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Permitting Authorities / City of River Rouge - Building Department

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

Adopted code

City of River Rouge - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in River Rouge, MI, issued by City of River Rouge - Building Department. In the City of River Rouge the Building Department issues permits on its Building Permit Application, which asks for the contractor's name, licence number and issue date, federal ID number and workers' compensation carrier, lists an "Application Fee" of $25 and a "Base Fee", and says "Permit Cost is based on the cost of the Construction Job" and "Rough inspections are required on all structural work." It also says "Contact Building Department before submitting permit." The department's page says it is "responsible for the enforcement of building codes and zoning ordinances in accordance with the Michigan Building Code" and that forms "are available through this website". Payments are made at the City Treasurer's Office on the first floor of City Hall, in the drop box at the front entrance, online or by phone, and the page says "After making a payment, you must send your receipt to the Building Department" so the payment can be applied to the account. No online permit portal is posted on the page. The Building Department is at City Hall, 10600 W. Jefferson Avenue, River Rouge, MI 48218, phone (313) 842-4209, and its hours are "Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM".

Roof code checklist: River Rouge, MI

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYescityofriverrouge.net2026-10-11
Repair permit thresholdPublishedcityofriverrouge.net2026-10-11
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
City of River Rouge, Michigan
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
10600 W. Jefferson Avenue, River Rouge, MI 48218
Contact
  • url: https://cityofriverrouge.net/pages/departments/building.php
  • phone: 313-842-4209
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 City of River Rouge's Building Permit Application asks the contractor for a licence number and issue date and lists a "Registration Fee ($15 Reg., $15 Processing $30)"; it also says "A copy of the permitee's State of Michigan Photo ID/Driver's license is REQUIRED." The department's page and the application publish no further city registration terms. This record does not decide whether a given roofer falls inside a state exemption.
Permit process note
In the City of River Rouge the Building Department issues permits on its Building Permit Application, which asks for the contractor's name, licence number and issue date, federal ID number and workers' compensation carrier, lists an "Application Fee" of $25 and a "Base Fee", and says "Permit Cost is based on the cost of the Construction Job" and "Rough inspections are required on all structural work." It also says "Contact Building Department before submitting permit." The department's page says it is "responsible for the enforcement of building codes and zoning ordinances in accordance with the Michigan Building Code" and that forms "are available through this website". Payments are made at the City Treasurer's Office on the first floor of City Hall, in the drop box at the front entrance, online or by phone, and the page says "After making a payment, you must send your receipt to the Building Department" so the payment can be applied to the account. No online permit portal is posted on the page. The Building Department is at City Hall, 10600 W. Jefferson Avenue, River Rouge, MI 48218, phone (313) 842-4209, and its hours are "Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM".
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 City of River Rouge as its own building code enforcer. The Building Department's page says it is "responsible for the enforcement of building codes and zoning ordinances in accordance with the Michigan Building Code" and names no edition of the residential code, and the city has published no statement of which edition it enforces. The department's posted Ordinance No. 2026-477 adopts the International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 edition, which is a property maintenance code. The city's code of ordinances on Municode has no published text, and the other building ordinances the department posts are scanned pages that were not read in full, so no local statement of the residential code edition was found.
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 River Rouge Building Department's page, Building Permit Application and residential fee schedule 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 River Rouge Building Department's page, Building Permit Application and residential fee schedule 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 River Rouge Building Department's page, Building Permit Application and residential fee schedule were read for a local rule and state nothing further on impact resistance.
Repair permit threshold
No size or cost threshold for roof work is published. The River Rouge Building Department's page, its Building Permit Application and its residential fee schedule say nothing about reroofing. The application says "All Permits require scope of work", "Plans or drawings may be required before permit will be issued." and "Contact Building Department before submitting permit.", and it prices permits by the cost of the job ("permit fees increase $7.50 for every $500 over initial $1000"); the residential fee schedule is a table of fees by construction cost with no roofing line. 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. For a reroof, call the Building Department at (313) 842-4209 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, no layer rule was found. The city's code of ordinances on Municode has no published text, and the building ordinances the Building Department posts (certificate of occupancy on sale, vacant property, property maintenance, rental dwellings, and lawn and weed) are scanned pages that were not read in full, so this record states no layer classification. The Building Department's page, its Building Permit Application and its residential fee schedule state 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 River Rouge Building Department's page, Building Permit Application and residential fee schedule 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 River Rouge Building Department's page or Building Permit Application changes this.

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The City of River Rouge Building Department, at City Hall at 10600 W. Jefferson Avenue, is responsible for "the enforcement of building codes and zoning ordinances in accordance with the Michigan Building Code" in the city and issues its building permits. The State of Michigan's Statewide Jurisdiction List names the City of River Rouge 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: River Rouge, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in River Rouge, MI. No size or cost threshold for roof work is published. The River Rouge Building Department's page, its Building Permit Application and its residential fee schedule say nothing about reroofing. The application says "All Permits require scope of work", "Plans or drawings may be required before permit will be issued." and "Contact Building Department before submitting permit.", and it prices permits by the cost of the job ("permit fees increase $7.50 for every $500 over initial $1000"); the residential fee schedule is a table of fees by construction cost with no roofing line. 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. For a reroof, call the Building Department at (313) 842-4209 before starting.

Is ice & water shield required in River Rouge, 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 River Rouge Building Department's page, Building Permit Application and residential fee schedule were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier.

Is drip edge required in River Rouge, 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 River Rouge Building Department's page, Building Permit Application and residential fee schedule were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge.

Can you roof over an existing roof in River Rouge, 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, no layer rule was found. The city's code of ordinances on Municode has no published text, and the building ordinances the Building Department posts (certificate of occupancy on sale, vacant property, property maintenance, rental dwellings, and lawn and weed) are scanned pages that were not read in full, so this record states no layer classification. The Building Department's page, its Building Permit Application and its residential fee schedule state no layer rule.

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

Yes.

What building code does River Rouge, 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 River Rouge as its own building code enforcer. The Building Department's page says it is "responsible for the enforcement of building codes and zoning ordinances in accordance with the Michigan Building Code" and names no edition of the residential code, and the city has published no statement of which edition it enforces. The department's posted Ordinance No. 2026-477 adopts the International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 edition, which is a property maintenance code. The city's code of ordinances on Municode has no published text, and the other building ordinances the department posts are scanned pages that were not read in full, so no local statement of the residential code edition was found.