Burleigh County, ND Frost Line Depth: 48 in

Verified

48in

122 cm · 4 ft

Set in the building code Burleigh County has adopted.

Source and how we checked

Document: burleigh.gov

Climate: 182 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Bismarck 2.4 Nnw, 18.4 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

1 of 1nearby verified codes use the same depth
182nights a year at or below 32 °F
93%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

How deep is the frost line in Burleigh County?

Burleigh County's building authority sets the frost line depth at 48 in (122 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 Burleigh County?

North Dakota leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Burleigh County fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Burleigh County’s own document on burleigh.gov. See how North Dakota sets frost line depth.

How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Burleigh County?

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Burleigh County: dig at least 48 in (122 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Minimum depths in Burleigh County with a 48 in frost line
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	48 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	48 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	54 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	48 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 Burleigh County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Nov to Apr. 182 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 3.8 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Bismarck 2.4 Nnw station, 18.4 mi away, elevation 1,831 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	3.8	6.7	17.8	29.4	42.5	52.5	58.3	55.6	46.1	33.5	19.8	9.5
High	22.1	27.1	39.7	53.8	66.4	75.6	81.5	80.1	71.3	55.6	39.6	26.9

What frost line depth do towns near Burleigh County use?

One official code near Burleigh County is verified.

Official frost line depths near Burleigh County
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Bismarck	48 in	18 mi away

How likely is the soil in Burleigh County to heave?

Moderate 93%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Burleigh County as 3% low, 93% moderate, 5% high for frost action (main soils: Williams, Roseglen, Bowbells).

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 Burleigh County?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Burleigh County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 48 in unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

Burleigh County at a glance

Frost line depth: 48 in
Population (2023 est.): 100,012
Mean annual temperature: 42.3 °F
ZIP codes (13): 58477 · 58494 · 58501 · 58503 · 58504 · 58505 · 58521 · 58524 · 58532 · 58558 · 58560 · 58572 · 58579