Frostline.info

Frost line depth in Sedgwick County, Kansas

Frost reaches about 26 inches in typical soil across Sedgwick County. Codes in this climate commonly set footing depth at 24 to 36 inches.

Moderate frost
Estimated frost depth
26″
typical silt/loam soil
Typical code footing depth
24–36″
rule of thumb for this climate
Design freezing index
681
°F-days, 100-year winter
ZIP codes covered
43
#74 of 105 counties in KS (1 = deepest)
26″ 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)32″
Silt / loam (typical yard soil)26″
Clay (holds water)22″

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 Sedgwick County building or permitting office in Kansas and call 811 before digging.

Frost depth by ZIP code in Sedgwick County

ZIPCityEst. frostCode range
67001Andale26″24–36″
67025Cheney25″24–30″
67026Clearwater25″24–30″
67030Colwich26″24–36″
67037Derby25″24–30″
67050Garden Plain25″24–30″
67052Goddard25″24–36″
67055Greenwich26″24–36″
67060Haysville25″24–36″
67067Kechi26″24–36″
67101Maize26″24–36″
67108Mount Hope26″24–36″
67110Mulvane25″24–30″
67147Valley Center26″24–36″
67149Viola25″24–36″
67202Wichita26″24–36″
67203Wichita26″24–36″
67204Wichita26″24–36″
67205Wichita26″24–36″
67206Wichita26″24–36″
67207Wichita26″24–36″
67208Wichita26″24–36″
67209Wichita26″24–36″
67210Wichita26″24–36″
67211Wichita26″24–36″
67212Wichita26″24–36″
67213Wichita26″24–36″
67214Wichita26″24–36″
67215Wichita26″24–36″
67216Wichita26″24–36″
67217Wichita26″24–36″
67218Wichita26″24–36″
67219Wichita26″24–36″
67220Wichita26″24–36″
67221Mcconnell AFB26″24–36″
67223Wichita26″24–36″
67226Wichita26″24–36″
67227Wichita26″24–36″
67228Wichita26″24–36″
67230Wichita25″24–36″
67232Wichita25″24–36″
67235Wichita26″24–36″
67276Wichita26″24–36″

What this means for your project in Sedgwick 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 26″ 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 — 681 °F-days here — to size perimeter insulation, letting footings sit shallower than the frost line.

Weather stations used

NOAA weather stationDistance100-yr AFI
Newton 2 Sw, KS24 mi703
El Dorado, KS31 mi674
Wellington 2 S, KS32 mi698
Winfield, KS38 mi572

Nearby counties

Common questions

What is the frost line depth in Sedgwick County?

About 26 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 26 inches.

How deep should footings be in Sedgwick County, Kansas?

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

Does frost depth vary within Sedgwick County?

Very little. Estimates across the county stay within 1 inches. Soil type matters more than location here.