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

Roofing questions: Saugatuck, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Saugatuck, MI. The City of Saugatuck's building page says Michigan Township Services runs its building department, with permit applications posted for download, and the city publishes no size, square or dollar point below which roof work needs no permit. Its Schedule of Fees lists no building permit fee, and the city has published nothing applying the state's ordinary repairs relief to roof work. Section 150.03(B) of the city's Code of Ordinances provides that "the Building Official of the city is hereby designated as the enforcing agency". Under state law, "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 "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 Saugatuck, 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 page and its permit application packet were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier. The City of Saugatuck's codified Sec. 150.04 adopts the One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, 1983 Edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; the City of Saugatuck has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, 1983 Edition text was not read (see adopted_code). Michigan Township Services' Permit Holders Responsibilities handout says "Ice and water shield shall extend from the eaves edge to a point at least 24" inside the exterior wall line of the building 905.1.2".

Is drip edge required in Saugatuck, 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 page and its permit application packet were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge. The City of Saugatuck's codified Sec. 150.04 adopts the One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, 1983 Edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; the City of Saugatuck has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, 1983 Edition text was not read (see adopted_code).

Can you roof over an existing roof in Saugatuck, 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." The city's building page and its permit application packet state no layer rule. Section 150.03 and Section 150.04 of the city's Code of Ordinances were read and name no layer rule, and this record does not classify the layer limit. The City of Saugatuck's codified Sec. 150.04 adopts the One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, 1983 Edition; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; the City of Saugatuck has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, 1983 Edition text was not read (see adopted_code).

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

Yes.

What building code does Saugatuck, 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 Saugatuck as its own building code enforcer. Section 150.03 of the city's Code of Ordinances adopts "the Michigan State Construction Code in its entirety". The City of Saugatuck's codified Sec. 150.04 (Chapter 150, Building Regulations, as printed in the code supplement current through Ord. 250811-A) adopts "One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, 1983 Edition"; this directory has not read that text, and whether the codified reference has any effect today is not decided here. This record states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state construction code act applies throughout the state ("This act and the code apply throughout the state," MCL 125.1508a) and which LARA says remains in effect while the Court of Claims order of July 7, 2025 stands. The City of Saugatuck has published no statement naming the edition it enforces.