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Permitting Authorities / City of Muskegon Heights - Inspections Department

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

Adopted code

City of Muskegon Heights - Inspections Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Muskegon Heights, MI, issued by City of Muskegon Heights - Inspections Department. Plan on a building permit for a reroof in Muskegon Heights. The city publishes nothing on reroofing either way, so the state rule applies as written. The state construction code act says "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 also "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure," without defining ordinary repairs. The Inspections Department's building permit fee schedule, effective 03/23/2020, prices permits by total valuation: $50.00 up to $1,000, then "$50.00 for the first $1000.00 plus $3.75 for each additional" $100 up to $2,000, and "$87.50 for the first $2,000.00 plus $15.50 for each additional" $1,000 up to $25,000. The city's posted permit packet holds the fee schedule and the heating, electrical and plumbing applications; no building permit application is posted, so ask the department for one. Roofing contractors need a city license or a registered state license before contracting in the city (see registration). The department says "The City of Muskegon Heights allows building permits/fees to be paid by credit card," by calling the main Inspections number, with "a 3% service fee charged for credit card usage." The department is at City Hall, 2724 Peck Street, Muskegon Heights, MI 49444, phone 231-733-8860, and City Hall business hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Roof code checklist: Muskegon Heights, MI

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYeslegislature.mi.gov2026-10-03
Repair permit thresholdPublishedlegislature.mi.gov2026-10-03
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-03
Deck & sheathingPublishedR905.2.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-03
Drip edgeYesR905.2.8.5codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-03
Ice & water shieldYesR905.1.2ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-03
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNoars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-03
Wind design criteriaNot published
Adopted codePublishedars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-10
Contractor license / registrationYeslegislature.mi.gov2026-10-03
Sales & use taxPublishedlegislature.mi.gov2026-10-03

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 Muskegon Heights, Michigan
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
2724 Peck Street, Muskegon Heights, MI 49444
Contact
  • url: https://muskegonheights.us/inspections/
  • phone: 231-733-8860
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: Muskegon Heights licenses building contractors itself. Sec. 18-416 of its Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful to contract for the construction, alteration, modification or improvement of any structure "without first having obtained a building contractor's license", except owners working on residential structures they occupy; a Class 3 subcontractor license covers one trade, among them "roofing and siding". Under Sec. 18-421 the city recognizes state residential builder and residential maintenance and alteration contractor licenses, and "All such state licenses shall be registered with the city." Licenses and registrations "shall lapse and expire annually on April 30." The 2020 fee schedule lists Class III "ROOFING, SIDING" contractor fees.
Permit process note
Plan on a building permit for a reroof in Muskegon Heights. The city publishes nothing on reroofing either way, so the state rule applies as written. The state construction code act says "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 also "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure," without defining ordinary repairs. The Inspections Department's building permit fee schedule, effective 03/23/2020, prices permits by total valuation: $50.00 up to $1,000, then "$50.00 for the first $1000.00 plus $3.75 for each additional" $100 up to $2,000, and "$87.50 for the first $2,000.00 plus $15.50 for each additional" $1,000 up to $25,000. The city's posted permit packet holds the fee schedule and the heating, electrical and plumbing applications; no building permit application is posted, so ask the department for one. Roofing contractors need a city license or a registered state license before contracting in the city (see registration). The department says "The City of Muskegon Heights allows building permits/fees to be paid by credit card," by calling the main Inspections number, with "a 3% service fee charged for credit card usage." The department is at City Hall, 2724 Peck Street, Muskegon Heights, MI 49444, phone 231-733-8860, and City Hall business hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
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." Locally, the city's Inspections page says its Chief Building Official's duties include "The enforcement of the State of Michigan Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical Codes." Muskegon Heights's codified Code of Ordinances Sec. 18-26 (Ord. No. 492, 7-24-95; Res. No. 98-510, 3-12-98; Ord. No. 00-520, 9-9-00) adopts "Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition"; 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. Muskegon Heights has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; its Inspections page, read October 10, 2026, says "The enforcement of the State of Michigan Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical Codes." The same Sec. 18-26 goes on to refer to "such Uniform Building Code, current edition", Sec. 18-27 says "Complete copies of the Uniform Building Code, current edition" are kept in the office of the city clerk, and Sec. 18-29 makes a violation of the "Uniform Building Code, 1997 Edition" a municipal civil infraction.
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 Muskegon Heights Inspections page and the city's combined permit applications and building permit fee schedule effective 03/23/2020 were read, and Chapter 18 of its Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was searched in full, for a local rule; none of them states anything further on drip edge. Muskegon Heights's codified Sec. 18-26 adopts the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Muskegon Heights has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition 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). The Muskegon Heights Inspections page and the city's combined permit applications and building permit fee schedule effective 03/23/2020 were read, and Chapter 18 of its Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was searched in full, for a local rule; none of them states anything further on ice barrier. Muskegon Heights's codified Sec. 18-26 adopts the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Muskegon Heights has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition 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." The Muskegon Heights Inspections page and the city's combined permit applications and building permit fee schedule effective 03/23/2020 were read, and Chapter 18 of its Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was searched in full, for a local rule; none of them states anything further on impact resistance.
Repair permit threshold
Muskegon Heights publishes no size, square or dollar point below which roof work needs no permit, and no statement on reroofing either way. The state construction code act says "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 also "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure," (MCL 125.1510) without defining ordinary repairs. The city's Inspections page and its combined permit applications and building permit fee schedule effective 03/23/2020 were read, and Chapter 18 of its Code of Ordinances was searched in full; none of them applies that relief to roof work or says whether a reroof needs a permit. For a small patch, ask the Inspections Department (231-733-8860) 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, the Muskegon Heights property maintenance standards in Sec. 18-482 of the city's Code of Ordinances say of roofs: "Roof structure must be capable of supporting all loading. The roof desk must be free of rot and shall be covered with material in good condition. There shall not be more than one reroof, if loading causes bowing or structural deterioration." Ask the Inspections Department how it applies that rule before planning an overlay. Muskegon Heights's codified Sec. 18-26 adopts the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Muskegon Heights has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition 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). The Muskegon Heights Inspections page and the city's combined permit applications and building permit fee schedule effective 03/23/2020 were read, and Chapter 18 of its Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was searched in full, for a local rule; none of them states anything further on roof sheathing beyond the Sec. 18-482 maintenance rule that "The roof desk must be free of rot and shall be covered with material in good condition." Muskegon Heights's codified Sec. 18-26 adopts the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Muskegon Heights has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition 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 Muskegon Heights's permit pages changes this.

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The City of Muskegon Heights's Inspections Department, at City Hall, 2724 Peck Street, issues building and trade permits, licenses and registers building contractors, and enforces the city's property maintenance code; its Chief Building Official enforces the State of Michigan building codes. The city licenses roofing contractors locally as a Class 3 trade and registers state-licensed contractors. Michigan's single state construction code applies, and for houses that is the 2015 Michigan Residential Code.

Working an insurance claim in Muskegon Heights, MI? Everything on this page (drip edge, ice & water shield, inspections, Class 4 rules) formatted as a claim-ready evidence pack: verbatim ordinance quotes, code section cites, verification dates, and official source links, ready to attach to a supplement. See a real sample pack (PDF, 4 pages, free).

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Sources

Roofing questions: Muskegon Heights, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Muskegon Heights, MI. Muskegon Heights publishes no size, square or dollar point below which roof work needs no permit, and no statement on reroofing either way. The state construction code act says "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 also "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure," (MCL 125.1510) without defining ordinary repairs. The city's Inspections page and its combined permit applications and building permit fee schedule effective 03/23/2020 were read, and Chapter 18 of its Code of Ordinances was searched in full; none of them applies that relief to roof work or says whether a reroof needs a permit. For a small patch, ask the Inspections Department (231-733-8860) before starting.

Is ice & water shield required in Muskegon Heights, 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 Muskegon Heights Inspections page and the city's combined permit applications and building permit fee schedule effective 03/23/2020 were read, and Chapter 18 of its Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was searched in full, for a local rule; none of them states anything further on ice barrier. Muskegon Heights's codified Sec. 18-26 adopts the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Muskegon Heights has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition text was not read (see adopted_code).

Is drip edge required in Muskegon Heights, 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 Muskegon Heights Inspections page and the city's combined permit applications and building permit fee schedule effective 03/23/2020 were read, and Chapter 18 of its Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) was searched in full, for a local rule; none of them states anything further on drip edge. Muskegon Heights's codified Sec. 18-26 adopts the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Muskegon Heights has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition text was not read (see adopted_code).

Can you roof over an existing roof in Muskegon Heights, 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 Muskegon Heights property maintenance standards in Sec. 18-482 of the city's Code of Ordinances say of roofs: "Roof structure must be capable of supporting all loading. The roof desk must be free of rot and shall be covered with material in good condition. There shall not be more than one reroof, if loading causes bowing or structural deterioration." Ask the Inspections Department how it applies that rule before planning an overlay. Muskegon Heights's codified Sec. 18-26 adopts the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; Muskegon Heights has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition text was not read (see adopted_code).

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

Yes.

What building code does Muskegon Heights, 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." Locally, the city's Inspections page says its Chief Building Official's duties include "The enforcement of the State of Michigan Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical Codes." Muskegon Heights's codified Code of Ordinances Sec. 18-26 (Ord. No. 492, 7-24-95; Res. No. 98-510, 3-12-98; Ord. No. 00-520, 9-9-00) adopts "Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition"; 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. Muskegon Heights has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; its Inspections page, read October 10, 2026, says "The enforcement of the State of Michigan Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical Codes." The same Sec. 18-26 goes on to refer to "such Uniform Building Code, current edition", Sec. 18-27 says "Complete copies of the Uniform Building Code, current edition" are kept in the office of the city clerk, and Sec. 18-29 makes a violation of the "Uniform Building Code, 1997 Edition" a municipal civil infraction.