Frostline.info

Frost line depth in Bergen County, New Jersey

Frost reaches about 24 inches in typical soil across Bergen County, from 21″ in the mildest ZIP code to 30″ in the coldest. Codes in this climate commonly set footing depth at 24 to 30 inches.

Moderate frost
Estimated frost depth
24″
typical silt/loam soil
Typical code footing depth
24–30″
rule of thumb for this climate
Design freezing index
609
°F-days, 100-year winter
ZIP codes covered
66
#10 of 21 counties in NJ (1 = deepest)
24″ 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)31″
Silt / loam (typical yard soil)24″
Clay (holds water)21″

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 Bergen County building or permitting office in New Jersey and call 811 before digging.

Frost depth by ZIP code in Bergen County

ZIPCityEst. frostCode range
07010Cliffside Park21″18–30″
07020Edgewater21″18–30″
07022Fairview21″18–30″
07024Fort Lee22″18–30″
07026Garfield26″24–36″
07031North Arlington24″24–30″
07057Wallington24″24–30″
07070Rutherford24″24–30″
07071Lyndhurst24″24–30″
07072Carlstadt24″18–30″
07073East Rutherford24″18–30″
07074Moonachie23″18–30″
07075Wood Ridge24″18–30″
07401Allendale27″24–36″
07407Elmwood Park26″24–36″
07410Fair Lawn26″24–36″
07417Franklin Lakes29″24–36″
07423Ho Ho Kus26″24–36″
07430Mahwah30″24–36″
07432Midland Park26″24–36″
07436Oakland29″24–36″
07446Ramsey27″24–36″
07450Ridgewood26″24–36″
07452Glen Rock26″24–36″
07458Saddle River25″24–30″
07463Waldwick26″24–36″
07481Wyckoff28″24–36″
07495Mahwah28″24–36″
07601Hackensack23″18–30″
07603Bogota23″18–30″
07604Hasbrouck Heights24″18–30″
07605Leonia22″18–30″
07606South Hackensack23″18–30″
07607Maywood24″18–30″
07608Teterboro23″18–30″
07621Bergenfield23″18–30″
07624Closter24″18–30″
07626Cresskill23″18–30″
07627Demarest23″18–30″
07628Dumont23″18–30″
07630Emerson24″24–30″
07631Englewood22″18–30″
07632Englewood Cliffs22″18–30″
07640Harrington Park24″18–30″
07641Haworth23″18–30″
07642Hillsdale24″24–30″
07643Little Ferry23″18–30″
07644Lodi24″18–30″
07645Montvale24″24–30″
07646New Milford23″18–30″
07647Northvale24″18–30″
07648Norwood24″18–30″
07649Oradell24″18–30″
07650Palisades Park22″18–30″
07652Paramus24″18–30″
07656Park Ridge24″24–30″
07657Ridgefield22″18–30″
07660Ridgefield Park23″18–30″
07661River Edge23″18–30″
07662Rochelle Park25″24–36″
07663Saddle Brook26″24–36″
07666Teaneck22″18–30″
07670Tenafly23″18–30″
07675Westwood24″24–30″
07676Township Of Washington25″24–30″
07677Woodcliff Lake24″24–30″

What this means for your project in Bergen 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 30″ 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 24″ 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 — 609 °F-days here — to size perimeter insulation, letting footings sit shallower than the frost line.

Weather stations used

NOAA weather stationDistance100-yr AFI
Little Falls, NJ10 mi686
New York Cntrl Pk, NY11 mi440
Dobbs Ferry, NY12 mi576
Jersey City, NJ14 mi618

Nearby counties

Common questions

What is the frost line depth in Bergen County?

About 24 inches in typical soil, based on NOAA's 100-year air freezing index. Across the county's ZIP codes the estimate runs from 21 to 30 inches.

How deep should footings be in Bergen County, New Jersey?

Codes in climates like this commonly require 24 to 30 inches. The Bergen County building department publishes the required frost depth in its adopted code (IRC Table R301.2).

Does frost depth vary within Bergen County?

Yes. Estimates differ by 9 inches between the coldest and mildest ZIP codes, mostly from latitude and elevation. Check your own ZIP below.