Frostline.info

Frost line depth in Sacramento County, California

Frost reaches about 2 inches in typical soil across Sacramento County, from 1″ in the mildest ZIP code to 4″ in the coldest. Codes in this climate commonly set footing depth at 12 inches (code minimum).

Shallow frost
Estimated frost depth
2″
typical silt/loam soil
Typical code footing depth
12″ minimum
rule of thumb for this climate
Design freezing index
6
°F-days, 100-year winter
ZIP codes covered
53
#32 of 58 counties in CA (1 = deepest)
2″ 0″12″24″36″ ground frozen
Est. frost (typical soil) Typical code footing depth Clay–sand range

Frost depth by soil type

Soil typeEst. frost depth
Sand / gravel (drains well)3″
Silt / loam (typical yard soil)2″
Clay (holds water)2″

County average. Methodology.

Verify before you dig. These are climate-based estimates. The legally required frost depth is the figure your building department publishes in its IRC Table R301.2 (climatic and geographic design criteria). Call the Sacramento County building or permitting office in California and call 811 before digging.

Frost depth by ZIP code in Sacramento County

ZIPCityEst. frostCode range
95608Carmichael2″12″ minimum
95610Citrus Heights3″12″ minimum
95615Courtland2″12″ minimum
95621Citrus Heights2″12″ minimum
95624Elk Grove2″12″ minimum
95626Elverta2″12″ minimum
95628Fair Oaks3″12″ minimum
95630Folsom4″12″ minimum
95632Galt1″12″ minimum
95638Herald1″12″ minimum
95641Isleton1″12″ minimum
95652Mcclellan2″12″ minimum
95655Mather2″12″ minimum
95660North Highlands2″12″ minimum
95662Orangevale4″12″ minimum
95670Rancho Cordova2″12″ minimum
95673Rio Linda2″12″ minimum
95683Sloughhouse4″12″ minimum
95690Walnut Grove2″12″ minimum
95693Wilton2″12″ minimum
95742Rancho Cordova4″12″ minimum
95757Elk Grove2″12″ minimum
95758Elk Grove2″12″ minimum
95811Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95814Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95815Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95816Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95817Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95818Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95819Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95820Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95821Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95822Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95823Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95824Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95825Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95826Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95827Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95828Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95829Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95830Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95831Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95832Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95833Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95834Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95835Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95836Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95837Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95838Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95841Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95842Sacramento2″12″ minimum
95843Antelope2″12″ minimum
95864Sacramento2″12″ minimum

What this means for your project in Sacramento County

Deck footings & piers

Footings must bear below the frost line and at least 12″ below undisturbed ground. For planning in this area, budget for holes around 12″ deep until your permit office confirms the exact figure.

Fence posts

Set posts at least one-third of their above-ground height. Where frost heave is a problem, carry concrete footings below the frost line (about 12″ here in typical soil) and bell or taper the bottom.

Water & irrigation lines

Bury supply lines below the frost depth. Your water utility or plumbing code sets the minimum cover; freezing is rare, but exposed pipes still need insulation.

Slabs & frost-protected foundations

Frost-protected shallow foundations (IRC R403.3) use the 100-year air freezing index — 6 °F-days here — to size perimeter insulation, letting footings sit shallower than the frost line.

Weather stations used

NOAA weather stationDistance100-yr AFI
Sacramento, CA6 mi6
Davis 2 Wsw Exp Farm, CA20 mi3
Woodland 1 Wnw, CA24 mi5
Auburn, CA30 mi7

Nearby counties

Common questions

What is the frost line depth in Sacramento County?

About 2 inches in typical soil, based on NOAA's 100-year air freezing index. Across the county's ZIP codes the estimate runs from 1 to 4 inches.

How deep should footings be in Sacramento County, California?

Codes in climates like this commonly require 12 inches (code minimum). The Sacramento County building department publishes the required frost depth in its adopted code (IRC Table R301.2).

Does frost depth vary within Sacramento County?

Very little. Estimates across the county stay within 3 inches. Soil type matters more than location here.