Frost Line Depth in Howell County, MO: Missouri Codes Range 30

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Howell County.

No verified code nearby; verified Missouri codes range 30–36 in.

Source and how we checked

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

Climate: 108 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, W Plains, 3.4 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

30–36 inrange of verified Missouri codes
108nights a year at or below 32 °F
89%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

Does Howell County have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Howell County in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). No verified code lies near Howell County; the Missouri codes we verified range from 30 to 36 in. Ask the building department for Howell County’s own number before you dig.

What frost line depth does Howell 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 Howell County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 36 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 Howell County?

Drawn with the deepest Missouri official value (36 in). Confirm Howell County’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

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

Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Feb. 108 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 22.3 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, W Plains station, 3.4 mi away, elevation 1,105 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	22.3	25.8	32.9	43	52.5	61.3	65.6	63.5	56	43.8	33.9	25.8
High	43.8	49.3	58.2	68.5	75.5	83.9	89	87.4	80.2	69	56.6	46.1

Howell County has more freezing nights than 7 of the 11 other Missouri places we track. The Missouri median is 105. Coldest: Buchanan County; mildest: Camden County.

How likely is the soil in Howell County to heave?

Moderate 89%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Howell County as 89% moderate, 11% high for frost action (main soils: Macedonia, Alred, Wasola).

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

Howell County at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
Population (2023 est.): 40,735
Mean annual temperature: 55.6 °F
ZIP codes (13): 65548 · 65609 · 65626 · 65637 · 65688 · 65689 · 65692 · 65775 · 65777 · 65788 · 65789 · 65790 · 65793