Frost Line Depth in Tompkins County, NY: New York Codes Range 36

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Tompkins County.

No verified code nearby; verified New York codes range 36–50 in.

Source and how we checked

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

Climate: 148 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Ithaca Cornell Univ, 1.3 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

36–50 inrange of verified New York codes
148nights a year at or below 32 °F
53%of nearby soil rated “high” for frost action (USDA)

Does Tompkins County have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Tompkins County in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). No verified code lies near Tompkins County; the New York codes we verified range from 36 to 50 in. Ask the building department for Tompkins County’s own number before you dig.

What frost line depth does Tompkins County use for footings under Table R301.2(1)?

Call 811 (Dig Safely New York) at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Tompkins County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 50 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 Tompkins County?

Drawn with the deepest New York official value (50 in). Confirm Tompkins County’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Tompkins County: dig at least 50 in (127 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Using the nearby official value of 50 in until Tompkins County confirms its own
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	50 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	50 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	56 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	50 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 Tompkins County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Nov to Mar. 148 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 14.6 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Ithaca Cornell Univ station, 1.3 mi away, elevation 960 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	14.6	15.1	21.8	32.9	44	53.4	57.9	56.3	48.8	38.9	30.4	22
High	31	33.1	40.8	54.5	67.3	75.7	79.9	78.5	71.6	59	46.8	36.2

Tompkins County has more freezing nights than 40 of the 67 other New York places we track. The New York median is 141. Coldest: Franklin County; mildest: Kings County.

How likely is the soil in Tompkins County to heave?

Moderate 47%High 53%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Tompkins County as 47% moderate, 53% high for frost action (main soils: Volusia, Langford, Oxyaquic Eutrudepts).

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

Tompkins County at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
Population (2023 est.): 103,558
Mean annual temperature: 46.3 °F
ZIP codes (18): 13045 · 13053 · 13062 · 13068 · 13073 · 13092 · 13102 · 13736 · 13864 · 14817 · 14850 · 14853 · 14854 · 14867 · 14881 · 14882 · 14883 · 14886