordinance was searched for a roofing or layer rule and has none. Cascade Inspection Services' Roofing/Siding Worksheet asks for the "# of layers currently on roof" and "Will you be tearing off?" and states no limit, and its Commercial Roofing Permit Worksheet says "will not exceed a total of two (2) layers" for commercial roofs, which agrees with the base rule. Cascade Inspection Services' undated training handouts "Building Permit Process" and "Common Residential Code Violations" carry the heading "2009 Michigan Residential Code"; that text was not read for this field, and this record states the 2015 base.

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

Yes.

What building code does Charter Township of Lowell, 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." Lowell Charter Township contracts with Cascade Charter Township's Cascade Inspection Services for building permits and inspections, and Cascade's "Currently Adopted Codes -- State of Michigan" list (file dated 031224) names the "2015 Michigan Residential Code" with its 2/8/16 effective date. Cascade's undated training handouts "Building Permit Process" and "Common Residential Code Violations" carry the heading "2009 Michigan Residential Code"; this directory has not read the 2009 text, and whether that heading 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. Lowell Charter Township's website posts a Zoning Ordinance and a recently adopted solar ordinance and no building ordinance, and its zoning compliance form names no code edition.