Frost Line Depth in Clark County, Nevada
- Clark County’s adopted code
- Checked Oct 2026
- Sources
Verified
12in
30 cm · 1 ft
12 in Below 5,000 ft, 36 in Above
Set in the building code Clark County has adopted.
Source and how we checked
Document: up.codes
Climate: 18 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, N Las Vegas, 5.9 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
How deep is the frost line in Clark County?
Clark County's building authority sets the frost line depth at 12 in (30 cm) below 5,000 ft elevation and 36 in (91 cm) above it. Footings, piers and other permanent supports must reach at least this depth (IRC R403.1.4.1).
Who sets the frost line depth in Clark County?
Nevada leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Clark County fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Clark County’s own document on up.codes. See how Nevada sets frost line depth.
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Clark County?
House or garage footing in Clark County: dig at least 12 in (30 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).
| 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 Clark County?
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Clark County never averages a low below freezing. 18 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Dec is coldest, with an average low of 37.1 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, N Las Vegas station, 5.9 mi away, elevation 1,898 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 38 | 41.4 | 48.7 | 54.6 | 63.9 | 72.8 | 79.3 | 77.6 | 69.5 | 57.3 | 44.6 | 37.1 |
| High | 60.9 | 65 | 73.1 | 80.3 | 89.4 | 100.6 | 105.7 | 104.1 | 96.8 | 84 | 69.8 | 59.3 |
Clark County has fewer freezing nights than 4 of the 6 other Nevada places we track. The Nevada median is 136. Coldest: Douglas County; mildest: Henderson.
What frost line depth do towns near Clark County use?
One official code near Clark County is verified.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | 12 in | 14 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Clark County to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Clark County as 75% none, 25% low for frost action (main soils: Glencarb, Upperline, Weiser).
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 Clark County?
Clark County at a glance
- Frost line depth
- 12 in Below 5,000 ft, 36 in Above
- Population (2023 est.)
- 2,336,573
- Mean annual temperature
- 69.8 °F
- ZIP codes (76)
- 89002 · 89004 · 89005 · 89007 · 89011 · 89012 · 89014 · 89015 · 89018 · 89019 · 89021 · 89025 · 89026 · 89027 · 89029 · 89030 · 89031 · 89032 · 89034 · 89039 · 89040 · 89044 · 89046 · 89052 · 89054 · 89070 · 89074 · 89081 · 89084 · 89085 · 89086 · 89101 · 89102 · 89103 · 89104 · 89106 · 89107 · 89108 · 89109 · 89110 · 89113 · 89115 · 89117 · 89118 · 89119 · 89120 · 89121 · 89122 · 89123 · 89124 · 89128 · 89129 · 89130 · 89131 · 89134 · 89135 · 89138 · 89139 · 89141 · 89142 · 89143 · 89144 · 89145 · 89146 · 89147 · 89148 · 89149 · 89156 · 89158 · 89161 · 89166 · 89169 · 89178 · 89179 · 89183 · 89191