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

Roofing questions: Charter Township of Montrose, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Charter Township of Montrose, MI. Montrose Charter Township lists re-roofing as permit work and publishes no size, square or dollar point below which roof work needs no permit. Its Building page lists "Other Construction Work such as decks and sheds exceeding 200 sq. ft. in area, porches, detached garages and pole barns, carports, re-siding, re-roofing, sun-rooms, and pools, etc." among the projects that require a Building Permit, and adds "Additional construction projects not listed could also require necessary permits. Please contact the Building Department if you are not sure if you need a permit for your project." Its fee schedule starts a building permit at a $100.00 minimum for improvements of $0 to $1,000. The state construction code act also says "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure," without defining ordinary repairs, and the township has published nothing applying that relief to roof work. For a small repair, ask the Building Department at 810-639-2021 before starting.

Is ice & water shield required in Charter Township of Montrose, 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). Montrose Charter Township's page, permit handouts, fee schedule and application were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier.

Is drip edge required in Charter Township of Montrose, 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). Montrose Charter Township's page, permit handouts, fee schedule and application were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Charter Township of Montrose, 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." The Montrose Charter Township Building page, permit handouts, fee schedule and application state no layer rule of their own. The township's codified ordinances are on a code host this directory could not open, so no township building ordinance was read for this record.

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

Yes.

What building code does Charter Township of Montrose, 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 shows the Township of Montrose as a local enforcing agency. The township's Building page says "Montrose Township has elected to adopt and enforce the Michigan and Residential Building codes within its jurisdiction" and names no code edition. The township publishes its ordinances on a code host that this directory could not open, so no codified adoption section was read for this record; none of the township's pages, handouts or forms read names an older edition.