Frost Line Depth in Baxter County, AR: Arkansas Codes Range 12

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Baxter County.

No verified code nearby; verified Arkansas codes range 12–18 in.

Source and how we checked

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

Climate: 85 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Mtn Home 1 Nnw, 5.8 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

12–18 inrange of verified Arkansas codes
85nights a year at or below 32 °F
100%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

Does Baxter County have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Baxter County in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). No verified code lies near Baxter County; the Arkansas codes we verified range from 12 to 18 in. Ask the building department for Baxter County’s own number before you dig.

What frost line depth does Baxter 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 Baxter County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 18 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 Baxter County?

Drawn with the deepest Arkansas official value (18 in). Confirm Baxter County’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Baxter County: dig at least 18 in (46 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Using the nearby official value of 18 in until Baxter County confirms its own
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	18 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	18 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	24 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	18 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 Baxter County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Feb. 85 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 26.1 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Mtn Home 1 Nnw station, 5.8 mi away, elevation 800 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	26.1	29.3	37.3	46.4	55.6	64.7	68.8	67.5	59.7	48	37.4	29.3
High	45.8	50.8	59.8	69.7	76.9	85	89.4	89.1	82	71.3	58.9	48.5

Baxter County has more freezing nights than 19 of the 25 other Arkansas places we track. The Arkansas median is 66. Coldest: Benton County; mildest: Miller County.

How likely is the soil in Baxter County to heave?

Moderate 100%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Baxter County as 100% moderate for frost action (main soils: Doniphan, Arkana, Moko).

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

Baxter County at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
Population (2023 est.): 42,875
Mean annual temperature: 58.2 °F
ZIP codes (12): 72519 · 72531 · 72537 · 72544 · 72617 · 72623 · 72626 · 72635 · 72642 · 72651 · 72653 · 72658