The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / Township of Richfield - Building Department

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

Adopted code

Township of Richfield - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Richfield, MI, issued by Township of Richfield - Building Department. Richfield Township's building permit application is a one-page form headed "RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION", posted on the township's Forms & Ordinances page. It asks for the cost of the project, the parcel number, the zoning district, a floodplain checklist, and the contractor's "Builders License #" and expiration date, with a federal employer number, a workers comp carrier and an MESC employee number, each "(or reason for exemption)". The township posts no fee schedule, no online permit portal and no inspection steps, and the pages read name no roofing handout. The Building Department page lists a Building Inspector by title. Township Hall is at 5381 N. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, 810-653-3564, open Monday through Thursday 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Roof code checklist: Township of Richfield, MI

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesrichfieldtwp.org2026-10-11
Repair permit thresholdPublishedrichfieldtwp.org2026-10-11
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-11
Deck & sheathingPublishedR905.2.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-11
Drip edgeYesR905.2.8.5codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-11
Ice & water shieldYesR905.1.2ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-11
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNoars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-11
Wind design criteriaNot published
Adopted codePublishedars.apps.lara.state.mi.us2026-10-11
Contractor license / registrationYeslegislature.mi.gov2026-10-11
Sales & use taxPublishedlegislature.mi.gov2026-10-11

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 Richfield, Genesee County, Michigan
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
5381 N. State Road, Davison, MI 48423
Contact
  • url: https://richfieldtwp.org/building-department/
  • phone: 810-653-3564
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: The township's building permit application asks the contractor for a "Builders License #" and its expiration date, a federal employer number, a workers comp carrier and an MESC employee number, each "(or reason for exemption)". The township sets no licence class, bond or examination of its own in the pages read, and no township contractor registration was found. This record does not decide whether a given roofer falls inside a state exemption.
Permit process note
Richfield Township's building permit application is a one-page form headed "RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION", posted on the township's Forms & Ordinances page. It asks for the cost of the project, the parcel number, the zoning district, a floodplain checklist, and the contractor's "Builders License #" and expiration date, with a federal employer number, a workers comp carrier and an MESC employee number, each "(or reason for exemption)". The township posts no fee schedule, no online permit portal and no inspection steps, and the pages read name no roofing handout. The Building Department page lists a Building Inspector by title. Township Hall is at 5381 N. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, 810-653-3564, open Monday through Thursday 8:00am to 5:00pm.
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 Richfield as its own building code enforcer. The township's Building Department page, building permit application and Forms & Ordinances page name no residential code edition, and no township building ordinance was found on its site. Its zoning ordinance book (Ordinance #120, reformatted March 22, 2026) refers to "B.O.C.A. code requirements" in its definition of an underground dwelling; it names no edition and adopts no building code, 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). Richfield Township's Building Department page, building permit application and Forms & Ordinances page 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). Richfield Township's Building Department page, building permit application and Forms & Ordinances page 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." Richfield Township's Building Department page, building permit application and Forms & Ordinances page were read for a local rule and state nothing further on impact resistance.
Repair permit threshold
No size or cost threshold is published. The Richfield Township Building Department page lists a Building Inspector and nothing else, and the township's building permit application names no roof work; its "TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION" choices are House, Condo, Addition, Garage, Pole Barn, Shed, Deck/Porch, Swimming Pool and Other. The township has published nothing on reroofs. 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; the township has published nothing applying that relief to roof work. For a small roof repair, ask the township (810-653-3564) 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 Richfield Township Building Department page, building permit application and Forms & Ordinances page were read and state no layer rule. No township building ordinance was found on the township site, so none was read for this record; its zoning ordinance book was searched for roof and building permit text and sets no reroofing 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). Richfield Township's Building Department page, building permit application and Forms & Ordinances page 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 Richfield Township Building Department page changes this.

Local roofing hub

Roofing in Richfield Township (Genesee County), MichiganCity hub

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The Richfield Township Building Department, at the township hall at 5381 N. State Road in Davison, takes building permit applications for Richfield Township in Genesee County and lists a Building Inspector, and the State of Michigan's Statewide Jurisdiction List names the Township of Richfield as its own building code enforcer. Michigan's single state construction code applies, and for houses that is the 2015 Michigan Residential Code.

Working an insurance claim in Township of Richfield, 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 Richfield, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Richfield, MI. No size or cost threshold is published. The Richfield Township Building Department page lists a Building Inspector and nothing else, and the township's building permit application names no roof work; its "TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION" choices are House, Condo, Addition, Garage, Pole Barn, Shed, Deck/Porch, Swimming Pool and Other. The township has published nothing on reroofs. 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; the township has published nothing applying that relief to roof work. For a small roof repair, ask the township (810-653-3564) before starting.

Is ice & water shield required in Township of Richfield, 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). Richfield Township's Building Department page, building permit application and Forms & Ordinances page were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier.

Is drip edge required in Township of Richfield, 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). Richfield Township's Building Department page, building permit application and Forms & Ordinances page were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Township of Richfield, 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 Richfield Township Building Department page, building permit application and Forms & Ordinances page were read and state no layer rule. No township building ordinance was found on the township site, so none was read for this record; its zoning ordinance book was searched for roof and building permit text and sets no reroofing rule.

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

Yes.

What building code does Township of Richfield, 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 Richfield as its own building code enforcer. The township's Building Department page, building permit application and Forms & Ordinances page name no residential code edition, and no township building ordinance was found on its site. Its zoning ordinance book (Ordinance #120, reformatted March 22, 2026) refers to "B.O.C.A. code requirements" in its definition of an underground dwelling; it names no edition and adopts no building code, and this record states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code for the reasons above.