If you are replacing more than 2-4X8 roof cover sheets, a permit will be required. Keep in mind that a roof cannot have more than 2 layers of roofing materials installed regardless of the type. A person or company that hires this type of work must have a license. The general rule is that building permits are required when the work is structural.
Exactly what that means may vary slightly by municipality. However, structural work is usually work that affects the real bones of your home, the parts that hold it all together. Therefore, minor repairs on a deck are not structural, but building a new deck or replacing joists would be structural. For roofs, minor repairs or replacement of some shingles are not structural.
But replacing all shingles is structural. If you are going to do some work on the terrace under the shingles or moving around the vents, it is definitely worth a building permit and you will need a building permit to replace the roof. Are you a homeowner planning a remodeling project? A contractor hired to build or remodel a single-family home or duplex? Are you looking to replace the roof or replace the roof of an existing home? You will need a residential building permit. A permit ensures that the work meets the standards of our community, as defined in the Michigan Residential Code and the Grand Rapids Zoning Ordinance.
In Michigan, construction of new buildings, as well as most home remodeling work, requires a permit before the project can begin.
