Frost Line Depth in Oro Valley, Arizona
- Oro Valley’s adopted code
- Checked Oct 2026
- Sources
Verified
0in
No frost depth required
Set in the building code Oro Valley has adopted.
Footings still go at least 12 in (30 cm) below undisturbed ground (IRC R403.1.4).
Source and how we checked
Document: orovalleyaz.gov
Climate: 67 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Catalina Sp, 2.7 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
How deep is the frost line in Oro Valley?
Oro Valley'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 Oro Valley?
Arizona has no statewide residential code, so Oro Valley adopts its own and fills in the frost line depth. The value above comes from Oro Valley’s own document on orovalleyaz.gov. See how Arizona sets frost line depth.
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Oro Valley?
House or garage footing in Oro Valley: dig at least 12 in (30 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).
| 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 Oro Valley?
- J
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- D
Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Feb. 67 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 30.6 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Catalina Sp station, 2.7 mi away, elevation 2,707 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 30.6 | 32 | 36.4 | 42.6 | 50.5 | 59.5 | 70.7 | 68.8 | 61.8 | 48.2 | 37.5 | 31 |
| High | 67 | 68.1 | 74.8 | 82.1 | 90.8 | 100.8 | 99.7 | 98.2 | 95.5 | 86.7 | 75.8 | 66.3 |
Oro Valley has more freezing nights than 26 of the 35 other Arizona places we track. The Arizona median is 12. Coldest: Flagstaff; mildest: Yuma.
What frost line depth do towns near Oro Valley use?
One official code near Oro Valley is verified.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande | 0 in | 57 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Oro Valley to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Oro Valley as 93% none, 7% low for frost action (main soils: Anthony, Tubac, Comoro).
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 Oro Valley?
Oro Valley at a glance
- Frost line depth
- 0 in
- County
- Pima County
- Population (2023 est.)
- 48,311
- Mean annual temperature
- 65.7 °F
- ZIP codes (7)
- 85619 · 85704 · 85718 · 85737 · 85739 · 85742 · 85755