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Permitting Authorities / City of Rockford - Building Permits

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

Adopted code

City of Rockford - Building Permits

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Rockford, MI, issued by City of Rockford - Building Permits. In the City of Rockford the building permit page sends applicants to Professional Code Inspections of Michigan (PCI), and the city's fee schedule says "Professional Code Inspections of Michigan, Inc., was appointed to provide inspection services. Rates are subject to fees established by the service". PCI's Rockford office is at 6581 Belding Avenue NE, Rockford, MI 49341, phone 616.407-4980, and its page lists the City of Rockford, Kent County, among the municipalities served. Its BS&A Online page says "only building permit applications can be submitted through BSA Online" and that inspections for issued permits can be scheduled through the same portal. City Hall is at 7 South Monroe Street, Rockford, MI 49341, phone 616.866.1537, open Monday to Thursday 7:30am to 5:30pm. The city's fee schedule lists a Fence Permit at "$50" and shows no roofing fee, so ask PCI for the current building permit fee when applying.

Roof code checklist: Rockford, MI

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesrockford.mi.us2026-10-12
Repair permit thresholdPublishedrockford.mi.us2026-10-12
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 codePublishedSec. 7.1ars.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
City of Rockford, Michigan
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
7 South Monroe Street, Rockford, MI 49341
Contact
  • url: https://www.rockford.mi.us/how_do_i_/apply_for_/building_permit.php
  • phone: 616-407-4980
Permit portal
Permit portal
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's Code of Ordinances and building permit page show no separate contractor registration. The PCI building permit application asks the contractor for a builders licence number and expiration date, a federal employer ID number or "REASON FOR EXEMPTION", workers compensation insurance or "REASON FOR EXEMPTION", and an MESC employer number or "REASON FOR EXEMPTION".
Permit process note
In the City of Rockford the building permit page sends applicants to Professional Code Inspections of Michigan (PCI), and the city's fee schedule says "Professional Code Inspections of Michigan, Inc., was appointed to provide inspection services. Rates are subject to fees established by the service". PCI's Rockford office is at 6581 Belding Avenue NE, Rockford, MI 49341, phone 616.407-4980, and its page lists the City of Rockford, Kent County, among the municipalities served. Its BS&A Online page says "only building permit applications can be submitted through BSA Online" and that inspections for issued permits can be scheduled through the same portal. City Hall is at 7 South Monroe Street, Rockford, MI 49341, phone 616.866.1537, open Monday to Thursday 7:30am to 5:30pm. The city's fee schedule lists a Fence Permit at "$50" and shows no roofing fee, so ask PCI for the current building permit fee when applying.
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 Rockford as its own building code enforcer. Section 7.1 of the city's Code of Ordinances provides that "the State of Michigan Building Code as promulgated, published and adopted by the State of Michigan Construction Code Commission, including any and all amendments thereto is hereby adopted by reference", and names no edition. Neither the permit application nor the residential checklist names a residential code edition.
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 city's building permit page, fee schedule and Code of Ordinances (Chapter 7, Building Regulations, and Chapter 13, Property Maintenance Code, both read in full) and the building permit application and checklist posted by Professional Code Inspections of Michigan 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 city's building permit page, fee schedule and Code of Ordinances (Chapter 7, Building Regulations, and Chapter 13, Property Maintenance Code, both read in full) and the building permit application and checklist posted by Professional Code Inspections of Michigan 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 City of Rockford building permit page, Code of Ordinances Chapters 7 and 13 and the posted permit forms state no impact rule.
Repair permit threshold
The City of Rockford's building permit page says "To apply for a building permit, please fill out the following forms:" and links "Building Permit and Forms from PCI", with "If you have questions, please call Professional Code Inspections (PCI) at 616-407-4980." The PCI building permit application asks for a project description with "ALTERATION" as one project type, a project valuation and the contractor's licence details, and neither the application nor the residential building permit checklist has a roofing box, a reroof line, or a size or dollar point below which roof work needs no permit. The city's fee schedule (March 2026) lists building permit fees by reference to an exhibit that says "Professional Code Inspections of Michigan, Inc., was appointed to provide inspection services", and has no roofing line. The state part: Michigan's construction code act says "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure" and does not define ordinary repairs. For a small repair or a reroof, call PCI at 616-407-4980 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 City of Rockford's Code of Ordinances was read for its building instruments: Chapter 7 (Building Regulations) adopts the state codes by reference, designates the enforcing agency and regulates flood-prone hazard areas, and Chapter 13 (Property Maintenance Code) requires exteriors to be weathertight and in good repair; both were read in full, name roofing only in lists of building elements, and have no reroofing provision and no amendment to Section R908. The city's building permit page 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 city's building permit page, fee schedule and Code of Ordinances (Chapter 7, Building Regulations, and Chapter 13, Property Maintenance Code, both read in full) and the building permit application and checklist posted by Professional Code Inspections of Michigan state nothing further on roof decks or 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." The same 6% applies throughout the City of Rockford.

Local roofing hub

Roofing in Rockford, MichiganCity hub

More roof permit pages in Michigan

Romulus, MIRoof permit Roseville, MIRoof permit Royal Oak, MIRoof permit Saline, MIRoof permit Sanilac County - Construction Code DepartmentRoof permit Roofing in MichiganState hub

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The City of Rockford, with city hall at 7 South Monroe Street, sends building permit applicants to Professional Code Inspections of Michigan (PCI), and its fee schedule says PCI "was appointed to provide inspection services". The city's Code of Ordinances designates the city as the enforcing agency under the state construction code act, and the State of Michigan's jurisdiction list names the City as its own building code enforcer. Michigan applies one residential code statewide, so for houses the rules below are state law.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Rockford, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Rockford, MI. The City of Rockford's building permit page says "To apply for a building permit, please fill out the following forms:" and links "Building Permit and Forms from PCI", with "If you have questions, please call Professional Code Inspections (PCI) at 616-407-4980." The PCI building permit application asks for a project description with "ALTERATION" as one project type, a project valuation and the contractor's licence details, and neither the application nor the residential building permit checklist has a roofing box, a reroof line, or a size or dollar point below which roof work needs no permit. The city's fee schedule (March 2026) lists building permit fees by reference to an exhibit that says "Professional Code Inspections of Michigan, Inc., was appointed to provide inspection services", and has no roofing line. The state part: Michigan's construction code act says "A building permit is not required for ordinary repairs of a building or structure" and does not define ordinary repairs. For a small repair or a reroof, call PCI at 616-407-4980 before starting.

Is ice & water shield required in Rockford, 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 city's building permit page, fee schedule and Code of Ordinances (Chapter 7, Building Regulations, and Chapter 13, Property Maintenance Code, both read in full) and the building permit application and checklist posted by Professional Code Inspections of Michigan state nothing further on ice barrier.

Is drip edge required in Rockford, 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 city's building permit page, fee schedule and Code of Ordinances (Chapter 7, Building Regulations, and Chapter 13, Property Maintenance Code, both read in full) and the building permit application and checklist posted by Professional Code Inspections of Michigan state nothing further on drip edge.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Rockford, 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 City of Rockford's Code of Ordinances was read for its building instruments: Chapter 7 (Building Regulations) adopts the state codes by reference, designates the enforcing agency and regulates flood-prone hazard areas, and Chapter 13 (Property Maintenance Code) requires exteriors to be weathertight and in good repair; both were read in full, name roofing only in lists of building elements, and have no reroofing provision and no amendment to Section R908. The city's building permit page states no layer rule.

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

Yes.

What building code does Rockford, 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 Rockford as its own building code enforcer. Section 7.1 of the city's Code of Ordinances provides that "the State of Michigan Building Code as promulgated, published and adopted by the State of Michigan Construction Code Commission, including any and all amendments thereto is hereby adopted by reference", and names no edition. Neither the permit application nor the residential checklist names a residential code edition.