Roofing in Manchester 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 Manchester as its own building code enforcer, separately from the City of Manchester. The Western Washtenaw Construction Authority's page, which says it acts as the permitting and enforcing agency for Manchester Township, states "The 2015 Michigan Residential Code" among the codes "now in effect", and its Residential Code Information sheet is written for "the 2015 Michigan Residential code". The township's Ordinance No. 10, made and passed August 21, 1974, designates "the Building Inspector of the Township of Manchester" as the enforcing agency under the state construction code act; Ordinance No. 17 (1977) adds the electrical and plumbing inspectors and Ordinance No. 21 (1980) the mechanical code, and both apply "all construction codes as amended adopted by the State Construction Code Commission" without naming an edition. The township's zoning ordinance refers to "the Manchester Township building code", whose text is not among the documents posted on the township's website, and, in its definition of Hazardous Uses, to "the Basic Building Code 1965 amended edition prepared by the Building Officials Conference of America, Inc.", a list of hazardous uses rather than a residential code; this directory has not read that text, and whether that reference has any effect today is not decided here. This record states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which the Authority's own documents name.

In Manchester Township a reroof takes a permit from the Western Washtenaw Construction Authority, which the Authority's own page says "acts as the permitting and enforcing agency for building activities" for Freedom, Bridgewater and Manchester Townships and the City of Manchester. Its Policies and Procedures say "All new roofs either tear off or shingle over will require a permit." and, separately, "Normal maintenance and or repairs do not require a permit. If in doubt please call our office and confirm that a permit is not needed." The Authority's page describes its roofing, siding and windows application as one that "must be completed for minor construction projects involving roofing, siding, windows, or temporary pools", its fee schedule (effective 02/02/2024) lists "Roofing, windows, & siding $130.00", and the application carries "PERMIT FEE $130.00" and the choices "Reroofing over existing shingles" and "Tear off roofing and replace". The Authority says contractors must register: "Licensed State of Michigan Contractors must be registered with our department." Policies and Procedures add "State Law allows for 7 to 10 working days for a response to an application" and "Inspections must be scheduled 1 business day prior to the requested inspection." Applications may be mailed, dropped off or emailed to the Authority, and the application says payments can be made online with a "3% service fee". The office, at 912 City Road, Manchester, MI 48158, is open 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and closed Tuesday and Thursday; the phone number is 734-428-7001. Manchester Township's own offices are at 275 S. Macomb St., Manchester, MI 48158, 734-428-7090, where its zoning official handles zoning compliance. The City of Manchester is a separate unit on the state's list that the same Authority also serves.