Wichita, KS Frost Line Depth: 24 in

Verified

24in

61 cm · 2 ft

Set in the building code Wichita has adopted.

Source and how we checked

Document: wichita.gov

Climate: 103 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Wichita, 5.8 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

103nights a year at or below 32 °F
69%of nearby soil rated “none” for frost action (USDA)

How deep is the frost line in Wichita?

"{confirmed quote}". Footings, piers and other permanent supports must reach at least this depth (IRC R403.1.4.1).

Who sets the frost line depth in Wichita?

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

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

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Wichita: dig at least 24 in (61 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Minimum depths in Wichita with a 24 in frost line
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	24 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	24 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	30 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	24 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 Wichita?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Feb. 103 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 22.5 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Wichita station, 5.8 mi away, elevation 1,335 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	22.5	26.3	35.7	44.8	55.9	65.9	70.4	68.8	60.1	47.2	34.7	25.4
High	43.9	48.9	59.1	68.3	77.5	87.9	92.6	91	83.3	70.8	57	45.8

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

How likely is the soil in Wichita to heave?

None 69%Moderate 29%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Wichita as 69% none, 29% moderate, 2% high for frost action (main soils: Canadian, Solvay, Elandco).

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 Wichita?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Wichita building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 24 in unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

Wichita at a glance

Frost line depth: 24 in
County: Sedgwick County
Population (2023 est.): 396,119
Mean annual temperature: 57.7 °F
ZIP codes (31): 67037 · 67052 · 67101 · 67106 · 67202 · 67203 · 67204 · 67205 · 67206 · 67207 · 67208 · 67209 · 67210 · 67211 · 67212 · 67213 · 67214 · 67215 · 67216 · 67217 · 67218 · 67219 · 67220 · 67221 · 67223 · 67226 · 67228 · 67230 · 67232 · 67235 · 67260