Palatine, IL Frost Line Depth: 42 in

Verified

42in

107 cm · 3 ft 6 in

Set in the building code Palatine has adopted.

Source and how we checked

Document: library.municode.com

Climate: 137 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Barrington 3Sw, 6.1 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

5 of 5nearby verified codes use the same depth
137nights a year at or below 32 °F
78%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

How deep is the frost line in Palatine?

Palatine's building authority sets the frost line depth at 42 in (107 cm). Footings, piers and other permanent supports must reach at least this depth (IRC R403.1.4.1).

Who sets the frost line depth in Palatine?

Illinois leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Palatine fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Palatine’s own document on library.municode.com. See how Illinois sets frost line depth.

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

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Palatine: dig at least 42 in (107 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Minimum depths in Palatine with a 42 in frost line
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	42 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	42 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	48 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	42 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 Palatine?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Nov to Mar. 137 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 13.4 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Barrington 3sw station, 6.1 mi away, elevation 875 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	13.4	16.4	26.5	37.2	48.3	58.1	62.6	61.2	53.6	41.5	30.2	19.7
High	28.7	32.8	44.5	57.5	68.5	77.5	81.3	79.2	72.4	60.1	46.3	34.2

Palatine has more freezing nights than 57 of the 71 other Illinois places we track. The Illinois median is 127. Coldest: Hoffman Estates; mildest: Madison County.

What frost line depth do towns near Palatine use?

5 official codes near Palatine are verified; each links to its document.

Official frost line depths near Palatine
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Hoffman Estates	42 in	7 mi away
Glenview	42 in	11 mi away
Lombard	42 in	17 mi away
Wheaton	42 in	18 mi away
Naperville	42 in	26 mi away

How likely is the soil in Palatine to heave?

Moderate 78%High 22%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Palatine as 78% moderate, 22% high for frost action (main soils: Markham, Orthents, Ozaukee).

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 Palatine?

Call 811 (JULIE) at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Palatine building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 42 in unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

Palatine at a glance

Frost line depth: 42 in
County: Cook County
Population (2023 est.): 64,869
Mean annual temperature: 48 °F
ZIP codes (6): 60004 · 60008 · 60010 · 60067 · 60074 · 60173