Frost Line Depth in Bowie, Maryland
- 4 verified codes nearby
- Checked Oct 2026
No official local value
No official frost line depth is published for Bowie.
Nearby official codes require 24–30 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: 112 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Glenn Dale Bell Stn, 3.6 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
Does Bowie have an official frost line depth?
No adopted frost line depth found for Bowie in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). The nearest official values, from codes we verified, are 24 to 30 in. Use the deepest of them until the building department confirms Bowie’s own number.
What frost line depth does Bowie use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 30 in, like Howard County?
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Bowie?
Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (30 in). Confirm Bowie’s own depth before you dig.
House or garage footing in Bowie: dig at least 30 in (76 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).
| Project | Depth | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| House or garage footing | 30 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4) |
| Deck footing (attached) | 30 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3) |
| Water service line | 36 in | 6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5) |
| Fence post bottom | 30 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 Bowie?
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Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Mar. 112 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 21.6 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Glenn Dale Bell Stn station, 3.6 mi away, elevation 150 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 21.6 | 23.2 | 31.3 | 41 | 51.4 | 61.2 | 66.1 | 64.8 | 57.4 | 43.8 | 33.1 | 26.8 |
| High | 43.9 | 46.7 | 54.7 | 66 | 74.6 | 82.5 | 88.5 | 87 | 79.4 | 68 | 56.8 | 47.9 |
Bowie has more freezing nights than 6 of the 6 other Maryland places we track. The Maryland median is 98. Coldest: Bowie; mildest: Gaithersburg.
What frost line depth do towns near Bowie use?
4 official codes near Bowie are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Howard County | 30 in | 23 mi away |
| Baltimore | 30 in | 25 mi away |
| Calvert County | 24 in | 32 mi away |
| Frederick County | 30 in | 50 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Bowie to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Bowie as 11% none, 1% low, 72% moderate, 16% high for frost action (main soils: Collington, Sassafras, Wist).
USDA NRCS soil survey, 9 sample points within 2 mi. Higher frost action means more risk of heave; see frost heave.
Bowie at a glance
- Frost line depth
- No official local value
- County
- Prince George's County
- Population (2023 est.)
- 57,254
- Mean annual temperature
- 54.9 °F
- ZIP codes (6)
- 20708 · 20715 · 20716 · 20720 · 20721 · 20774