Frost Line Depth in La Plata County, CO: Colorado Codes Range 30

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for La Plata County.

No verified code nearby; verified Colorado codes range 30–48 in.

Source and how we checked

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

Climate: 180 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Durango, 1 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

30–48 inrange of verified Colorado codes
180nights a year at or below 32 °F
64%of nearby soil rated “low” for frost action (USDA)

Does La Plata County have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for La Plata County in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). No verified code lies near La Plata County; the Colorado codes we verified range from 30 to 48 in. Ask the building department for La Plata County’s own number before you dig.

What frost line depth does La Plata County use for footings under Table R301.2(1)?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the La Plata County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 48 in (the deepest verified state 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 La Plata County?

Drawn with the deepest Colorado official value (48 in). Confirm La Plata County’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in La Plata County: dig at least 48 in (122 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Using the nearby official value of 48 in until La Plata County confirms its own
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	48 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	48 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	54 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	48 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 La Plata County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Nov to Apr. 180 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 13 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Durango station, 1 mi away, elevation 6,761 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	13	18.6	25.1	30	37.2	45.6	52.9	51.5	44.5	32.9	22.7	13.4
High	39.2	45	54.1	62.8	71.3	81.3	85	82.3	75.7	64.3	50.1	39.9

La Plata County has more freezing nights than 9 of the 14 other Colorado places we track. The Colorado median is 176. Coldest: Eagle County; mildest: Littleton.

How likely is the soil in La Plata County to heave?

None 12%Low 64%Moderate 12%

USDA rates the sampled soil around La Plata County as 12% none, 64% low, 12% moderate, 11% high for frost action (main soils: Zyme, Rock outcrop, Umbarg).

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

La Plata County at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
Population (2023 est.): 56,407
Mean annual temperature: 47.4 °F
ZIP codes (6): 81122 · 81137 · 81301 · 81303 · 81326 · 81328