Frost Line Depth in Jefferson County, Arkansas

  • Arkansas range from verified codes
  • Checked Oct 2026

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Jefferson 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: 50 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Pine Bluff, 6.2 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Does Jefferson County have an official frost line depth?

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

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

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

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

Project
House or garage footing in Jefferson County: dig at least 18 in. grade 0 in 122436486072 12 in code minimum nearby codes 18 in, confirm locally dig 18 in

House or garage footing in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County confirms its own
ProjectDepthRule
House or garage footing18 inBelow the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)18 inBelow the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line24 in6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom18 inNo 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 Jefferson County?

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D
0°32°100° J F M A M J J A S O N D 32 °F

Jefferson County never averages a low below freezing. 50 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 33.2 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Pine Bluff station, 6.2 mi away, elevation 230 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table
°FJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Low33.23643.752.161.669.67371.965.152.742.335.5
High51.756.164.573.881.588.591.891.485.975.563.454.5
36101 nightsJefferson County 50

Jefferson County has fewer freezing nights than 20 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 Jefferson County to heave?

USDA rates the sampled soil around Jefferson County as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Coushatta, Portland, Perry).

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

Jefferson County at a glance

Frost line depth
No official local value
Population (2023 est.)
63,661
Mean annual temperature
63.1 °F
ZIP codes (19)
71601 · 71602 · 71603 · 71644 · 71659 · 71665 · 72004 · 72046 · 72072 · 72073 · 72079 · 72132 · 72133 · 72150 · 72152 · 72160 · 72168 · 72175 · 72182

Sources

  • Climate: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00035754.
  • Soil: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO) frost action ratings.
  • Code rules: International Residential Code R403.1.4, R507.3, P2603.5.

Checked Oct 2026. How we verify · Report a correction