The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / Township of Nelson - Building Department

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

Adopted code

Township of Nelson - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Nelson, MI, issued by Township of Nelson - Building Department. Nelson Township's Building & Construction page publishes nothing specific on reroofs. It lists the building permit application, a zoning permit, a contractors registration, a homeowner affidavit, and electrical, mechanical, plumbing and demolition permit forms, and says "It is the responsibility of the party obtaining a permit to call the inspectors for inspection." The contractor registration form says "Only registered licensed contractors can obtain permits." and "Permits are required prior to commencement of work." The building permit application asks the applicant to certify that they "agree to conform to all applicable laws of the State of Michigan" and, in its statement of understanding, says "I the undersigned agree and understand it is my responsibility as applicant for this permit to call the township inspectors for all inspections." In the homeowner affidavit, an owner states that "The construction work covered by this permit will be for my own use or occupancy and will be located on property owned by me." The township's schedule of fees, approved September 11, 2025, has no building permit fee or roofing line, so ask the department for the current permit fee. The building permit application and the Building & Construction page give the building inspector's line as 616-401-3927; the township hall is at 2 Maple Street, P.O. Box 109, Sand Lake, MI 49343, 616-636-5332.

Roof code checklist: Township of Nelson, MI

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesnelsontownship.org2026-10-12
Repair permit thresholdPublishednelsontownship.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
Township of Nelson, Kent County, Michigan
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
2 Maple Street, Sand Lake, MI 49343
Contact
  • url: https://www.nelsontownship.org/1195/Building-Construction
  • phone: 616-401-3927
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: Nelson Township requires contractors to register with it: its contractor registration form says "All Contractors are required to register their license each year.", "A copy of the contractor's license must accompany this registration." and "Only registered licensed contractors can obtain permits." It posts no registration fee on the pages read.
Permit process note
Nelson Township's Building & Construction page publishes nothing specific on reroofs. It lists the building permit application, a zoning permit, a contractors registration, a homeowner affidavit, and electrical, mechanical, plumbing and demolition permit forms, and says "It is the responsibility of the party obtaining a permit to call the inspectors for inspection." The contractor registration form says "Only registered licensed contractors can obtain permits." and "Permits are required prior to commencement of work." The building permit application asks the applicant to certify that they "agree to conform to all applicable laws of the State of Michigan" and, in its statement of understanding, says "I the undersigned agree and understand it is my responsibility as applicant for this permit to call the township inspectors for all inspections." In the homeowner affidavit, an owner states that "The construction work covered by this permit will be for my own use or occupancy and will be located on property owned by me." The township's schedule of fees, approved September 11, 2025, has no building permit fee or roofing line, so ask the department for the current permit fee. The building permit application and the Building & Construction page give the building inspector's line as 616-401-3927; the township hall is at 2 Maple Street, P.O. Box 109, Sand Lake, MI 49343, 616-636-5332.
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 Township of Nelson in Kent County as its own building code enforcer. The township's Regulatory Ordinances, compiled through July 12, 2022, list Ordinance No. 136 under the title "Adopt 2000 Michigan Building Code" (Ord. No. 136, 2001, amended by Ord. No. 157-D, 2007); its text designates the township's Building Inspector as the enforcing agency under the State Construction Code Act and names no residential code, and the 2000 Michigan Building Code edition was not read for this record. The township's building permit application, contractor registration form and Building & Construction page name no residential code edition, 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). The Building & Construction page, building permit application, contractor registration form, homeowner affidavit and fee schedule, and the township's Regulatory Ordinances, were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge. 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 Building & Construction page, building permit application, contractor registration form, homeowner affidavit and fee schedule, and the township's Regulatory Ordinances, were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier. 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 Building & Construction page, building permit application, contractor registration form, homeowner affidavit and fee schedule, and the township's Regulatory Ordinances, were read for a local rule and state nothing further on impact resistance.
Repair permit threshold
Nelson Township publishes no size, square or dollar point below which roof work needs no permit, and its Building & Construction page, building permit application, contractor registration form, homeowner affidavit and schedule of fees name no roofing work and no repair exemption. Its contractor registration form says "Permits are required prior to commencement of work." State law supplies the general rule: "Except as otherwise provided in the code, 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." (MCL 125.1510(1)), and "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure." (MCL 125.1510(7)), without a definition of ordinary repairs. For a roof repair of any size, ask the Building Department 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 township's Regulatory Ordinances (compiled through July 12, 2022, the building and code instruments listed on its Building & Construction page) were read: Ordinance No. 122 (Construction Board of Appeals) and Ordinances No. 136 to 139 (designating enforcing agencies under the State Construction Code Act) contain no roofing provision, and a search of the whole compilation for roof and shingle found only an outdoor furnace chimney-height rule and a list of materials that may not be burned. The Building & Construction page, building permit application, contractor registration form and fee schedule state no layer rule, and nothing local amends 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). The Building & Construction page, building permit application, contractor registration form, homeowner affidavit and fee schedule, and the township's Regulatory Ordinances, were read for a local rule and state nothing further on roof sheathing.
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 Nelson Township Building & Construction page or schedule of fees changes this.

Local roofing hub

Roofing in Nelson Township (Kent County), MichiganCity hub

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Township of Vergennes, MIRoof permit

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Township of Northfield, MIRoof permit Township of Oakfield, MIRoof permit Township of Olive - Building Department (Ottawa County)Roof permit Township of Ontwa, MIRoof permit Roofing in MichiganState hub

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Nelson Township's Building Department, at the township hall at 2 Maple Street in Sand Lake, issues building permits through a township building inspector, with separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical inspectors, and requires contractors to register their state licence with the township each year. Ordinance No. 136 designates the township's Building Inspector as the enforcing agency under the State Construction Code Act. Michigan's single state construction code applies, and for houses that is the 2015 Michigan Residential Code.

Working an insurance claim in Township of Nelson, 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: Township of Nelson, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Nelson, MI. Nelson Township publishes no size, square or dollar point below which roof work needs no permit, and its Building & Construction page, building permit application, contractor registration form, homeowner affidavit and schedule of fees name no roofing work and no repair exemption. Its contractor registration form says "Permits are required prior to commencement of work." State law supplies the general rule: "Except as otherwise provided in the code, 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." (MCL 125.1510(1)), and "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure." (MCL 125.1510(7)), without a definition of ordinary repairs. For a roof repair of any size, ask the Building Department before starting.

Is ice & water shield required in Township of Nelson, 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 Building & Construction page, building permit application, contractor registration form, homeowner affidavit and fee schedule, and the township's Regulatory Ordinances, were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier.

Is drip edge required in Township of Nelson, 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 Building & Construction page, building permit application, contractor registration form, homeowner affidavit and fee schedule, and the township's Regulatory Ordinances, were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Township of Nelson, 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 township's Regulatory Ordinances (compiled through July 12, 2022, the building and code instruments listed on its Building & Construction page) were read: Ordinance No. 122 (Construction Board of Appeals) and Ordinances No. 136 to 139 (designating enforcing agencies under the State Construction Code Act) contain no roofing provision, and a search of the whole compilation for roof and shingle found only an outdoor furnace chimney-height rule and a list of materials that may not be burned. The Building & Construction page, building permit application, contractor registration form and fee schedule state no layer rule, and nothing local amends Section R908.

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

Yes.

What building code does Township of Nelson, 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 Township of Nelson in Kent County as its own building code enforcer. The township's Regulatory Ordinances, compiled through July 12, 2022, list Ordinance No. 136 under the title "Adopt 2000 Michigan Building Code" (Ord. No. 136, 2001, amended by Ord. No. 157-D, 2007); its text designates the township's Building Inspector as the enforcing agency under the State Construction Code Act and names no residential code, and the 2000 Michigan Building Code edition was not read for this record. The township's building permit application, contractor registration form and Building & Construction page name no residential code edition, and this record states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code for the reasons above.