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

Roofing questions: Shoreham, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Shoreham, MI. No size or cost threshold is published for roof work. The Saint Joseph Charter Township Building Department, which the Village of Shoreham's Construction Code designates as its enforcing agency, says "Building Permits must be obtained from the Building Department before beginning any construction, remodeling, mechanical, electrical, or plumbing work." and "Purely cosmetic (non-structural) changes such as painting are exempt." Neither its page, its building permit application nor its fee schedule names roofing or reroofing, and the department has published nothing applying that exemption to roof work, so the general permit rule applies to a reroof. 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. Ask the Building Department (269-429-7703) before starting a roof job.

Is ice & water shield required in Shoreham, 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 Village's Building & Enforcement page, its Construction Code ordinance, the Saint Joseph Charter Township Building Department page, building permit application and fee schedule were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier.

Is drip edge required in Shoreham, 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 Village's Building & Enforcement page, its Construction Code ordinance, the Saint Joseph Charter Township Building Department page, building permit application and fee schedule were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Shoreham, 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 Village's Construction Code ordinance and the township's permit documents state no layer rule. The Village's ordinance index lists other ordinances that were not read, so this record sets no layer classification.

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

Yes.

What building code does Shoreham, 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 Village of Shoreham as its own building code enforcer. The Village's Ordinance 2022-3, Construction Code, says the state construction code and "all subsequent amendments of the state construction code are hereby adopted by reference". Section 4 of that ordinance repeals "The Village of Shoreham Michigan Building Code 2003 ordinance adopted in 2008", and the Village's ordinance index still lists a Michigan Building Code 2008 and an International Existing Building Code 2008 among its ordinances adopted by reference. Those Michigan Building Code texts were not read, they name no residential code edition, and whether the listed references have any effect today is not decided here. The Saint Joseph Charter Township Building Department page, which the Village's own Building & Enforcement page points to, lists "2015 Michigan Residential Code" among the codes it currently enforces, and this record states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code for the reasons above.