Frost Line Depth in Atlanta, Georgia
- 4 verified codes nearby
- Checked Oct 2026
No official local value
No official frost line depth is published for Atlanta.
Nearby official codes require 5–12 in (4 verified codes).
Source and how we checked
We searched this place’s own code and website and found no published frost line depth.
Climate: 52 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Atlanta Fulton Co Airport, 5.8 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
Does Atlanta have an official frost line depth?
No adopted frost line depth found for Atlanta in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). The nearest official values, from codes we verified, are 5 to 12 in. Use the deepest of them until the building department confirms Atlanta’s own number.
What frost line depth does Atlanta use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 12 in, like Brookhaven?
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Atlanta?
Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (12 in). Confirm Atlanta’s own depth before you dig.
House or garage footing in Atlanta: dig at least 12 in (30 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).
| 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 Atlanta?
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Atlanta never averages a low below freezing. 52 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 33.5 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Atlanta Fulton Co Airport station, 5.8 mi away, elevation 840 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 33.5 | 36.6 | 42.9 | 49.5 | 58.4 | 66.6 | 70.2 | 69.4 | 63 | 51.3 | 40.7 | 36 |
| High | 53.7 | 58.4 | 65.8 | 73.9 | 81.2 | 87.1 | 90 | 89.1 | 83.9 | 74.5 | 64 | 55.9 |
Atlanta has more freezing nights than 39 of the 74 other Georgia places we track. The Georgia median is 51. Coldest: Habersham County; mildest: Glynn County.
What frost line depth do towns near Atlanta use?
4 official codes near Atlanta are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Brookhaven | 12 in | 8 mi away |
| Dunwoody | 12 in | 14 mi away |
| Stonecrest | 12 in | 17 mi away |
| Fayette County | 5 in | 25 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Atlanta to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Atlanta as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Rion, Cartecay, Toccoa).
USDA NRCS soil survey, 9 sample points within 2 mi. Higher frost action means more risk of heave; see frost heave.
Atlanta at a glance
- Frost line depth
- No official local value
- County
- Fulton County
- Population (2023 est.)
- 510,823
- Mean annual temperature
- 62.3 °F
- ZIP codes (31)
- 30032 · 30033 · 30303 · 30305 · 30306 · 30307 · 30308 · 30309 · 30310 · 30311 · 30312 · 30313 · 30314 · 30315 · 30316 · 30317 · 30318 · 30319 · 30322 · 30324 · 30326 · 30327 · 30329 · 30331 · 30332 · 30334 · 30336 · 30342 · 30344 · 30354 · 30363