Frost Line Depth in Morgan Hill, California

  • 5 verified codes nearby
  • Checked Oct 2026

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Morgan Hill.

Nearby official codes require 5–12 in (5 verified codes).

Source and how we checked

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

Climate: 16 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Gilroy, 10 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Does Morgan Hill have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Morgan Hill in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). The nearest official values, from codes we verified, are 5 to 12 in. Use the deepest of them until the building department confirms Morgan Hill’s own number.

What frost line depth does Morgan Hill use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 12 in, like Watsonville?

How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Morgan Hill?

Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (12 in). Confirm Morgan Hill’s own depth before you dig.

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

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

Using the nearby official value of 12 in until Morgan Hill confirms its own
ProjectDepthRule
House or garage footing12 inBelow the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)12 inBelow the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line18 in6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom12 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 Morgan Hill?

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0°32°100° J F M A M J J A S O N D 32 °F

Morgan Hill never averages a low below freezing. 16 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Dec is coldest, with an average low of 37 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Gilroy station, 10 mi away, elevation 194 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table
°FJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Low38.140.442.644.54951.65454.452.547.941.637
High60.76468.171.977.382.887.287.284.978.868.360.4
097 nightsMorgan Hill 16

Morgan Hill has more freezing nights than 166 of the 208 other California places we track. The California median is 3. Coldest: El Dorado County; mildest: San Diego.

What frost line depth do towns near Morgan Hill use?

5 official codes near Morgan Hill are verified; each links to its document.

0″12″24″36″48″43 mi0 miWatsonville: 12 in, 16 miCampbell: 12 in, 20 miSanta Cruz: 12 in, 24 miPalo Alto: 5 in, 33 miDublin: 12 in, 43 mi
Official frost line depths near Morgan Hill
PlaceVerified frost lineDistance
Watsonville 12 in 16 mi away
Campbell 12 in 20 mi away
Santa Cruz 12 in 24 mi away
Palo Alto 5 in 33 mi away
Dublin 12 in 43 mi away

How likely is the soil in Morgan Hill to heave?

USDA rates the sampled soil around Morgan Hill as 100% none for frost action (main soils: San Ysidro, Arbuckle, Pleasanton).

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

Morgan Hill at a glance

Frost line depth
No official local value
County
Santa Clara County
Population (2023 est.)
44,478
Mean annual temperature
60.2 °F
ZIP codes (2)
95037 · 95046

Sources

  • Climate: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00043417.
  • 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