Frost Line Depth in Lakewood, Ohio
- Lakewood’s adopted code
- Checked Oct 2026
- Sources
Verified
36in
91 cm · 3 ft
Set in the building code Lakewood has adopted.
Source and how we checked
Document: lakewoodoh.gov
Climate: 111 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Cleveland, 5.7 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
How deep is the frost line in Lakewood?
Lakewood's building authority sets the frost line depth at 36 in (91 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 Lakewood?
Ohio leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Lakewood fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Lakewood’s own document on lakewoodoh.gov. See how Ohio sets frost line depth.
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Lakewood?
House or garage footing in Lakewood: dig at least 36 in (91 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).
| Project | Depth | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| House or garage footing | 36 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4) |
| Deck footing (attached) | 36 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3) |
| Water service line | 42 in | 6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5) |
| Fence post bottom | 36 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 Lakewood?
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
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- N
- D
Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Mar. 111 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 22.3 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Cleveland station, 5.7 mi away, elevation 763 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 22.3 | 23.7 | 30.7 | 40.8 | 51.4 | 61.1 | 65.3 | 63.9 | 57.1 | 46.5 | 36.7 | 28.2 |
| High | 35.8 | 38.5 | 47.1 | 60.1 | 71.1 | 79.8 | 83.7 | 82 | 75.6 | 63.7 | 51.3 | 40.4 |
Lakewood has fewer freezing nights than 57 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 Lakewood use?
2 official codes near Lakewood are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 42 in | 6 mi away |
| Ashtabula County | 40 in | 62 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Lakewood to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Lakewood as 1% low, 95% moderate, 4% high for frost action (main soils: Oshtemo, Hornell, Elnora).
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 Lakewood?
Lakewood at a glance
- Frost line depth
- 36 in
- County
- Cuyahoga County
- Population (2023 est.)
- 49,337
- Mean annual temperature
- 52.4 °F
- ZIP codes (3)
- 44107 · 44111 · 44116