Mohave County, AZ Frost Line Depth: 0 in

Verified

0in

No frost depth required

Set in the building code Mohave County has adopted.

Footings still go at least 12 in (30 cm) below undisturbed ground (IRC R403.1.4).

Source and how we checked

Document: mohave.gov

Climate: 39 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Meadview 1W, 27.4 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

1 of 1nearby verified codes use the same depth
39nights a year at or below 32 °F
48%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

How deep is the frost line in Mohave County?

Mohave County's building authority sets the frost line depth at 0 in (0 cm). Footings, piers and other permanent supports still go at least 12 in below undisturbed ground (IRC R403.1.4).

Who sets the frost line depth in Mohave County?

Arizona has no statewide residential code, so Mohave County adopts its own and fills in the frost line depth. The value above comes from Mohave County’s own document on mohave.gov. See how Arizona sets frost line depth.

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

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

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

Minimum depths in Mohave County with a 0 in frost line
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	12 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	12 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	12 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	12 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 Mohave County?

Mohave County never averages a low below freezing. 39 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Dec is coldest, with an average low of 33.6 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Meadview 1w station, 27.4 mi away, elevation 2,938 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	34.7	36.3	43.5	49.6	59.5	69.6	76.7	75.1	67.7	54.6	42.3	33.6
High	56.6	59.9	68.5	76.4	86.4	98.3	102.1	100.8	93.2	79.4	66.1	55.4

Mohave County has more freezing nights than 23 of the 35 other Arizona places we track. The Arizona median is 12. Coldest: Flagstaff; mildest: Yuma.

What frost line depth do towns near Mohave County use?

One official code near Mohave County is verified.

Official frost line depths near Mohave County
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Bullhead City	0 in	61 mi away

How likely is the soil in Mohave County to heave?

None 15%Low 37%Moderate 48%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Mohave County as 15% none, 37% low, 48% moderate for frost action (main soils: Wodomont, Luzena, Curhollow).

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

How do you confirm the frost line before you dig in Mohave County?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Mohave County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 0 in unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

Mohave County at a glance

Frost line depth: 0 in
Population (2023 est.): 223,682
Mean annual temperature: 66.1 °F
ZIP codes (25): 85360 · 86021 · 86022 · 86401 · 86403 · 86404 · 86406 · 86409 · 86411 · 86413 · 86426 · 86429 · 86431 · 86432 · 86433 · 86434 · 86436 · 86437 · 86438 · 86440 · 86441 · 86442 · 86443 · 86444 · 86445