Cleveland, OH Frost Line Depth: 42 in

Verified

42in

107 cm · 3 ft 6 in

Set in the building code Cleveland has adopted.

Source and how we checked

Document: clevelandohio.gov

Climate: 91 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Cleveland Burke Airport, 2.7 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

0 of 1nearby verified codes use the same depth
91nights a year at or below 32 °F
79%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

How deep is the frost line in Cleveland?

Cleveland's building authority sets the frost line depth at 42 in (107 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 Cleveland?

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

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

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Cleveland: dig at least 42 in (107 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Minimum depths in Cleveland with a 42 in frost line
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	42 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	42 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	48 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	42 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 Cleveland?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Mar. 91 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 23.5 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Cleveland Burke Airport station, 2.7 mi away, elevation 584 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	23.5	24.5	31.2	41.3	53.1	63.3	67.9	67	60.1	49.2	38.4	29.8
High	35.3	37.3	44.9	57.1	67.9	76.7	80.7	79.7	73.5	62.5	50.5	40.1

Cleveland has fewer freezing nights than 77 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 Cleveland use?

One official code near Cleveland is verified.

Official frost line depths near Cleveland
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Ashtabula County	40 in	57 mi away

How likely is the soil in Cleveland to heave?

Moderate 79%High 19%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Cleveland as 3% low, 79% moderate, 19% high for frost action (main soils: Loudonville, Elnora, Mahoning).

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 Cleveland?

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 Cleveland building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 42 in unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

Cleveland at a glance

Frost line depth: 42 in
County: Cuyahoga County
Population (2023 est.): 362,656
Mean annual temperature: 52.3 °F
ZIP codes (29): 44101 · 44102 · 44103 · 44104 · 44105 · 44106 · 44107 · 44108 · 44109 · 44110 · 44111 · 44112 · 44113 · 44114 · 44115 · 44117 · 44119 · 44120 · 44121 · 44122 · 44125 · 44127 · 44128 · 44129 · 44130 · 44134 · 44135 · 44142 · 44144