Frost Line Depth in Roswell, New Mexico
- Roswell’s adopted code
- Checked Oct 2026
- Sources
Verified
12in
30 cm · 1 ft
Set in the building code Roswell has adopted.
Source and how we checked
Document: roswell-nm.gov
Climate: 115 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Roswell Climat, 0.9 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
How deep is the frost line in Roswell?
Roswell's building authority sets the frost line depth at 12 in (30 cm). Footings, piers and other permanent supports must reach at least this depth (IRC R403.1.4.1).
Who sets the frost line depth in Roswell?
New Mexico leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Roswell fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Roswell’s own document on roswell-nm.gov. See how New Mexico sets frost line depth.
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Roswell?
House or garage footing in Roswell: 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 Roswell?
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Average lows are at or below freezing from Nov to Feb. 115 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 22.6 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Roswell Climat station, 0.9 mi away, elevation 3,605 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 22.6 | 26.9 | 34 | 40.7 | 50.2 | 60.9 | 65.6 | 64.5 | 56.5 | 43.9 | 31.1 | 23.1 |
| High | 55.9 | 60.7 | 69.4 | 76.4 | 84.5 | 93.6 | 93.9 | 91.7 | 84.4 | 75.9 | 63.5 | 55.6 |
Roswell has fewer freezing nights than 11 of the 16 other New Mexico places we track. The New Mexico median is 124. Coldest: McKinley County; mildest: Lea County.
How likely is the soil in Roswell to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Roswell as 34% none, 66% low for frost action (main soils: Reakor, Reakor variant, Bigetty).
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 Roswell?
Roswell at a glance
- Frost line depth
- 12 in
- County
- Chaves County
- Population (2023 est.)
- 47,109
- Mean annual temperature
- 59.4 °F
- ZIP codes (2)
- 88201 · 88203