Roofing in Chikaming Township, Michigan

Required

Required

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 Chikaming as its own building code enforcer. The township's Ordinance 129 (adopted February 12, 2009) designates the township's Building Officials as the enforcing agency and names "Michigan Residential Code" without an edition. The township's Building Permit Requirements handout, which the township posts on its Building and Zoning page (file created June 11, 2026), tells applicants to "Refer to section 602.10 and 106.1.3 in 2015 Michigan Residential Code." Locally, the township's ordinance list says Ordinance 26 (October 3, 1974), adopted "Pursuant to the State Construction Code the BOCA basic building code 1970 edition, together with the Accumulative supplement thereto 1973 edition"; the list does not say whether that ordinance is still in force; 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.

In Chikaming Township a reroof needs a building permit: the township's Building Permit Requirements handout says "BUILDING PERMITS are required for all construction, demolition, alterations or change of use or occupancy. INCLUDES BUT NOT LIMITED TO: demolitions, decks, screen porches, swimming pools, hot tubs, gazebos, roofs, doors & windows, etc." The township's fee schedule says "DO NOT INCLUDE ANY FEES WITH APPLICATION" and prints no separate fee line for roofing, so ask the department for the current building permit fee. Complete the township's Building Permit Application, which asks for the job address, the owner, the applicant or contractor with a residential builder's license number, and a description of the work. To schedule any inspection, call SafeBuilt at 269-757-7177 and leave a message with the address, the permit number and the means to gain access to the jobsite; the township building official can be reached through the township hall at 269-469-1676. The township's fee schedule says "Building permits are valid for 180 days." The township says working without a permit carries fines of $150 for a first occurrence, $250 for a second and $500 for a third or later violation, in effect since October 2020. A homeowner who pulls the permit as owner-builder takes on the responsibilities of the contractor under the township's Homeowner Building Permit Policy, and if the property is not the owner's principal residence the owner may obtain only a building permit while all other permits go to licensed contractors.