Frost Line Depth in Lawton, Oklahoma
- Lawton’s adopted code
- Checked Oct 2026
- Sources
Verified
16in
41 cm · 1 ft 4 in
Set in the building code Lawton has adopted.
Source and how we checked
Document: library.municode.com
Climate: 70 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Lawton, 2.2 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
How deep is the frost line in Lawton?
Lawton's building authority sets the frost line depth at 16 in (41 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 Lawton?
Oklahoma leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Lawton fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Lawton’s own document on library.municode.com. See how Oklahoma sets frost line depth.
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Lawton?
House or garage footing in Lawton: dig at least 16 in (41 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).
| Project | Depth | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| House or garage footing | 16 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4) |
| Deck footing (attached) | 16 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3) |
| Water service line | 22 in | 6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5) |
| Fence post bottom | 16 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 Lawton?
- 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 Feb. 70 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 27.9 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Lawton station, 2.2 mi away, elevation 1,150 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 27.9 | 31.1 | 41.1 | 48.5 | 59.2 | 67.9 | 72.2 | 71.7 | 63.6 | 50.8 | 39.4 | 30.2 |
| High | 51.4 | 56.1 | 64.4 | 72.7 | 81.5 | 90.2 | 95.9 | 95.8 | 85.7 | 75.8 | 62.5 | 53.3 |
Lawton has fewer freezing nights than 16 of the 23 other Oklahoma places we track. The Oklahoma median is 72. Coldest: Washington County; mildest: Pittsburg County.
How likely is the soil in Lawton to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Lawton as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Foard, Vernon, Tillman).
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 Lawton?
Lawton at a glance
- Frost line depth
- 16 in
- County
- Comanche County
- Population (2023 est.)
- 90,245
- Mean annual temperature
- 62 °F
- ZIP codes (4)
- 73501 · 73503 · 73505 · 73507