Frost Line Depth in San Bruno, California

  • 5 verified codes nearby
  • Checked Oct 2026

No official local value

Frost rarely reaches the ground in San Bruno.

Nearby official codes require 5–30 in (5 verified codes).

Footings still go at least 12 in (30 cm) below undisturbed ground (IRC R403.1.4).

Source and how we checked

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

Climate: 1 night a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Pacifica 4 Sse, 3.2 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Does San Bruno have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for San Bruno in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). The nearest official values, from codes we verified, are 5 to 30 in. Use the deepest of them until the building department confirms San Bruno’s own number.

What frost line depth does San Bruno use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 5 in, like Palo Alto?

How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in San Bruno?

Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (30 in). Confirm San Bruno’s own depth before you dig.

Project
House or garage footing in San Bruno: dig at least 30 in. grade 0 in 122436486072 12 in code minimum frost rarely reaches 30 in dig 30 in

House or garage footing in San Bruno: dig at least 30 in (76 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Minimum depths in San Bruno with a 30 in frost line
ProjectDepthRule
House or garage footing30 inBelow the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)30 inBelow the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line36 in6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom30 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 San Bruno?

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

San Bruno never averages a low below freezing. 1 night a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 45.3 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Pacifica 4 Sse station, 3.2 mi away, elevation 475 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table
°FJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Low45.34646.147.649.450.852.353.353.452.349.746.2
High58.160.161.463.966.968.869.47172.370.164.158.8
097 nightsSan Bruno 1

San Bruno has fewer freezing nights than 135 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 San Bruno use?

5 official codes near San Bruno are verified; each links to its document.

0″12″24″36″48″50 mi0 miPalo Alto: 5 in, 22 miDublin: 12 in, 30 miCampbell: 12 in, 35 miBrentwood: 30 in, 44 miSanta Cruz: 12 in, 50 mi
Official frost line depths near San Bruno
PlaceVerified frost lineDistance
Palo Alto 5 in 22 mi away
Dublin 12 in 30 mi away
Campbell 12 in 35 mi away
Brentwood 30 in 44 mi away
Santa Cruz 12 in 50 mi away

How likely is the soil in San Bruno to heave?

USDA rates the sampled soil around San Bruno as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Urban land, Orthents, Candlestick).

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

San Bruno at a glance

Frost line depth
No official local value
County
San Mateo County
Population (2023 est.)
41,327
Mean annual temperature
57.4 °F
ZIP codes (5)
94010 · 94030 · 94044 · 94066 · 94080

Sources

  • Climate: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00046599.
  • 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