Clermont County, OH Frost Line Depth: 30 in

Verified

30in

76 cm · 2 ft 6 in

Set in the building code Clermont County has adopted.

Source and how we checked

Document: permit.clermontcountyohio.gov

Climate: 116 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Milford, 11.6 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

0 of 1nearby verified codes use the same depth
116nights a year at or below 32 °F
65%of nearby soil rated “high” for frost action (USDA)

How deep is the frost line in Clermont County?

Clermont County's building authority sets the frost line depth at 30 in (76 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 Clermont County?

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

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

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Clermont County: dig at least 30 in (76 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Minimum depths in Clermont County with a 30 in frost line
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	30 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	30 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	36 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	30 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 Clermont County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Mar. 116 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 21.5 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Milford station, 11.6 mi away, elevation 520 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	21.5	23.5	30.9	40.7	51.2	60.7	64	63	54.4	41.9	33.3	25.7
High	39.3	43.3	53.7	66	75.9	83.8	86.8	86.1	79.5	67.8	54.8	43.2

Clermont County has fewer freezing nights than 40 of the 80 other Ohio places we track. The Ohio median is 116. Coldest: Geauga County; mildest: Euclid.

What frost line depth do towns near Clermont County use?

One official code near Clermont County is verified.

Official frost line depths near Clermont County
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Springfield	32 in	63 mi away

How likely is the soil in Clermont County to heave?

Moderate 35%High 65%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Clermont County as 35% moderate, 65% high for frost action (main soils: Clermont, Hickory, Edenton).

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 Clermont County?

Call 811 (OUPS (Ohio811)) at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Clermont County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 30 in unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

Clermont County at a glance

Frost line depth: 30 in
Population (2023 est.): 211,972
Mean annual temperature: 53.8 °F
ZIP codes (23): 45102 · 45103 · 45106 · 45107 · 45112 · 45118 · 45120 · 45121 · 45122 · 45130 · 45140 · 45147 · 45150 · 45153 · 45156 · 45157 · 45158 · 45160 · 45162 · 45176 · 45244 · 45245 · 45255