Frost Line Depth in Manhattan, KS: Salina Requires 36 in

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Manhattan.

Nearby official codes require 36 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: 125 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Manhattan, 1.4 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

36 in1 verified code within 60 mi
125nights a year at or below 32 °F
41%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

Does Manhattan have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Manhattan in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). The nearest official values, from codes we verified, are 36 in. Use the deepest of them until the building department confirms Manhattan’s own number.

What frost line depth does Manhattan use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 36 in, like Salina?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Manhattan building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 36 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 Manhattan?

Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (36 in). Confirm Manhattan’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

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

Using the nearby official value of 36 in until Manhattan confirms its own
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 Manhattan?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Nov to Mar. 125 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 18.7 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Manhattan station, 1.4 mi away, elevation 1,060 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	18.7	22.1	31.5	42.2	54.1	64.3	69.3	66.4	57.1	44.1	31.8	22.5
High	39.6	45.1	56.3	66.4	75.9	85.8	90.8	89	81.3	69.1	54.6	43

Manhattan has more freezing nights than 6 of the 7 other Kansas places we track. The Kansas median is 116. Coldest: Leavenworth County; mildest: Wichita.

What frost line depth do towns near Manhattan use?

One official code near Manhattan is verified.

Official frost line depths near Manhattan
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Salina	36 in	60 mi away

How likely is the soil in Manhattan to heave?

Low 24%Moderate 41%High 35%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Manhattan as 0% none, 24% low, 41% moderate, 35% high for frost action (main soils: Zeandale, Chase, Wymore).

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

Manhattan at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
County: Riley County
Population (2023 est.): 53,682
Mean annual temperature: 55 °F
ZIP codes (3): 66502 · 66503 · 66506