Frost Line Depth in Rapides Parish, LA: Set Locally (Jefferson Parish: 12 in)

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Rapides Parish.

No verified code nearby. The only verified Louisiana code we read, Jefferson Parish’s, uses 12 in.

Source and how we checked

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

Climate: 34 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Alexandria 5 Sse, 6.4 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

12 inJefferson Parish, the only verified Louisiana code
34nights a year at or below 32 °F
100%of nearby soil rated “none” for frost action (USDA)

Does Rapides Parish have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Rapides Parish in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). No verified code lies near Rapides Parish; the only Louisiana code we verified, Jefferson Parish’s, uses 12 in. Ask the building department for Rapides Parish’s own number before you dig.

What frost line depth does Rapides Parish 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 Rapides Parish building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 12 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 Rapides Parish?

Drawn with the deepest Louisiana official value (12 in). Confirm Rapides Parish’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Rapides Parish: dig at least 12 in (30 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Using the nearby official value of 12 in until Rapides Parish confirms its own
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 Rapides Parish?

Rapides Parish never averages a low below freezing. 34 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 38.6 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Alexandria 5 Sse station, 6.4 mi away, elevation 85 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	38.6	42	48.8	55.2	64	70.7	73	72.6	67.8	55.9	46.1	40.1
High	59.3	63.5	70.7	77.5	84.7	90.1	92.3	92.9	88.2	79.8	69.1	61.1

Rapides Parish has more freezing nights than 30 of the 33 other Louisiana places we track. The Louisiana median is 18. Coldest: Lincoln Parish; mildest: New Orleans.

How likely is the soil in Rapides Parish to heave?

None 100%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Rapides Parish as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Moreland, Ruston, Bossier).

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

Rapides Parish at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
Population (2023 est.): 126,260
Mean annual temperature: 66.8 °F
ZIP codes (29): 70656 · 71301 · 71302 · 71303 · 71322 · 71323 · 71325 · 71328 · 71330 · 71346 · 71351 · 71359 · 71360 · 71367 · 71405 · 71409 · 71423 · 71424 · 71427 · 71430 · 71433 · 71438 · 71447 · 71455 · 71463 · 71466 · 71467 · 71472 · 71485