The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / Williamstown Township - Building Department

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

Adopted code

Williamstown Township - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Williamstown, MI, issued by Williamstown Township - Building Department. In Williamstown Township a reroof is priced as its own line on the township's Building Permit Fee Schedule, "REROOF" at "$210.00", which the Building Department page links as the "Current Permit Pricing Schedule". The schedule's additional fees include "Re-inspection (initial inspection failure / repeat visit) - $75.00" and "Starting work without permit (Double cost of Permit)". The page says "SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO START THE PROJECT." and that "Fines may be issued for non-compliance." A building permit "is valid for 180 days from the issue date" and can be extended once for another 180 days if the Township Building Inspector has done an inspection within the first 180 days. The page asks for 24 hours' notice for inspections, at 517-521-4929, and sends building permit questions to the township office at (517) 655-3193, which is open Tuesday and Thursday 10 to 4 and Wednesday 10 to 6, and closed Monday and Friday. It says "Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Permits are done by the State of Michigan (not Williamstown Township)". No online township permit portal or building permit application form is posted on the page.

Roof code checklist: Township of Williamstown, MI

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYeswilliamstownmi.gov2026-10-12
Repair permit thresholdPublishedwilliamstownmi.gov2026-10-12
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 codePublishedars.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
Township of Williamstown, Michigan
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
4990 Zimmer Road, Williamston, MI 48895
Contact
  • url: https://williamstownmi.gov/building/
  • phone: 517-655-3193
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 Williamstown Township Building Department page and Building Permit Fee Schedule were read and state no contractor registration or licence requirement of the township's own. This record does not decide whether a given roofer falls inside a state exemption.
Permit process note
In Williamstown Township a reroof is priced as its own line on the township's Building Permit Fee Schedule, "REROOF" at "$210.00", which the Building Department page links as the "Current Permit Pricing Schedule". The schedule's additional fees include "Re-inspection (initial inspection failure / repeat visit) - $75.00" and "Starting work without permit (Double cost of Permit)". The page says "SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO START THE PROJECT." and that "Fines may be issued for non-compliance." A building permit "is valid for 180 days from the issue date" and can be extended once for another 180 days if the Township Building Inspector has done an inspection within the first 180 days. The page asks for 24 hours' notice for inspections, at 517-521-4929, and sends building permit questions to the township office at (517) 655-3193, which is open Tuesday and Thursday 10 to 4 and Wednesday 10 to 6, and closed Monday and Friday. It says "Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Permits are done by the State of Michigan (not Williamstown Township)". No online township permit portal or building permit application form is posted on the page.
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 Township of Williamstown as its own building code enforcer. The township's Building Department page names no code edition, and its Dangerous Buildings Ordinance defines "Township Building Code" as "the building code administered and enforced in the township pursuant to the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, Public Act 230 of 1972, as amended, (MCL 125.1501, et seq.)", which names no 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 township's Building Department page, its Building Permit Fee Schedule and its Dangerous Buildings and Nuisance Abatement Ordinances 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 township's Building Department page, its Building Permit Fee Schedule and its Dangerous Buildings and Nuisance Abatement Ordinances 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 township's Building Department page, its Building Permit Fee Schedule and its Dangerous Buildings and Nuisance Abatement Ordinances were read for a local rule and state nothing further on impact resistance.
Repair permit threshold
No size or cost threshold is published. Williamstown Township's Building Permit Fee Schedule lists roof work as its own permit line, "REROOF" at "$210.00", and the Building Department page says "PERMITS MUST BE ISSUED BEFORE WORK BEGINS." The schedule file is headed "January 18, 2024" and ends "Adopted 10-29-25", so confirm the current fee with the department. 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.
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 township's Ordinances page lists zoning articles and general ordinances and no construction code or building ordinance. Its Dangerous Buildings Ordinance and its Nuisance Abatement Ordinance were read in full: the first defines "Township Building Code" as "the building code administered and enforced in the township pursuant to the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, Public Act 230 of 1972, as amended, (MCL 125.1501, et seq.)". Neither has a reroofing provision, and neither amends anything in Section R908. The township's zoning articles and its other listed ordinances that have a text layer were searched for roof and layer text: the only roof material rule is in the Planned Development Cluster Housing article, a new-dwelling appearance standard that reads "Roof material shall be at least 30-year three-tab asphalt shingle or better.", and it says nothing about layers. Seven listed ordinances are image-only PDFs and were not read (subdivision, wetland protection, recreational marihuana, landscape, public parks, right-of-way, and the reserved Article 23); none is a building ordinance. The Building Department page and 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 township's Building Department page, its Building Permit Fee Schedule and its Dangerous Buildings and Nuisance Abatement Ordinances 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 Williamstown Township Building Department page or Building Permit Fee Schedule changes this.

Local roofing hub

Roofing in Williamstown Township, MichiganCity hub

More roof permit pages in Michigan

Township of Yankee Springs, MIRoof permit Troy, MIRoof permit Tuscola County - Building DepartmentRoof permit Utica, MIRoof permit Vienna Charter Township - Building DepartmentRoof permit Roofing in MichiganState hub

Related guides

Denver-Metro Roofing Permits Filing a Hail Insurance Claim Colorado Hail Season Prep Hiring a Contractor

Williamstown Township's Building Department, at the township office at 4990 Zimmer Road, answers building permit questions at the township office, and the township's Building Permit Fee Schedule lists "REROOF" as its own permit line. The township says electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are issued by the State of Michigan, and the State of Michigan's jurisdiction list names the Township as its own building code enforcer. Michigan's single state construction code applies, and for houses that is the 2015 Michigan Residential Code.

Working an insurance claim in Township of Williamstown, MI? Everything on this page (drip edge, ice & water shield, inspections, Class 4 rules) formatted as a claim-ready evidence pack: verbatim ordinance quotes, code section cites, verification dates, and official source links, ready to attach to a supplement. See a real sample pack (PDF, 4 pages, free).

Code items like drip edge and ice & water shield are what adjusters ask you to document.

Buy this jurisdiction's pack: $12 Delivered by email within minutes. Digital download: all sales are final once delivered, except for a failed delivery, a defective file, a duplicate purchase, or a pack materially different from its description. See Section 6 of our Terms of Use.

Questions about the Township of Williamstown, MI pack?

Not ready to buy, or need a different jurisdiction? Tell us and we’ll reply directly.

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Sources

Roofing questions: Township of Williamstown, MI

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Township of Williamstown, MI. No size or cost threshold is published. Williamstown Township's Building Permit Fee Schedule lists roof work as its own permit line, "REROOF" at "$210.00", and the Building Department page says "PERMITS MUST BE ISSUED BEFORE WORK BEGINS." The schedule file is headed "January 18, 2024" and ends "Adopted 10-29-25", so confirm the current fee with the department. 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.

Is ice & water shield required in Township of Williamstown, 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 Department page, its Building Permit Fee Schedule and its Dangerous Buildings and Nuisance Abatement Ordinances were read for a local rule and state nothing further on ice barrier.

Is drip edge required in Township of Williamstown, 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 Department page, its Building Permit Fee Schedule and its Dangerous Buildings and Nuisance Abatement Ordinances were read for a local rule and state nothing further on drip edge.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Township of Williamstown, 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 township's Ordinances page lists zoning articles and general ordinances and no construction code or building ordinance. Its Dangerous Buildings Ordinance and its Nuisance Abatement Ordinance were read in full: the first defines "Township Building Code" as "the building code administered and enforced in the township pursuant to the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, Public Act 230 of 1972, as amended, (MCL 125.1501, et seq.)". Neither has a reroofing provision, and neither amends anything in Section R908. The township's zoning articles and its other listed ordinances that have a text layer were searched for roof and layer text: the only roof material rule is in the Planned Development Cluster Housing article, a new-dwelling appearance standard that reads "Roof material shall be at least 30-year three-tab asphalt shingle or better.", and it says nothing about layers. Seven listed ordinances are image-only PDFs and were not read (subdivision, wetland protection, recreational marihuana, landscape, public parks, right-of-way, and the reserved Article 23); none is a building ordinance. The Building Department page and fee schedule state no layer rule.

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

Yes.

What building code does Township of Williamstown, 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 Williamstown as its own building code enforcer. The township's Building Department page names no code edition, and its Dangerous Buildings Ordinance defines "Township Building Code" as "the building code administered and enforced in the township pursuant to the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, Public Act 230 of 1972, as amended, (MCL 125.1501, et seq.)", which names no edition.