Garfield County, CO Frost Line Depth: 36 in Up to 8,000 ft, 42 in Above

Verified

36in

91 cm · 3 ft

36 in Up to 8,000 ft, 42 in Above

Set in the building code Garfield County has adopted.

Source and how we checked

Document: garfieldcountyco.gov

Climate: 202 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Rifle 3Ene, 10.2 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

0 of 1nearby verified codes use the same depth
202nights a year at or below 32 °F
68%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

How deep is the frost line in Garfield County?

Garfield County's building authority sets the frost line depth at 36 in (91 cm) up to 8,000 ft elevation and 42 in (107 cm) above it. Footings, piers and other permanent supports must reach at least this depth (IRC R403.1.4.1).

Who sets the frost line depth in Garfield County?

Colorado leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Garfield County fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Garfield County’s own document on garfieldcountyco.gov. See how Colorado sets frost line depth.

How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Garfield County?

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Garfield County: dig at least 36 in (91 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Minimum depths in Garfield County with a 36 in frost line
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	36 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	36 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	42 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	36 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 Garfield County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Oct to Apr. 202 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 9.7 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Rifle 3ene station, 10.2 mi away, elevation 5,469 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	9.7	15.4	21.8	28.2	36.6	44.7	52.2	49.3	40.6	29.5	19.8	11.3
High	37.4	41.7	54.8	62	71.7	83.1	88.2	85.4	78.5	64.4	49.5	37.2

Garfield County has more freezing nights than 11 of the 14 other Colorado places we track. The Colorado median is 176. Coldest: Eagle County; mildest: Littleton.

What frost line depth do towns near Garfield County use?

One official code near Garfield County is verified.

Official frost line depths near Garfield County
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Eagle County	48 in	65 mi away

How likely is the soil in Garfield County to heave?

Low 22%Moderate 68%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Garfield County as 9% none, 22% low, 68% moderate for frost action (main soils: Echemoor, Irigul, Secondset).

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 Garfield County?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Garfield County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 36 in unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

Garfield County at a glance

Frost line depth: 36 in Up to 8,000 ft, 42 in Above
Population (2023 est.): 62,707
Mean annual temperature: 46.4 °F
ZIP codes (8): 81601 · 81623 · 81630 · 81635 · 81637 · 81647 · 81650 · 81652