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Permitting Authorities / Township of Plainfield - Building Department

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

Adopted code

Township of Plainfield - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Plainfield, MI, issued by Township of Plainfield - Building Department. In Plainfield Township a reroof is priced and exempted on the same form. The Building Permit application, posted on the Building Department page, lists "New/Replacement Roofs" at $0.10 on its residential fee chart and says "RE-SHINGLE AND RE-SIDING ONLY (WITHOUT BOARD REPLACEMENT) DO NOT REQUIRE A PERMIT." The form does not say whether a reroof with board replacement is charged on the roof line, so call the department before starting. The chart also lists a $35.00 application fee and "Additional/Final Insp." at $45.00, and the form says "WORK STARTED WITHOUT PERMIT IS AN ADDITIONAL $100.00 OR EQUAL TO PERMIT FEE, WHICHEVER IS LESS." and "APPLICATION FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE". Inspections are by call: "When ready for an inspection, call the Building Department at (989) 728-2811 providing a 24-48 hour notice." The township office is at 415 E. Main Street, Hale, with mail to PO Box 247, and its page lists the offices other than the Treasurer and Clerk as open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Checks are made payable to Plainfield Township, and the page links an online payment form for building fees. The department says it will "in many cases meet you at your home to discuss the issues in the field".

Roof code checklist: Township of Plainfield, MI

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesplainfieldtwpmi.com2026-10-13
Repair permit thresholdPublishedplainfieldtwpmi.com2026-10-13
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-13
Deck & sheathingPublishedR905.2.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-13
Drip edgeYesR905.2.8.5codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-13
Ice & water shieldYesR905.1.2ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-13
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNoars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-13
Wind design criteriaNot published
Adopted codePublishedars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-13
Contractor license / registrationYeslegislature.mi.gov2026-10-13
Sales & use taxPublishedlegislature.mi.gov2026-10-13

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 Plainfield, Iosco County, Michigan
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
415 E. Main Street, Hale, MI 48739
Contact
  • url: https://plainfieldtwpmi.com/directory/building-department/
  • phone: 989-728-2811
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: Plainfield Township's Building Department posts a Contractor Registration form headed "CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION / ACT 135 , PUBLIC ACTS OF 1989". It asks for the company's licenses and expiration dates, workers' compensation and liability insurance carriers and a Michigan Employment Security Commission employer number, and says "COPIES OF ALL LICENSES AND INSURANCES ARE REQUIRED" with "$10.00 REGISTRATION FEE". The page and form do not say which contractors must file it. The Building Permit application also asks for the contractor's state license number and expiration date.
Permit process note
In Plainfield Township a reroof is priced and exempted on the same form. The Building Permit application, posted on the Building Department page, lists "New/Replacement Roofs" at $0.10 on its residential fee chart and says "RE-SHINGLE AND RE-SIDING ONLY (WITHOUT BOARD REPLACEMENT) DO NOT REQUIRE A PERMIT." The form does not say whether a reroof with board replacement is charged on the roof line, so call the department before starting. The chart also lists a $35.00 application fee and "Additional/Final Insp." at $45.00, and the form says "WORK STARTED WITHOUT PERMIT IS AN ADDITIONAL $100.00 OR EQUAL TO PERMIT FEE, WHICHEVER IS LESS." and "APPLICATION FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE". Inspections are by call: "When ready for an inspection, call the Building Department at (989) 728-2811 providing a 24-48 hour notice." The township office is at 415 E. Main Street, Hale, with mail to PO Box 247, and its page lists the offices other than the Treasurer and Clerk as open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Checks are made payable to Plainfield Township, and the page links an online payment form for building fees. The department says it will "in many cases meet you at your home to discuss the issues in the field".
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, Ordinance No. 21 of Plainfield Township (revised and adopted March 16, 2011) designates "the Building Official of the Township of Plainfield" as the enforcing agency under the state act and refers to "the Michigan 203 building residential code", which prints no complete edition year, and the Building Permit application says "All work shall be in conformance with the Residential Building Code" without naming a year. The township's Zoning Ordinance (revised 03/18) defines "Construction Code" as "the BOCA National Building Code or any Code established in accordance with its provisions", with no edition year; that BOCA text was not read for this record. LARA's Statewide Jurisdiction List names the Township of Plainfield in Iosco County as its own building code enforcer. 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 Plainfield Township Building Department page, its Building Permit application and its Ordinance No. 21 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 Plainfield Township Building Department page, its Building Permit application and its Ordinance No. 21 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 Plainfield Township Building Department page, its Building Permit application and its Ordinance No. 21 were read for a local rule and state nothing further on impact resistance.
Repair permit threshold
Plainfield Township's Building Permit application prices roof work in its fee chart: the residential column lists "New/Replacement Roofs" at a rate of $0.10. The same application also says "RE-SHINGLE AND RE-SIDING ONLY (WITHOUT BOARD REPLACEMENT) DO NOT REQUIRE A PERMIT." Both statements are on the township's live Building Department page as read on October 13, 2026 (the application form prints no date). The form does not say where a reroof that includes some board replacement falls, and it states no square, dollar or area point. The application opens with "Construction work shall not be started until the application for permit has been reviewed and the permit has been issued." and requires plan review "FOR ALL NEW HOMES, ADDITIONS, MANUFACTURED HOMES, AND ALL COMMERCIAL WORK". 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 township's own building ordinances were read in full: Ordinance No. 21 (enforcing agency, flood hazard areas and Appendix G), No. 28 (adopting ordinance), No. 33 (exemption for building permits), No. 34 (mobile homes) and No. 42 (dangerous or unsightly buildings), and none has a reroofing provision or amends anything in Section R908. The township's ordinance list was reviewed by title and has no other building or construction code ordinance, and its Zoning Ordinance (revised 03/18) was searched for roof text and has no rule on roof coverings. The Building Permit application states no layer rule.
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 Plainfield Township Building Department page, its Building Permit application and its Ordinance No. 21 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 Plainfield Township Building Department page or its permit application changes this.

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Plainfield Township's Building Department, at the township offices at 415 E. Main Street in Hale (Iosco County), issues building permits and describes itself as a full-service department for building, zoning, nuisance and code enforcement, with part-time mechanical, plumbing and electrical inspectors. Ordinance No. 21 designates the township's Building Official as the enforcing agency under the state construction code act, and the State of Michigan's jurisdiction list names the Township 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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Sources

Roofing questions: Township of Plainfield, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Plainfield, MI. Plainfield Township's Building Permit application prices roof work in its fee chart: the residential column lists "New/Replacement Roofs" at a rate of $0.10. The same application also says "RE-SHINGLE AND RE-SIDING ONLY (WITHOUT BOARD REPLACEMENT) DO NOT REQUIRE A PERMIT." Both statements are on the township's live Building Department page as read on October 13, 2026 (the application form prints no date). The form does not say where a reroof that includes some board replacement falls, and it states no square, dollar or area point. The application opens with "Construction work shall not be started until the application for permit has been reviewed and the permit has been issued." and requires plan review "FOR ALL NEW HOMES, ADDITIONS, MANUFACTURED HOMES, AND ALL COMMERCIAL WORK". 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 Township of Plainfield, 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 Plainfield Township Building Department page, its Building Permit application and its Ordinance No. 21 were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier.

Is drip edge required in Township of Plainfield, 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 Plainfield Township Building Department page, its Building Permit application and its Ordinance No. 21 were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Township of Plainfield, 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 own building ordinances were read in full: Ordinance No. 21 (enforcing agency, flood hazard areas and Appendix G), No. 28 (adopting ordinance), No. 33 (exemption for building permits), No. 34 (mobile homes) and No. 42 (dangerous or unsightly buildings), and none has a reroofing provision or amends anything in Section R908. The township's ordinance list was reviewed by title and has no other building or construction code ordinance, and its Zoning Ordinance (revised 03/18) was searched for roof text and has no rule on roof coverings. The Building Permit application states no layer rule.

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

Yes.

What building code does Township of Plainfield, 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, Ordinance No. 21 of Plainfield Township (revised and adopted March 16, 2011) designates "the Building Official of the Township of Plainfield" as the enforcing agency under the state act and refers to "the Michigan 203 building residential code", which prints no complete edition year, and the Building Permit application says "All work shall be in conformance with the Residential Building Code" without naming a year. The township's Zoning Ordinance (revised 03/18) defines "Construction Code" as "the BOCA National Building Code or any Code established in accordance with its provisions", with no edition year; that BOCA text was not read for this record. LARA's Statewide Jurisdiction List names the Township of Plainfield in Iosco County as its own building code enforcer. This record states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code for the reasons above.