Frost Line Depth in Tuolumne County, CA: Turlock Requires 12 in

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Tuolumne County.

Nearby official codes require 12 in (1 verified code).

Source and how we checked

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

Climate: 87 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Cherry Valley Dam, 4.2 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

12 in1 verified code within 60 mi
87nights a year at or below 32 °F
53%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

Does Tuolumne County have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Tuolumne County 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 Tuolumne County’s own number.

What frost line depth does Tuolumne County use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 12 in, like Turlock?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Tuolumne County 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 Tuolumne County?

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

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Tuolumne County: 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 Tuolumne County confirms its own
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 Tuolumne County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Feb. 87 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Feb is coldest, with an average low of 30.9 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Cherry Valley Dam station, 4.2 mi away, elevation 4,765 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	31.3	30.9	33.3	36.7	43.8	51.4	58.1	57.4	52.7	44.5	36.2	31.2
High	49.4	51	55.4	61.4	70	80.5	89.2	88.9	82.2	70.2	57	48.6

Tuolumne County has more freezing nights than 206 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 Tuolumne County use?

One official code near Tuolumne County is verified.

Official frost line depths near Tuolumne County
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Turlock	12 in	60 mi away

How likely is the soil in Tuolumne County to heave?

Low 47%Moderate 53%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Tuolumne County as 47% low, 53% moderate for frost action (main soils: Wintoner family, Lithic Xerumbrepts, Fiddletown family).

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

Tuolumne County at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
Population (2023 est.): 54,204
Mean annual temperature: 54.6 °F
ZIP codes (17): 95223 · 95305 · 95309 · 95310 · 95311 · 95321 · 95327 · 95329 · 95335 · 95346 · 95364 · 95370 · 95372 · 95375 · 95379 · 95383 · 95389