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

Roofing questions: Township of White Oak, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of White Oak, MI. No size or cost threshold is published for roof work. The Township's Forms & Documents page lists a "Re-Roof Application" under "Building & Zoning", beside "Remodel Application", "Deck Application" and "Pole Barn Application", and the Building, Planning, & Zoning page says "The Zoning Administrator issues all permits except electrical." The Re-Roof Application link opens the same Application for a Building Permit that the remodel, deck and pole barn links open. 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 sets no size or cost limit below which a reroof skips the permit.

Is ice & water shield required in Township of White Oak, 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 Township's Building, Planning, & Zoning page, its Forms & Documents page, its Application for a Building Permit and its Ordinances No. 10, No. 16 and No. 18 were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier. White Oak Township's Ordinance No. 10 adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; White Oak Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993 text was not read (see adopted_code).

Is drip edge required in Township of White Oak, 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 Township's Building, Planning, & Zoning page, its Forms & Documents page, its Application for a Building Permit and its Ordinances No. 10, No. 16 and No. 18 were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge. White Oak Township's Ordinance No. 10 adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; White Oak Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993 text was not read (see adopted_code).

Can you roof over an existing roof in Township of White Oak, 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 Township's Ordinances No. 10, No. 16 and No. 18 and its building permit application were read and state no layer limit; the text of the BOCA code that Ordinance No. 10 adopts was not read, so this record sets no layer classification. White Oak Township's Ordinance No. 10 adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993"; this field states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the state act applies throughout the state; White Oak Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; the BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993 text was not read (see adopted_code).

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

Yes.

What building code does Township of White Oak, 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 White Oak as its own building code enforcer. White Oak Township's Ordinance No. 10, Section 1 (Adopted: FEBRUARY 14, 1994) adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993"; 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. White Oak Township has published no statement naming the edition it enforces; its Ordinance No. 16 (adopted May 8, 2000) designates "the Building, Mechanical, and Plumbing Official of the Township of White Oak" as the enforcing agency "Pursuant to the provisions of the Michigan Building, Mechanical and Plumbing Codes", and its Ordinance No. 18 (adopted January 11, 2010) refers to "the current Michigan Mechanical, Plumbing, Building, Residential Electrical and Rehabilitation for Existing Buildings Code". The Township's Application for a Building Permit names no code edition.