Frostline.info

Frost line depth in El Paso County, Colorado

Frost reaches about 28 inches in typical soil across El Paso County, from 25″ in the mildest ZIP code to 30″ in the coldest. Codes in this climate commonly set footing depth at 24 to 36 inches.

Moderate frost
Estimated frost depth
28″
typical silt/loam soil
Typical code footing depth
24–36″
rule of thumb for this climate
Design freezing index
799
°F-days, 100-year winter
ZIP codes covered
43
#48 of 64 counties in CO (1 = deepest)
28″ 0″12″24″36″48″ 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)35″
Silt / loam (typical yard soil)28″
Clay (holds water)24″

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 El Paso County building or permitting office in Colorado and call 811 before digging.

Frost depth by ZIP code in El Paso County

ZIPCityEst. frostCode range
80106Elbert29″24–36″
80132Monument30″24–36″
80133Palmer Lake30″24–42″
80808Calhan30″24–36″
80809Cascade28″24–36″
80817Fountain26″24–36″
80829Manitou Springs27″24–36″
80831Peyton29″24–36″
80832Ramah30″24–36″
80833Rush28″24–36″
80840Usaf Academy30″24–36″
80864Yoder25″24–36″
80902Colorado Springs26″24–36″
80903Colorado Springs27″24–36″
80904Colorado Springs27″24–36″
80905Colorado Springs26″24–36″
80906Colorado Springs26″24–36″
80907Colorado Springs28″24–36″
80908Colorado Springs30″24–36″
80909Colorado Springs27″24–36″
80910Colorado Springs27″24–36″
80911Colorado Springs26″24–36″
80912Colorado Springs27″24–36″
80913Colorado Springs26″24–36″
80915Colorado Springs28″24–36″
80916Colorado Springs27″24–36″
80917Colorado Springs28″24–36″
80918Colorado Springs28″24–36″
80919Colorado Springs28″24–36″
80920Colorado Springs30″24–36″
80921Colorado Springs30″24–36″
80922Colorado Springs28″24–36″
80923Colorado Springs28″24–36″
80924Colorado Springs30″24–36″
80925Colorado Springs26″24–36″
80926Colorado Springs27″24–36″
80927Colorado Springs30″24–36″
80928Colorado Springs26″24–36″
80929Colorado Springs27″24–36″
80930Colorado Springs27″24–36″
80938Colorado Springs28″24–36″
80939Colorado Springs28″24–36″
80951Colorado Springs28″24–36″

What this means for your project in El Paso 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 36″ 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 28″ 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; add a margin below the estimate above for unusually cold winters.

Slabs & frost-protected foundations

Frost-protected shallow foundations (IRC R403.3) use the 100-year air freezing index — 799 °F-days here — to size perimeter insulation, letting footings sit shallower than the frost line.

Weather stations used

NOAA weather stationDistance100-yr AFI
Cheesman, CO39 mi1,136
Canon City, CO44 mi315
Parker 9 E, CO44 mi867
Kassler, CO48 mi636

Nearby counties

Common questions

What is the frost line depth in El Paso County?

About 28 inches in typical soil, based on NOAA's 100-year air freezing index. Across the county's ZIP codes the estimate runs from 25 to 30 inches.

How deep should footings be in El Paso County, Colorado?

Codes in climates like this commonly require 24 to 36 inches. The El Paso County building department publishes the required frost depth in its adopted code (IRC Table R301.2).

Does frost depth vary within El Paso County?

Very little. Estimates across the county stay within 5 inches. Soil type matters more than location here.