Frost Line Depth in Santa Monica, CA: Frost Rarely Reaches the Ground

No official local value

Frost rarely reaches the ground in Santa Monica.

Nearby official codes require 12 in (4 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: 0 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Santa Monica Pier, 0.2 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

12 in4 verified codes within 38 mi
0nights a year at or below 32 °F
98%of nearby soil rated “none” for frost action (USDA)

Does Santa Monica have an official frost line depth?

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

What frost line depth does Santa Monica use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 12 in, like Paramount?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Santa Monica building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 12 in (the deepest nearby 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 Santa Monica?

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

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

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

Minimum depths in Santa Monica with a 12 in frost line
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	18 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 Santa Monica?

Santa Monica never averages a low below freezing. 0 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Dec is coldest, with an average low of 49.5 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Santa Monica Pier station, 0.2 mi away, elevation 14 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	49.6	49.7	51.8	53.2	55.8	59.2	61.5	62.3	60.9	58.5	53.6	49.5
High	62	62.2	61.8	63.4	63.4	66.3	69.4	69.7	70	67.5	66.9	63.4

Santa Monica has fewer 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 Santa Monica use?

4 official codes near Santa Monica are verified; each links to its document.

Official frost line depths near Santa Monica
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Paramount	12 in	21 mi away
Norwalk	12 in	25 mi away
Whittier	12 in	28 mi away
Glendora	12 in	38 mi away

How likely is the soil in Santa Monica to heave?

None 98%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Santa Monica as 98% none, 2% low for frost action (main soils: Abaft, Chumash, Pierview).

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

Santa Monica at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
County: Los Angeles County
Population (2023 est.): 89,922
Mean annual temperature: 60.5 °F
ZIP codes (5): 90401 · 90402 · 90403 · 90404 · 90405