Permitting Authorities / City of Melvindale - Building Department
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Melvindale, MI?
Adopted code
City of Melvindale - Building Department
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Melvindale, MI, issued by City of Melvindale - Building Department. In Melvindale a reroof goes on the city's General Building permit application, which the Building Department lists for "Roof/Accessory Structures/General". The department says its page "is where property owners and contractors can obtain the forms for all permits needed to do work on their homes or businesses in the City" and that "Permits are good for 6 months from issuance date." Contractors must register with the city: "All contractors doing work, with or without the need for permit, within the city limits are required to be registered with the City of Melvindale Building Department," and "The fee for all contractor registrations is $15." Fees are set by city council resolution and "must be paid prior to attempting to schedule inspections"; payments may be made in person, by mail, by phone or online through the city's BS&A portal. Permit inspections are scheduled in blocks on Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The Building Department is at 3100 Oakwood Boulevard, Melvindale, phone 313-429-1060.
Roof code checklist: Melvindale, MI
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 Melvindale, Michigan
Address
3100 Oakwood Boulevard, Melvindale, MI 48122
Contact
- url: https://melvindale.org/city-services/building-department/
- phone: 313-429-1060
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Permit process note
In Melvindale a reroof goes on the city's General Building permit application, which the Building Department lists for "Roof/Accessory Structures/General". The department says its page "is where property owners and contractors can obtain the forms for all permits needed to do work on their homes or businesses in the City" and that "Permits are good for 6 months from issuance date." Contractors must register with the city: "All contractors doing work, with or without the need for permit, within the city limits are required to be registered with the City of Melvindale Building Department," and "The fee for all contractor registrations is $15." Fees are set by city council resolution and "must be paid prior to attempting to schedule inspections"; payments may be made in person, by mail, by phone or online through the city's BS&A portal. Permit inspections are scheduled in blocks on Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The Building Department is at 3100 Oakwood Boulevard, Melvindale, phone 313-429-1060.
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 Melvindale as its own building code enforcer. Section 5-231 of the city's Code of Ordinances provides that the city "will assume responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the Michigan Residential Code, in accordance with Section 9 of Act 230 of the Public Acts of 1972, as amended, throughout its corporate limits" and names no edition, and the Building Department's own page lists the "2015 Michigan Residential Code" among the state codes it enforces; the city's former residential code amendments section, 5-232, was repealed in 2005. Section 5-3 says that wherever the chapter cites a state code, "any federal or state amendment to such code or codes shall be automatically incorporated in this chapter". Section 5-48 of the same chapter adopts "the BOCA National Energy Conservation Code, Seventh Edition, 1993" as the city's energy conservation code, and Sections 5-272 and 5-274 adopt the 2000 editions of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code and International Fuel Gas Code "as amended by the State of Michigan"; none of these is a residential code for roofing, their texts were not read, and this record states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code for the reasons above.
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). Chapter 5 of the City of Melvindale Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was read in full and states nothing further on this point.
About drip edgeIce & 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). Chapter 5 of the City of Melvindale Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was read in full and states nothing further on this point.
About ice & water barrierImpact-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." Chapter 5 of the City of Melvindale Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was read in full and states nothing further on this point.
Repair permit threshold
The City of Melvindale treats a reroof as building permit work: on its Building Department page, under "Building Permit Applications", the General Building application is listed for "Roof/Accessory Structures/General". The city publishes no smaller-repair threshold for roof work, and Chapter 5 of the city's Code of Ordinances has no permit exemption of its own. 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." Locally, the city's building ordinance, Chapter 5 of the City of Melvindale Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations), was read in full: it designates the building department to enforce the state codes, sets fees by council resolution, and regulates dangerous buildings, property maintenance, rental dwellings and vacant property; it has no reroofing provision and amends nothing in Section R908.
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). Chapter 5 of the City of Melvindale Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was read in full and states nothing further on this point.
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 in Chapter 5 of the City of Melvindale Code of Ordinances changes this.
Local roofing hub
More roof permit pages in Michigan
Related guides
The City of Melvindale Building Department, at 3100 Oakwood Boulevard, issues building permits in the city and lists Roof first among the kinds of work its General Building permit application covers. The department administers and enforces the state construction code in the city: Chapter 5 of the city's Code of Ordinances says the Michigan Residential Code "shall be enforced by the city building department and inspectors", and sets building department fees by city council resolution. The State of Michigan's jurisdiction list names the City of Melvindale as its own building code enforcer. Michigan's single state construction code applies, and for houses that is the 2015 Michigan Residential Code.
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Roofing questions: Melvindale, MI
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Melvindale, MI?
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Melvindale, MI. The City of Melvindale treats a reroof as building permit work: on its Building Department page, under "Building Permit Applications", the General Building application is listed for "Roof/Accessory Structures/General". The city publishes no smaller-repair threshold for roof work, and Chapter 5 of the city's Code of Ordinances has no permit exemption of its own. 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 Melvindale, 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 5 of the City of Melvindale Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was read in full and states nothing further on this point.
Is drip edge required in Melvindale, 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 5 of the City of Melvindale Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was read in full and states nothing further on this point.
Can you roof over an existing roof in Melvindale, 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 building ordinance, Chapter 5 of the City of Melvindale Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations), was read in full: it designates the building department to enforce the state codes, sets fees by council resolution, and regulates dangerous buildings, property maintenance, rental dwellings and vacant property; it has no reroofing provision and amends nothing in Section R908.
Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Melvindale, MI?
Yes.
What building code does Melvindale, 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 Melvindale as its own building code enforcer. Section 5-231 of the city's Code of Ordinances provides that the city "will assume responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the Michigan Residential Code, in accordance with Section 9 of Act 230 of the Public Acts of 1972, as amended, throughout its corporate limits" and names no edition, and the Building Department's own page lists the "2015 Michigan Residential Code" among the state codes it enforces; the city's former residential code amendments section, 5-232, was repealed in 2005. Section 5-3 says that wherever the chapter cites a state code, "any federal or state amendment to such code or codes shall be automatically incorporated in this chapter". Section 5-48 of the same chapter adopts "the BOCA National Energy Conservation Code, Seventh Edition, 1993" as the city's energy conservation code, and Sections 5-272 and 5-274 adopt the 2000 editions of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code and International Fuel Gas Code "as amended by the State of Michigan"; none of these is a residential code for roofing, their texts were not read, and this record states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code for the reasons above.