Roofing in Geneva Township (Van Buren County), 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 Geneva (Van Buren County) as a local enforcer for building, electrical and mechanical work and lists plumbing under the state. Geneva Township's Township Inspectors & Permits page, read October 12, 2026, says "We follow the 2009 Michigan Codes for Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Residential, International Building, and Fire Code, along with all future updates." The township's Housing Ordinance No. 17 (Amendment No. 5, October 14, 2003) says single family dwellings "shall conform to all codes currently in effect and adopted in Geneva Township" and names no edition. Its Plumbing Code Enforcing Agency Ordinance No. 40, adopted January 11, 2022, designates the township building department and its plumbing inspector as the enforcing agency for the state plumbing code as amended from time to time, and describes that code as the International Plumbing Code, 2015 edition, with the state's changes. No township text adopting a 2009 edition is posted, and the township's Michigan Construction Code Ordinance #7, which its fee schedule names, is not posted; that text was not read, and whether the page's reference to a 2009 edition 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. Geneva Township has published no statement that it enforces the 2015 edition.

In Geneva Township a reroof has its own line in the township's building permit fee schedule: "10. Strip and Re-roof $ 35.00", in the schedule the Geneva Township Board amended April 9, 2002. The schedule says "A permit must be obtained before starting work. A penalty of double fee will be charged at the time of issuance of permit if works has been commenced prior to application for a permit." The township's posted notice says "Geneva Township Building Inspector will be enforcing penalty of DOUBLE FEES for any work that is started prior to obtaining proper permits." The township's Township Inspectors & Permits page lists "Building Inspections: Michigan Township Services" at 1-800-626-5964, with electrical inspections through the same company; the state's plumbing inspector handles plumbing, and a separate mechanical inspector handles mechanical permits. The township's Forms & Documents page lists a "Building Permit Application" with an "EMAIL INSPECTOR" button. Wells and septic systems go to the county health department, driveways to the Van Buren County Road Commission, and soil erosion and sediment control to the county's Paw Paw office. The township hall is at 62127 CR 380, Bangor, and its Forms & Documents page says "Office hours by Appointment ONLY". Geneva Township in Midland County is a separate unit not covered here.