Frostline.info

Frost line depth in Ulster County, New York

Frost reaches about 34 inches in typical soil across Ulster County, from 32″ in the mildest ZIP code to 36″ in the coldest. Codes in this climate commonly set footing depth at 30 to 42 inches.

Deep frost
Estimated frost depth
34″
typical silt/loam soil
Typical code footing depth
30–42″
rule of thumb for this climate
Design freezing index
1,182
°F-days, 100-year winter
ZIP codes covered
44
#48 of 62 counties in NY (1 = deepest)
34″ 0″12″24″36″48″60″ 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)43″
Silt / loam (typical yard soil)34″
Clay (holds water)29″

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 Ulster County building or permitting office in New York and call 811 before digging.

Frost depth by ZIP code in Ulster County

ZIPCityEst. frostCode range
12401Kingston33″30–42″
12404Accord33″30–42″
12409Bearsville33″30–42″
12410Big Indian36″30–48″
12411Bloomington33″30–42″
12412Boiceville34″30–42″
12416Chichester36″30–48″
12419Cottekill33″30–42″
12428Ellenville34″30–42″
12433Glenford33″30–42″
12435Greenfield Park36″30–48″
12440High Falls33″30–42″
12443Hurley33″30–42″
12446Kerhonkson33″30–42″
12448Lake Hill35″30–48″
12449Lake Katrine34″30–42″
12456Mount Marion34″30–42″
12457Mount Tremper35″30–42″
12458Napanoch34″30–42″
12461Olivebridge34″30–42″
12464Phoenicia36″30–48″
12465Pine Hill36″30–48″
12466Port Ewen33″30–42″
12472Rosendale33″30–42″
12477Saugerties35″30–42″
12480Shandaken36″30–48″
12481Shokan34″30–42″
12484Stone Ridge33″30–42″
12486Tillson33″30–42″
12487Ulster Park33″30–42″
12491West Hurley33″30–42″
12494West Shokan34″30–42″
12495Willow35″30–48″
12498Woodstock33″30–42″
12515Clintondale33″30–42″
12525Gardiner33″30–42″
12528Highland33″30–42″
12542Marlboro32″30–42″
12547Milton33″30–42″
12548Modena33″30–42″
12561New Paltz33″30–42″
12566Pine Bush32″30–42″
12589Wallkill32″30–42″
12725Claryville36″30–48″

What this means for your project in Ulster 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 42″ 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 34″ 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; in a climate this cold, 4 feet or more is common for service lines.

Slabs & frost-protected foundations

Frost-protected shallow foundations (IRC R403.3) use the 100-year air freezing index — 1,182 °F-days here — to size perimeter insulation, letting footings sit shallower than the frost line.

Weather stations used

NOAA weather stationDistance100-yr AFI
Mohonk Lake, NY9 mi1,109
Poughkeepsie Airport, NY24 mi1,160
Glenham, NY29 mi985
Millbrook, NY29 mi1,246

Nearby counties

Common questions

What is the frost line depth in Ulster County?

About 34 inches in typical soil, based on NOAA's 100-year air freezing index. Across the county's ZIP codes the estimate runs from 32 to 36 inches.

How deep should footings be in Ulster County, New York?

Codes in climates like this commonly require 30 to 42 inches. The Ulster County building department publishes the required frost depth in its adopted code (IRC Table R301.2).

Does frost depth vary within Ulster County?

Very little. Estimates across the county stay within 4 inches. Soil type matters more than location here.