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

Roofing questions: Niles, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Niles, MI. Niles publishes no size, square or dollar point below which roof work needs no permit, and no statement on reroofing either way; it says "If you are planning a project for spring or summer and are not sure if your project requires a permit, call the Building Safety Division at 269-683-2374". 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. City Code Chapter 18 (read in full) assumes enforcement of the state code and names no roof work, and the city's construction fee schedule prices building permits by value only. For a small patch, call the Building Safety Division before starting.

Is ice & water shield required in Niles, 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). Niles' building ordinance, City Code Chapter 18 (read in full), states nothing further on ice barrier.

Is drip edge required in Niles, 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). Niles' building ordinance, City Code Chapter 18 (read in full), states nothing further on drip edge.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Niles, 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." Niles' own building ordinance, City Code Chapter 18 (Buildings and Building Regulations), was read in full: it designates the enforcing agency, sets fees, adopts a property maintenance code, regulates rental dwellings and adopts the state contractor licensing law, and it touches nothing in the reroofing section, so the state limit applies unchanged.

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

Yes.

What building code does Niles, 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 Niles as its own building code enforcer. City Code Section 18-31 designates the city's Building Official as the enforcing agency under the state construction code act and names no edition.