Frost Line Depth in Apache County, AZ: Arizona Codes Range 0

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Apache County.

No verified code nearby; verified Arizona codes range 0–30 in.

Source and how we checked

We searched this place’s own code and website and found no published frost line depth.

Climate: 159 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Sanders, 14.6 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

0–30 inrange of verified Arizona codes
159nights a year at or below 32 °F
62%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

Does Apache County have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Apache County in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). No verified code lies near Apache County; the Arizona codes we verified range from 0 to 30 in. Ask the building department for Apache County’s own number before you dig.

What frost line depth does Apache County use for footings under Table R301.2(1)?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Apache County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 30 in (the deepest verified state value) unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Apache County?

Drawn with the deepest Arizona official value (30 in). Confirm Apache County’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Apache County: dig at least 30 in (76 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Using the nearby official value of 30 in until Apache County confirms its own
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	30 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	30 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	36 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	30 in	No code rule; common practice is below the frost line

Work out posts, concrete and footing sizes with the fence post depth calculator or the deck footing calculator.

How cold does it get in Apache County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Nov to Apr. 159 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 18.9 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Sanders station, 14.6 mi away, elevation 5,853 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	18.9	22.3	25.9	30.9	38	46.2	56.2	55.7	48.2	36.5	25.6	19.1
High	47.8	52.4	60.2	67.7	77.1	87.6	90.4	88	81.9	70.3	58.3	48.1

Apache County has more freezing nights than 33 of the 35 other Arizona places we track. The Arizona median is 12. Coldest: Flagstaff; mildest: Yuma.

How likely is the soil in Apache County to heave?

Low 38%Moderate 62%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Apache County as 38% low, 62% moderate for frost action (main soils: Zia, Pinavettes family, Betonnie).

USDA NRCS soil survey, 9 sample points within 2 mi. Higher frost action means more risk of heave; see frost heave.

Apache County at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
Population (2023 est.): 65,036
Mean annual temperature: 52.2 °F
ZIP codes (34): 84531 · 85901 · 85920 · 85924 · 85925 · 85927 · 85930 · 85932 · 85936 · 85938 · 85940 · 86028 · 86033 · 86034 · 86502 · 86503 · 86504 · 86505 · 86506 · 86507 · 86508 · 86511 · 86512 · 86514 · 86515 · 86520 · 86535 · 86538 · 86540 · 86544 · 86545 · 86547 · 86556 · 87328