Frost Line Depth in Lincoln County, Oregon

Oregon state rule
Checked Oct 2026
Sources

State-set value

12in

30 cm · 1 ft

12 in (Oregon rule)

Set by the state: Oregon Residential Specialty Code Table R301.2(1), Lincoln County.

Source and how we checked

Lincoln County does not publish its own value; the state rule applies.

Document: codes.iccsafe.org

Climate: 11 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Newport 1 Se, 6.8 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

2 of 2nearby verified codes use the same depth
11nights a year at or below 32 °F
70%of nearby soil rated “low” for frost action (USDA)

How deep is the frost line in Lincoln County?

Oregon sets the frost footing depth for Lincoln County at 12 in (30 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 Lincoln County?

Oregon writes this depth into its statewide residential code, so Lincoln County’s building department enforces the state’s number rather than setting its own. See how Oregon sets frost line depth.

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

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

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

Minimum depths in Lincoln County with a 12 in frost line
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	12 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	12 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	18 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	12 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 Lincoln County?

Lincoln County never averages a low below freezing. 11 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Feb is coldest, with an average low of 38.3 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Newport 1 Se station, 6.8 mi away, elevation 8 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	39.2	38.3	40.2	42	46.2	49.5	51.3	51.3	49.2	46.5	42.3	38.7
High	51.3	52.2	53.7	55.2	58.4	61.2	64.2	64.5	66	61	54.6	49.9

Lincoln County has fewer freezing nights than 22 of the 22 other Oregon places we track. The Oregon median is 54. Coldest: Deschutes County; mildest: Lincoln County.

What frost line depth do towns near Lincoln County use?

2 official codes near Lincoln County are verified; each links to its document.

Official frost line depths near Lincoln County
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Corvallis	12 in	32 mi away
Marion County	12 in	68 mi away

How likely is the soil in Lincoln County to heave?

None 30%Low 70%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Lincoln County as 30% none, 70% low for frost action (main soils: Preacher, Nestucca, Bohannon).

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 Lincoln County?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Lincoln County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 12 in unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

Lincoln County at a glance

Frost line depth: 12 in (Oregon rule)
Population (2023 est.): 50,821
Mean annual temperature: 51.1 °F
ZIP codes (18): 97324 · 97326 · 97341 · 97343 · 97357 · 97364 · 97365 · 97366 · 97367 · 97368 · 97369 · 97376 · 97380 · 97388 · 97390 · 97391 · 97394 · 97498