Frost Line Depth in Hancock County, MS: Set Locally (Gulfport: 12 in)

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Hancock County.

No verified code nearby. The only verified Mississippi code we read, Gulfport’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: 31 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Bay St Louis Nasa, 7 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

12 inGulfport, the only verified Mississippi code
31nights a year at or below 32 °F
100%of nearby soil rated “none” for frost action (USDA)

Does Hancock County have an official frost line depth?

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

What frost line depth does Hancock County 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 Hancock County 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 Hancock County?

Drawn with the deepest Mississippi official value (12 in). Confirm Hancock County’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Hancock County: 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 Hancock County 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 Hancock County?

Hancock County never averages a low below freezing. 31 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 39.8 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Bay St Louis Nasa station, 7 mi away, elevation 30 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	39.8	42.6	48.4	54.2	61.8	69	71.4	71	66.9	56.4	45.3	41.4
High	59.6	63.5	68.6	74.6	81.8	86.8	88.8	88.8	84.9	77.8	68.9	61.2

Hancock County has fewer freezing nights than 15 of the 17 other Mississippi places we track. The Mississippi median is 41. Coldest: Olive Branch; mildest: Biloxi.

How likely is the soil in Hancock County to heave?

None 100%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Hancock County as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Harleston, Bibb, Stough).

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

Hancock County at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
Population (2023 est.): 46,159
Mean annual temperature: 65.6 °F
ZIP codes (11): 39426 · 39466 · 39470 · 39520 · 39525 · 39529 · 39556 · 39571 · 39572 · 39573 · 39576