Frost Line Depth in Mountain View, California
- Mountain View’s adopted code
- Checked Oct 2026
- Sources
Verified
0in
No frost depth required
Set in the building code Mountain View has adopted.
Footings still go at least 12 in (30 cm) below undisturbed ground (IRC R403.1.4).
Source and how we checked
Document: library.municode.com
Climate: 2 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Moffett Federal Airfield, 1.8 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
How deep is the frost line in Mountain View?
Mountain View'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 Mountain View?
California leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Mountain View fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Mountain View’s own document on library.municode.com. See how California sets frost line depth.
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Mountain View?
House or garage footing in Mountain View: 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 Mountain View?
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Mountain View never averages a low below freezing. 2 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Dec is coldest, with an average low of 42.1 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Moffett Federal Airfield station, 1.8 mi away, elevation 39 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 42.4 | 44.5 | 46.7 | 48.9 | 52.5 | 55.7 | 58.5 | 59 | 57.3 | 53.1 | 46.3 | 42.1 |
| High | 59 | 61.8 | 65 | 68 | 71.7 | 75.9 | 76.9 | 76.9 | 77.7 | 74.1 | 65.5 | 58.9 |
Mountain View has fewer freezing nights than 114 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 Mountain View use?
5 official codes near Mountain View are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto | 5 in | 4 mi away |
| Campbell | 12 in | 11 mi away |
| Dublin | 12 in | 24 mi away |
| Santa Cruz | 12 in | 29 mi away |
| Watsonville | 12 in | 37 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Mountain View to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Mountain View as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Urban land, Aquic Xerorthents, Novato).
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 Mountain View?
Mountain View at a glance
- Frost line depth
- 0 in
- County
- Santa Clara County
- Population (2023 est.)
- 81,785
- Mean annual temperature
- 59.9 °F
- ZIP codes (7)
- 94024 · 94040 · 94041 · 94043 · 94085 · 94303 · 94306