Frostline.info

Frost line depth in Hamilton County, Ohio

Frost reaches about 30 inches in typical soil across Hamilton County, from 29″ in the mildest ZIP code to 34″ in the coldest. Codes in this climate commonly set footing depth at 24 to 36 inches.

Deep frost
Estimated frost depth
30″
typical silt/loam soil
Typical code footing depth
24–36″
rule of thumb for this climate
Design freezing index
935
°F-days, 100-year winter
ZIP codes covered
52
#81 of 88 counties in OH (1 = deepest)
30″ 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)38″
Silt / loam (typical yard soil)30″
Clay (holds water)26″

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 Hamilton County building or permitting office in Ohio and call 811 before digging.

Frost depth by ZIP code in Hamilton County

ZIPCityEst. frostCode range
45002Cleves30″24–36″
45030Harrison30″24–42″
45051Mount Saint Joseph29″24–36″
45052North Bend30″24–36″
45111Camp Dennison34″30–42″
45174Terrace Park34″30–42″
45202Cincinnati29″24–36″
45203Cincinnati29″24–36″
45204Cincinnati29″24–36″
45205Cincinnati29″24–36″
45206Cincinnati29″24–36″
45207Cincinnati29″24–36″
45208Cincinnati30″24–36″
45209Cincinnati30″24–42″
45211Cincinnati29″24–36″
45212Cincinnati30″24–36″
45213Cincinnati31″24–42″
45214Cincinnati29″24–36″
45215Cincinnati30″24–42″
45216Cincinnati29″24–36″
45217Cincinnati29″24–36″
45218Cincinnati30″24–36″
45219Cincinnati29″24–36″
45220Cincinnati29″24–36″
45223Cincinnati29″24–36″
45224Cincinnati29″24–36″
45225Cincinnati29″24–36″
45226Cincinnati30″24–42″
45227Cincinnati32″30–42″
45229Cincinnati29″24–36″
45230Cincinnati32″30–42″
45231Cincinnati30″24–36″
45232Cincinnati29″24–36″
45233Cincinnati29″24–36″
45234Cincinnati29″24–36″
45235Cincinnati29″24–36″
45236Cincinnati32″30–42″
45237Cincinnati30″24–36″
45238Cincinnati29″24–36″
45239Cincinnati29″24–36″
45240Cincinnati30″24–36″
45241Cincinnati31″24–42″
45242Cincinnati33″30–42″
45243Cincinnati34″30–42″
45244Cincinnati33″30–42″
45246Cincinnati30″24–36″
45247Cincinnati29″24–36″
45248Cincinnati29″24–36″
45249Cincinnati32″30–42″
45251Cincinnati30″24–36″
45252Cincinnati30″24–36″
45255Cincinnati32″30–42″

What this means for your project in Hamilton 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 30″ 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 — 935 °F-days here — to size perimeter insulation, letting footings sit shallower than the frost line.

Weather stations used

NOAA weather stationDistance100-yr AFI
Cincinnati Abbe, OH2 mi842
Milford, OH11 mi1,201
Hamilton-Fairfield, OH13 mi896
Chilo Meldahl Dam, OH32 mi948

Nearby counties

Common questions

What is the frost line depth in Hamilton County?

About 30 inches in typical soil, based on NOAA's 100-year air freezing index. Across the county's ZIP codes the estimate runs from 29 to 34 inches.

How deep should footings be in Hamilton County, Ohio?

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

Does frost depth vary within Hamilton County?

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